SPRING BREAK :)

My camera was dead after one picture so Melanie took a couple for me. Ella is 2 years old and we enjoyed talking and playing but couldn't always understand what she was saying.

We left for KC early Thursday morning. It was a cloudy day for driving and when we were near the triangle not far from Blue Springs, it really rained hard. When we arrived in Blue Springs, we stopped for lunch and then went to see our boys at Con Carpet. They were very busy eating lunch - a rep had brought Olive Garden for lunch - so they were suffering:) We went to meet with someone concerning taxes for the folks and ourselves. After taking care of that it was all relaxation. We had dinner with Roger & Dee Dee and their kids and Melanie and Ella and then had a quiet evening. Friday morning we met John & Melanie & Ella and had breakfast with them.

We had an appointment in downtown KC and then headed for Olathe to see Elisa and her kids. Then we went to Gardner and stopped at Damon & June's house and Phil & Julie's house. We had a very nice time with all the kids and grandkids and about 4:30 p.m. we headed back to Hutch. It started raining on us close to Emporia and rained on us until we arrived home.

Greg and Susan had stayed at our house and taken good care of Mom & Dad. I'm sure they were glad to have us back and we were glad to be back.

GRANDKIDS HAVE FUN

Little Ethan loves his gramma because she will take him outdoors. He would play outside all day if only his Mommy would let him. I took him outside and took him for a run - he ran as fast as his little short legs would take him saying "Wheeeee, Wheeeee" the whole time. We ran up and down the block about 3 times so you know he is full of energy.

We came into the living room and found these 3 in Great Grandpa's wheelchair. When we first saw them, the girls were each pushing the wheel on their side and Ethan was actually pushing them. It was so cute. Little Ethan was always checking on Great Grandma & Great Grandpa. He would go in there and stand between their chairs. If Great Grandpa was out of his lift chair and it was raised up a little, Ethan would try to push it down.

MARCH MADNESS WITH FAMILY

We have been enjoying the ball games last week and this week and have been having fun with our own family brackets (which at this time Rog is in first place). Roger, Phil & Julie, John Seaba, Greg, John & Melanie, and Rog & Mary have all entered in to naming the winners of all the different regions. Guess we'll see who comes out winning.

Phil & Julie and family are just about ready to go back home and Elisa & family have just arrived in this picture. Pictured are Avery, Meryn(being silly), Malia, Ethan, and Meredith. We have been enjoying a bunch of the grandkids this week but tomorrow afternoon(Fri) it will get quiet again.

This is Dad going for a walk in front of his new home at 54 Eastwood in Hutchinson. We are looking forward to the spring and summer weather so the folks can be outside more.

Last Saturday night Phil & Julie and their children came to visit and left to go home on Tuesday. Elisa and her 3 children came just an hour before Phil & Julie left and they will be leaving to go back to KC Friday afternoon. Needless to say, we have had lots of activity around our house and Great Grandpa & Grandma have enjoyed watching all the activity on our patio. The twins, Brendon Caleb were giving rides with our riding mower so all the cousins have had a great time.

This is our playroom and the grandkids sometimes watch videos for relaxation. Little Ethan(Elisa's youngest - 17 mo.) keeps everyone on their toes while his brother Trey and sister Avery watch the TV with him.

Great Grandma Tucker and Gramma Neir are listening to Meredith read nursery rhymes. She is so cute and knows many of them by heart.

QUIET HOUSE

Trevin is wearing a new shirt that Mommy & Daddy bought for him on the cruise.

Greg & Susan are passing out the gifts they brought to their children. They got off the ship on Sunday morning about mid morning and then drove 4 hours to where their friends live and then hopped in their car and headed home. They arrived in Hutch around 1 in the morning and when they got up Monday morning, they came to pick up their kids. I'm not sure the kids have stopped talking yet - they have lots of questions and want to know all about everything that Mommy & Daddy did while they were gone. Susan is still feeling movement from the ship so hopes that will quit soon. It is very quiet around here but we had a good time and are resting up now.

FAMILY FUN

It was supper time tonight and the kids were hungry after playing outdoors all afternoon. They are enjoying hot dogs.

Caleb is taking after his Dad with a hot dog that's loaded with all the good stuff.

Now Meryn wants a hot dog fixed in the bun but... eats the bun with ketchup on it first and then the hot dog. She snarffed it down!

Meryn had her bath and is ready for bed but wanted to sing some songs before going to bed. Here she is singing "Why Worry When You Can Pray".

Here she is sitting with Great Grandma and singing "Running Over"- specifically the part that says "I'm as happy as can be" and she is clapping. Shortly after singing for us she went and layed down on my bed and was asleep within 5 min.

DARING YOUNGINS

The kids are outdoors playing - soccer, swinging, riding bikes, you name it - Meryn is the most trusting little gal when big brothers offer to give her rides. She is making a sound like she is revving the motor and is ready to go, go, go.

This was on Wednesday and it was a little chilly that day. The rest of the days have been beautiful so they have been able to play outdoors. These are busy days but we wouldn't trade them for anything. The kids are looking forward to Mommy & Daddy coming back but the week has gone by quickly. This may look a little scary to Greg & Susan in Jamaica but don't worry - we are taking good care of them :) Meryn goes around singing "Why Worry, When you Can Pray" all the time so just be sure and pray!

BUSY DAYS

Brendon, Caleb, and Trevin brought some wood building projects along to work on this week. They were so excited to get started that they finished them the first day. I wasn't prepared with all they needed - the water paints I had were no good - so they used color crayons to give their trucks color. They did a good job and now it is so nice outside that they are having a good time playing outdoors and enjoying the spring weather that we have right now.

Today was the funeral for Rocky Staib who was a trustee in our church. He had been battling cancer for quite some time.

Yesterday Velma Rempel had surgery for cancer and is doing well at this time so you can see that we are having some rough times in our church family.

THE GANGS ALL HERE!!

Greg & Susan left last night on a Caribbean cruise so before they took off, Grandpa Tucker posed with them for a sending off picture. They are ready for a week of fun. They drove to Texas last night to be with a couple that they were friends with when they got married. Matt and Marissa will be going with them and they will be driving for a few more hours to get on the ship tomorrow. This trip has been planned for some time to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary which is March 29.

These days we do not find a lot of time to get the exercise we need but the kids were at our house and told us to go walking so that is exactly what we did.

Meryn has been very slow warming up to Great Grandma & Great Grandpa but today she has made several steps forward in changing that. She wanted Great Grandma to read to her today and even talked to Great Grandma. That is real progress. She has always wanted to be with them but never will talk so maybe with Mommy & Daddy away, she will change that.

This is our household for the next 10 days and I'm sure this will be a hummin' place. Grandpa and Grandma Tucker will experience a more lively schedule than they are used to so we hope everyone survives. We have Greg & Susan's 4 children while they are gone so I'm sure there will not be a dull moment most of the time. Our first night and day have gone well and I'm sure we will all have a fun time. We have had a death in our church so that has made our schedule a little more complicated so we would appreciate your prayers during this time.