Happy Birthday Katija!

Katija & Leah striking a pose. They were trying to be serious but are smirking instead. It's Katija's 10 th birthday today and I can't believe its been that long. How does time go so fast?

Natalie & Eliza

Here we are at Katija's choice for dinner...Chuck-a-rama!

From Washington to Utah in 14 hours!

Okay, we're totally babies and gave up on our vacation a day early. We were so tired and drained for sleep that we decided to just grin and bare it...and take the long trip home. Can I just say for a first vacation picking a 1900 mile round trip was not a good idea on our part?! Now driving to Idaho Falls will seem like around the block! That and using an Atlas, I've realized how many things in our own state I have NO clue on! I'm coming up with a list and I want to see who can name the most Utah cities - I didn't know they existed or even where on a map I would find them. Plus there are some tips I am going to add that list the dos and don't s for when you're out of town. We haven't been trained in this art and a lot of them would have come in handy!! Some maybe old school and no new news for you...but I'm new at this and I found it enlightening! So I'll come back with the list later, but it has some good things on it though! Things for you new to travel travelers will find to be great information :)! I'm off to bed but wanted to say... HELLO to all and I'm so glad to be back home! We just love our area and neighborhood so well that I can't bear to part with it! I get home sick. We have a lot of pictures and videos to add and will upload them when I can :)

Holy mama-here we are right now on a ferry heading towards Edmonds, WA. Never been on one-is it sad that I'm a bit nervous?! Here are a few comments coming from our van: Are we moving? Can we get out of our car? It doesn't even feel like we're moving! Why is there only a net in the back of the boat instead of a strong iron door? Do they want us to fall out? ...and finally from Caden- Ugh, I'm STUCK! He wants out of his car seat :).

Check out the view...

This is the view from the condo sliding glass window. You can see this view from every window in the place. The kids have collected shells every morning-there will have to be sorting and intervention or we'll be coming home w/the whole beach!

PS For all those who're asking...we're in Discovery Bay, Washington - it's been fun and it's been beautiful!

Here's our view from the boat on our way to Oraca Island. No whales yet - but we're still hopeful!

It looks like I've done nothing today-wow! How's that possible when I can't remember the last time I've sat down? I clean to sit in clutter instead of filth :)

Two teeth down-how many more to go?

Natalie lost her first tooth about 2 wks ago. It was by accident really and ended up surprising herself in the process. She is now in the 2 bottom teeth missing club and was very excited to loose at least one before she left kindergarten. I don't know how these kids are such slow tooth loose'rs'. That's definitely not from me. The fear it'll hurt is most likely from me though :)

Where's the Easter grass?

I had to note some items to show how full the baskets were without grass! Its just full of...yup, CANDY! Chad said,"Don't ask me to go do if you don't want all that candy". Clever genius he is :)-he's a cute one though and I'll take him!

More Easter...

The baskets all in a row...

Little Trivia...who knows what and where Delft is?

Leah had a culture fair at her school last week. She did very well and was pleased with all her hard work. The did a dance from the Mexican culture and had to do a desk display on a culture from their heritage. She picked the Netherlands-I won't lie I was happy she chose from my heritage (sorry Chad). Opa & Oma were there on hand to help with some items-well all the items that were displayed from the Netherlands. She loved it and looks so cute in her Dutch hat! Here she is wearing her hat and sitting by her desk display. She definitely one with the most things on display. Oma & Opa kindly grabbed some dutch cookies for Leah to hand out-she was very excited to do this. Thanks Oma & Opa you were so helpful and very much a life saver for me! Oh and the trivia answer is...The Netherlands, also hand painted earthen ware :)

We have roller coaster rides at our house :)...

When I was taking down the crib and setting Caden's room up for his big boy bed; the kids where all over "helping" me. Natalie started giving Caden "rides" but after so long it was making Caden sleepy. If she stopped for too long he'd demand she keep going. I don't have the demanding request for her to "KEEP GOING" on the video; but you can see how much he was enjoying it. After so long Natalie said,"Whoa I'm getting dizzy!". So she sat on the floor and spun the chair with her feet instead. She's a great helper for her sisters and brother!

What Easter Bunny came to your house and how can I hire him?!

Ok so this is what you get when "daddy" is left to talk to the Easter bunny. Let me just say...there's NO grass in their baskets. Its ALL candy-who gets a whole bag of jelly beans for themselves?! Oh...the Lance kids that's who. They were also treated to a whole pack of peeps not one of the total three (maybe 2) rows ALL ROWS, WHOLE PACKAGE = ALL PURE SUGAR! It was really cute to see what Chad had picked for each of them though. You should have witnessed the big eyes. This year was the first for both Eliza and Caden to care and understand. That always helps to make a holiday more enjoyable. All in all it was a great Easter! Leah was baptized the day before, I'm still in shock over that one too. Those pictures will be coming soon.

Where's my nice boy?

Caden is a dance maniac so I was going to get him to perform on camera-yeah because that actually happens! So instead you can see how he goes from monster to angelic in two seconds. If I tell him he's a nice boy and ask where my nice boy is-he'll change in an instant. Here's the transformation for you.

He's got talent?!

Caden gets a big boy bed?!

I can't believe we're here and doing this already! How did this happen so soon and why does it have to be bitter sweet? He's so big and growing up so fast. He was "helping" me but decided we needed a quick game of hide and seek instead.

Updates are coming...

Hi all I know it's been forever since I've last updated our family Blog. I'm sorry for that it's been very crazy at our house-a lot has helped to keep me away from the computer! I promise I'll be updating more often-one problem has been our lack of camera. It some how has been broken so adding pictures and videos is...well almost impossible. Now that i can text to the blog, it will help with the transition for now. I'll send more later because my family is paging me right now.

Just for fun...

Here is a 100 list of things you've done or have NOT done in your life. Just copy and paste this, put it in a post and change the things you have done into bold (the others in regular print. See how many things on the list you have done...

(I decided to put in italics the things I WANT to do one day)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept overnight on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden a gondola in Italy
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagra Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen Amish country
36. Taught yourself a new language - Does speaking 2 yr old count :)?!
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in movie
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades - One word BUGS!!
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. One cavity or less - I WISH!!

Well 46 isn't half, but it's close right?!! Just thought I would share - hope your all well. Thanks for the nice comments on our family pictures - we're very happy with them. We have adorable kids and I'm sure that helps :)!

Our Photos...

Well here are the promised photos...Enjoy :)!

Our Family Photos Preview...

Caden didn't want to sit still or let anyone hold him except Mom and Dad, so here is one of the girls...

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I was able to hold Caden and the Girls went in for the kiss...

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Mr Caden in all his cuteness...

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Miss Eliza Mae in all her giggling glory...

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Natalie with her always sweet expression...

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Leah with nature, that's where we seem to always find her...

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Katija striking a pose, this girl is SO photogenic...

Okay I don't have the CD from our family photos back yet, but she posted them online and on her blog...our whole family is on the her website gallery (I guess I'm not wrong that we have adorable children :))! I just copied some from her blog, they have her logo on them and I'm going to put the link here so I don't break any copyright laws etc (also to give her credit for her great work). I know I'll have the CD, but I couldn't wait to show you how great they look; there's no family one I can copy and paste here so when we get the official CD I'll show you. It's just a preview, stay tuned to see all the CUTE pictures she took.

Website (online gallery): http://www.christinamaephotography.com
*Select the website, go to the bottom tab that says proofing, then enter the password:calance

You can see all our family photos and how great they turned out!! (you can order pictures if you want too)