April 2012

April 13--Eagle Creek Homeschool Jamboree

April 24--Cora hanging out in the laundry basket.  She's been doing this thing with her tongue for quite some time......so glad to capture it on film!

April 20--Ella and Mae inspecting a bluegill caught in our neighborhood pond.  The big kids got to go fishing with Daddy and Papa Carl during Papa's visit to our home for our pavers project.

Papa and his favorite fisher-women--these diehard fisher-people won't let a little rain keep them from catching the bluegills!!

Mae Mae all dressed up to "go to the store"

April 19--The stage for Ella's preschool program

Ella sitting with her class before the preschool program.  We were so incredibly proud of her.  She was too scared to participate last year.  This year, she was still fearful and even shed many tears during her class's performance, but she stuck it out and sang the whole song like a big girl.  Way to go, Ella!!

Easter 2012

Nicholas and Pappou cracking red Greek Easter eggs.....a Demas family tradition.

Mae, Ella and Nicholas all dressed up for Easter Sunday.

Thank you, Mimi, for Cora's beautiful Easter dress!!

Pappou, Cora and Mommy....Pappou thinks Cora is a keeper!

Uncle Tim, Papa Don and Cora....Cora was such a happy girl and let everyone hold her and talk to her.

Mae loved hunting Easter eggs but she quickly learned that it was more fun to open the eggs and see what treasures were inside!

Easter Egg Hunt Success!! The weather was perfect today and our kids had a great time hunting for Easter eggs.

Mommy and Mae swinging in Papa Don's backyard

Wellfield Botanic Gardens 4-5-2012

During our recent trip to Nappanee, we visited the Wellfield Gardens in Elkhart where Evelyn works. The gardens are beautiful with flowers and plants and water features. The kids loved roaming through the gardens....they didn't want to leave!

Our Sweet Cora

5 Months Old!! You are 18 lb 9 oz. You have been really busy. You have your first 2 teeth and you roll over from your tummy to your back.

One of my very favorite Cora pictures. You are such a biggie girl in the Bumbo seat.

4 Months Old!! You are 17 lb 2 oz. You are cooing and you are just starting to grab toys.

3 Months Old! You are 16 lb 0.5 oz. Such a biggie girl. You smile with your whole body. Your siblings love you.

NFL Experience 2012

A view of the JW Marriott hotel taken from our car as we were leaving downtown. So cool!

Ella, our future NFL star!



Ella put quite a hit on this guy

Niko trying out his football skills. I didn't get a good picture of Mae dressed up in her football gear because about as soon as we got her dressed, she tumbled to the ground from the weight of it all!

Our yummy (and very expensive) dinner

Having a blast at the NFL Experience!!

I told Nicholas to try to look tough for this picture!

Ella's tough guy face

On Monday, January 30, our family packed up and headed for downtown to attend the NFL Experience as part of the Super Bowl festivities in our city. We were apprehensive about taking all of our children to such a big crowded busy event but we also hated to miss such an opportunity. The day couldn't have gone better. We got a great parking spot (PTL). We had our double stroller and were ushered to the front of the line in many instances....nice. Everyone we encountered was truly helpful and kind.

The kids absolutely loved it. They got to try their skills kicking the football, passing, running an obstacle course, etc. Ella's favorite part was the arts and crafts area where she and Mae got to make a penalty flag, color a picture and get tattoos. Niko got to simulate running the ball while wearing pads, hiking the ball, kicking a field goal, etc. Mae just followed along and was eager to try whatever Bubby and Ella were doing. And Mae won a sucker......so she was happy.

We got to see the Vince Lombardi trophy from afar. Wow. There was also a lot of NFL memorabilia on display. The last area we visited was called Play60 where adults and kids could participate in realistic football activities. We watched people attempting field goals (2 made it!), people throwing 50 yard passes, many kids playing flag football, etc. There was an area called "You Make the Call" where they would show instant replays from NFL games and the crowd would act as the officials. There were officials from the Big 10 and the NFL moderating. Cool. There was also an area of plaster handprints from some of the big name football players and you could lay your hands on their handprints and see just how gigantic their hands are. Wow.

As we left the Convention Center, we walked under the zip lines and got to see people zooming over our heads. The kids thought that was completely awesome (Lenn and I were fired up too!).

What a great day for our family!!

January 2012

January 28--Our visit with my dear college friends, Cherise and Shelly, and their families. Lots of kiddos on one couch!

Silly Sisters--Mae, Cora and Ella

Nicholas is 8 years old!! His birthday was January 11. Both sets of grandparents came to our house to celebrate his birthday the next day. We had pizza (that he made!) followed by cupcakes decorated with Super Mario Galaxy characters.

Snap Circuits--one of Niko's favorite birthday presents

Cora modeling her winter hat

January 3--Cora is 2 months old! She's a biggie girl. She weighs 14 lb 3 oz. She's all chins and thighs. She brings our family so much joy.

Christmas 2011

Family photo in front of Meemaw and Papa Carl's Christmas tree right before our trip home to Avon.

Great-Grandma Anglemyer with our children at the Anglemyer Christmas gathering (12/26/11)

Mommy and Cora on Christmas Day

Mae Mae all dressed up for the Detwiler Christmas party

Ella and Mommy's Cupcake Christmas Tree....this was our contribution to the Detwiler family gathering on Christmas day. The presents are made out of Starburst candies. Ella was the chief cupcake decorator!

Cora wearing her "First Christmas" warmies

Cora having her first bath in Meemaw's sink......a tradition for all Detwiler babies

Ella, Niko and Mae ready to open presents on Christmas Eve at Meemaw and Papa Carl's house

Cora with her Aunt Pam

I just want to eat her up!! Look at that big smile! (Christmas Eve Day)