Easter 2008

Some spiffy little boys smile for the camera!

We wrestled the boys onto Grandma's "love couch" -

as they call it - for a quick Easter photo op!

We really had a nice Easter this year. The boys enjoyed dying some eggs and digging into those Easter baskets, but are also learning more about what Easter is really about and what it means for us. I told Denny that we're going to have to enter the seminary in order to answer all of the questions Nolan asks by the time he turns 5! He is so curious about God and heaven and is full of lots of great questions. He asked me why Jesus had to die for us and I told him it was so God could forgive all our sins and that so we could live forever in Heaven just like Jesus. He looked at me solemnly and said "Then I'm glad He died mommy. I'm sad He had to do it, but I'm glad because He took all my sins." Wow! Pretty profound for a 4-year-old!

We enjoyed our Easter service at church from the front pew because it was the only seat left by the time we arrived...imagine that...us arriving at the last minute! But it was a real blessing because the boys could see everything from there and were much more focused that is often typical!

Later we shared an Easter meal and fun with Grandma and Grandpa Volz as well as Grandpa Stan, Aunt Heidi and Uncle Joel, and Uncle Shane, Aunt Sara and baby Mitchell! It was a joy to celebrate Mitchell's 1st Easter with him and he was so adorable in his little sweater vest!!! We also got to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa Ballard and Aunt Laura on Easter evening. Nolan thought it was a dirty trick that one of the eggs he found there was empty while the rest had candy or money! The rest of us laughed, but he was unamused! He's still not quite over it!

Shane, Sara & Mitchell Volz. Happy 1st Easter little fella!

Sweet Experience!

We decided to pretend that it actually felt like spring out there and take to the outdoors! Yes, the Ballards went on a Maple Syruping adventure at Indian Creek Nature Center with our friends, The Frames. The kids actually got to help "tap" the tree for syrup. It just came running out and then they went on to show us how they make it into syrup. An enlightening experience! You see Brayden getting ready to taste a drip from the tree in the picture...It is basically 98% water, 2% sugar...and it really didn't taste like much of anything. But when I asked Brayden what it tasted like he said "Mmm...Maybe like chocolate!" That's our little sweet-tooth using his imagination I guess! He was thrilled at the end of the day when we got to try some real syrup on ice-cream!

Catching up with the Ballards...

Well, where to begin??? There has been a lot going on lately and a few things I'd like to share that have gone on over the past couple months.

You make our hearts smile!

Brayden had a cardiology appointment last week and that was some of the inspiration for starting this blog...a way to keep people up to date about all the little things in our world!

Well, the appointment went great and it never ceases to amaze me how good he is when we are there and how intrigued he is by things in the medical world. The little man who can't sit still at home just takes it all in and does what he is told! So after an Echo, EKG and Dr.'s visit it seems that there have been no real changes since his last visit. It's always a little anxiety producing going to that appointment, but such a relief to get good news. To think we were told to expect surgery within the first year when he was born and here we are with an almost 3-year-old little boy (or "big man" as he prefers to be called:) with no surgery, no medication, not even any outward symptoms of any ailment! Praise God for his goodness!!!

Our Little Hawk Fans!

You can probably tell by the picture above that we're a Hawkeye household...no surprise there!

I'm excited to report that the boys got to take in their 1st basketball game live from Carver Hawkeye this winter! They loved it and cheered their little hearts out! (Good thing someone did! The Hawks did manage to pull out the win against Northwestern, but it was a really low scoring game and would have been pretty boring without the boys along with us!) The favored shouts from the Ballard boys included "Go Hawks," "Go Defense," and "Go Tony!" They have become little Tony Freeman fans! Nolan even got to have a moment with Herky! Poor Brayden missed the beloved mascot and waved to him from afar for the remainder of the game trying to get his attention! Maybe next time little buddy!

Nolan's 4th Birthday

Leap year not only brought an extra day to February, but a REAL birthday for Nolan! Yeah!!! At long last, Nolan celebrated his 4th birthday on February 29th. We had a great time and celebrated with a Froggy party (Leap year...get it?!) The boys helped me make some frog cupcakes and we played pin the fly on the froggy's tounge! Check out Nolan puffing into his froggy party blower! (Thanks for the pictures Aunt Heidi!)

Baby Mitchell!
We've also celebrated the arrival of the boys' 1st cousin (and our 1st nephew!) Mitchell Martin Volz on January 30th. He is just the cutest little thing and is really growing a lot now. The boys are so excited about Mitchell and have finally begun calling him Baby Mitchell or Baby Mitch instead of their original picks for names... Alfred and Donut. I can't imagine why Shane and Sara didn't chose one of those names! We are really looking forward to spending lots of time with Mitchell as the boys and I are going to be taking extra good care of him once Sara returns to work.

We're Bloggin'

The Ballard Crew is surging forth into the 21st Century! I know...a little behind schedule...but better late than never! We're bloggin'! I'm looking forward to sharing the happenings of our household and all the boys' adventures and developments!

Visit often and check in with our family! Or, if nothing else, at least we'll have some nice journaling and photos to look back upon since I haven't managed to carve out the time to scrapbook! ;)

Hope you enjoy!

Jodi & "boys"