Zack and Melissa on the Safari 

Hey there mister camel, please don't spit on me! 

Olivia spotting her first animal of the trip- the noises that came out were a mix of elation, total fear, and freaking out! 

We didn't get to feed the Zebra, I guess they are really mean and bite. But they look so beautiful! 

Gulf Islands Waterpark

Now that's a GREAT PICTURE!!!! Oli and I riding on a frog:)

They are both so sweet! You just want to squeeze them:) 

Olivia adores her cousin Zack! She was his shadow all weekend...always worried about what zachary was going and how she was going to get next to him!

so it would have been a really cute picture, if I hadn't cut off Zack's head!!!!! Anyway, they were still having a great time at the waterpark 

Melissa (jeff's sister) and Alexis 

Coming out of the waterslide with Daddy... 

fun in the sun 

sweet brother/sister love 

Olivia's unusual pose for going down the slide 

where is Olivia? 

Zack and Alexis chillin' at the pool 

Olivia's first "BiiiiiG" waterslide (with mom of course). She had so much fun and we went on it over and over! 

Olivia and Daddy taking a relaxing ride on the lazy river. 

Our little picnic @ the park- that is until we got chased out by suspicious clouds that eventually turned into a massive thunderstorm with tornadoes...glad we got out of there!

I guess it's fun for them to beat up their cousin!!!! 

Zack in Olivia's jeep- showing her how to drive it and getting big laughs from the rest of us:) 

Sorry I haven't mailed them out yet....but here's a sneak peak at the spring pictures of the kids with the live bunnies:) 

Easter Pics 2006 

Our Trip to Oregon

Well we did it, we successfully took a family vacation outside of Michigan all for ourselves! It was a long time coming and well worth it:)

We flew to Portland, Oregon for Easter. The kids did so unbelievably well on the airplane. Not too much whining and no crying at all. Olivia was so excited I think she peed her pants on take off. She kept saying that she was "just a little scared, but it's ok." And after the first flight (only an hour and a half) she was a pro. The first one was so overwhelming for her. I don't think I've heard so many questions in my life! All of this BEFORE we even got on the plane.

Mom, who is that? Is that my airplane? Why does that man have a light stick, it's not dark? Do I get a light stick? Where's my luggage? Did you pack my blue shoes? Is Deagan coming with us? Is that my airplane? Why can't we drive the van? I don't want to fly. Where's my wings? Is that a wing? Why do the wings have lights? Can they turn the lights off? Where's Maverick? Are we going to Michigan? Are we going to heaven? (God I hope not!) Do I get a snack? I want my snack. Where's the lady going? Who are all those people? Did you pack Marley? Why do we have to go in a tunnel? Can I close my window? Can I open my window? That man is looking at me! Who is that man? Is he the pilot? Where's my snack? Are we in Oregon? Where's the van? Where's baby Jeffery? Where's daddy Jeffrey?
And it just went on and on and on!!!!! I think we was so nervous and anxious that her coping mechanism was to ask questions to fill any and all silence. (the funny thing was that all week she was so concerned as to the whereabouts of our van, and daily asked if it was ok at the airport).

But after that she was a pro. And she was telling me all about everything. She's now a two year old whiz kid when it comes to flying and traveling in general!
They both made it through a four and a half hour flight with mom and dad smiling at the end, so we must have done something right! And on the last landing she looked at me and said, "see mom I'm not scared!"

We went to visit Jeff's best friend Brian, his wife Allie and baby Jeffrey who live in Salem, OR. Olivia was so excited to have another baby around. She was so calm and so quiet with him. And I think he fell in love with her too!

Jeffery is officially a godfather and all that entails. The held a dedication ceremony on Easter, and baby Jeffers was a charmer through it all:) He's got such a great smile, but he's not quick like Deagan to give it out for just anything, he makes you work for it! Haha!

We just hung out and relaxed alot. Took in the cooler weather. We made one day trip up to the waterfalls. And one to the coast. Oregon is an amazing place and reminded me a lot of New Zealand! We can't wait to go back!!!!!

Now Jeff's sister Melissa and the kids are visiting....and Olivia is flying high still:)

The Kato-Dilks-Carter group! 

Brian, Allie and Jeffers:)  

The boys with the boys