For Aunt Robbie....

... you said you like candid photos!
We did not pose these! :D

This was the only one that almost worked... but Seth is making a funny face. Haha... oh well!!

~M and A~

Chester Kids

~Boys~
Seth and Ian

~Girls~
Marissa, Andrea, Elaina

We love our siblings!
I think I already used this picture..... sorry! We don't have a lot of pictures of us all together unfortunately.

Life is never boring with brothers

Seth and his friend Lauren riding a tricycle together. :D

He fits in the pantry! Haha :D Probably not the best thing for the shelves, though.

Ian and Seth definitely make life interesting. :D Everything is much more fun with them (well most things)!

The best brother ever! Okay, one of them. :D

This morning I went upstairs looking for Ian and found him making Andrea's bed for her. He is so sweet! He didn't do it exactly how Andrea would have (hence the doll, blanket and wrinkles :D), but it was such a kind thought! He is an awesome brother! :D

Babysitting Seth

As you will probably be able to tell by the pictures, Sethie and I had a lot of fun
playing outside! :D

Picking blueberries

Picking raspberries

Doing an obstacle course

...around the tree.....

Swinging

He has a pretty powerful swing (sometimes)!

One of Ian and Seth's favorite things to do



I praise you, O Lord, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14

5 years.....

Ian turned 5 today!
He is getting so big and sweeter every day. We love Ian! He is such a blessing to our family.
Ian likes:

Parsley!
He and Seth will go out and pick it straight from the garden.

Playing with Seth.
He got this sword for his birthday-well actually he got two of them. Because everything is more fun when you have someone to play with!

Family... and oreos! Mom and Andrea made him an oreo ice cream cake for his birthday. :D

He also likes animals, Playmobil, trampoline, siblings, farms, friends, taking pictures..... and lots more.
Right now he is learning: How to ride a bike and how to read. He asked for school books for his birthday! :D He is definitely enjoying learning, although it can be frustrating for the person teaching him, because he gets distracted very easily! :D

We are so incredibly blessed to have Ian as a part of our family. I'm not sure what life would be like without him, but probably quite a bit less exciting. It is so much fun to see him grow and learn. He especially loves to learn about Jesus.
We love Ian!!!!!!

Puzzle People

Andrea loves to do puzzles. And Ian loves to do pretty much anything his siblings are doing. :D So it works out very well! :D

Best Friends

Andi and me

Elaina, Seth, Ian and I making cupcakes.... :D

Seth and Ian frosting the cupcakes

Seth and Elaina playing in the water

Andrea and Ian gardening in the rain

Elaina, Seth, Andrea, Ian and I decorating Easter eggs.

Wow, I am so blessed to have the siblings I do. They are so amazing! We always have tons of fun together and would much rather be together than apart.

We haven't always gotten along as well as we do now, though. God has taught us many lessons and helped us to love each other in a way that we never could have without Him. We've learned that God has placed us together for a reason. He wants each of us to be there for the others. I can truly say now that my brothers and sisters are my very, very best friends.

A great book that we have read is called Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends by Sarah, Stephen and Grace Mally. I would really encourage all families to read this book.
Have a great day!
~Marissa

Meanwhile.....

Ummm... yes... while they were out gardening we were... What else? Baking! :D haha

Well our original plan was to make this really neat cupcake "picture". We found it in a cookbook and it looked really neat. You put a 18 (or 24.... something like that) cupcakes together and then you use frosting to make a very neat looking landscape.

Right........
When you have two little brothers who love to do everything you are doing, some things don't turn out the way you planned. :D Although it usually turns out to be more fun when you have little hands helping!

Mess makers... trouble makers... partners in crime....
We love our brothers!!!

Haha.... yep... the finished product....
At least they had FUN! :D

In the Pit

Yesterday, we had two of our maple trees taken out. And why else.....
to make room for more fruit trees! :D

It attracted some neighbors

THE PIT! :D

Me looking at them take the tree away.

It was so much fun jumping over it and trying to get picture's of us in the air.

Even little Ian could do it!!!

Marissa was better at taking the picture's then I was.

Ian-God's Gracious Gift

Ian is a huge blessing and gift to our family. After Elaina, I wanted another sibling SO much and I prayed for him for about four years (and the rest of our family did too :D) Then finally, God blessed our family with Ian (whose name means God's gracious gift).

Last year Ian got diagnosed with acid reflux. He got put on medication but has not been getting better. This morning he had a scope all the way down to his small intestine at the University of Michigan. They were hoping to find out if something else is wrong and what can be done, but all they found out was that he still has reflux. He's going to have to just stay on his medicine for a while. Oh well.... God really blessed today though and Ian was in a very good mood!!! Last time he had a scope he was very upset before and after. This time he had to wake up early and was still happy, plus he wasn't even very bad when he came out of the anesthesia. And now he is great (as you can see from the picture)!!! We love Ian!!! :D

Decorating Easter Eggs

We had fun decorating eggs this year! :D It's a fun tradition to have but we have to make sure that it doesn't distract from the real meaning of Easter. Tonight we are going to see a passion play (the Easter story) at our neighbors church (they are in it). I think a ton of people really don't celebrate the true meaning of Easter, it's too centered around Easter baskets, candy, and a big fluffy bunny.... what's with the bunny anyway? haha Anyway, happy Easter everyone! And make sure to celebrate the true meaning of Easter which is Jesus Christ.

The fun sister

I'm not exactly sure what's up with the faces....

but I'm pretty sure they were having fun!

Andi is awesome! As you all know... I would never do something this silly. haha