Monday, April 21, 2014

Spring Smorgasbord

Happy Easter!
 
 
I just had to include the ones of Natalie putting up a fuss -
 

 


We love her anyway, despite the funny faces.
She turned 7 last week:
 

Megan keeps asking when she is going to get "bigger" like Natalie.
Until then, she will still be our baby at age 4: 
 

With the spring weather, we have all been outside more, soaking up the sun.
I usually go out to the back porch to eat my lunch, and it takes every fiber of my being to drag myself back into the house to work.
 
We put up a swing in the backyard, which the kids all enjoy: 
 



 
For Easter, the bunny also brought soccer stuff and Frisbees, especially now that we have a big yard to enjoy those things. The girls have been out learning some new soccer skills. No pictures, but I'm sure you get the idea :)
 
Happy Spring my friends!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Blood Moon

I inadvertently stayed up and saw the blood moon last night. I say inadvertently because I had not planned on staying up, but thanks to a nap I had taken earlier in the day to make up for having woken up at the unearthly hour of 5:30 a.m. to cover a story assignment, I was not tired at bedtime. John went to bed, but I kept puttering around the house and reading a book, and before I knew it, it was 12:45 a.m., so I hung outside and watched this lovely view...

 
I think that is Venus right next to the moon.
John woke up and bleary-eyed, went out to see it, and then I woke Kimberly and Alicia up. Kimberly was impressed, but Alicia wanted nothing to do with getting out of bed. Frankly, I don't blame her.
 
 

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Spring Break

Spring Break has come and gone. We only got a few measly days this year.
 
 Right before spring break, Megan joined up with some other preschool kids for a field trip to Clark Planetarium. We had a blast (no pun intended.)
 


 
Kimberly competed in her final regional competition for her Science Olympiad team last weekend down at Westminster College, where she placed first in Metric Mastery.
 
 
We also celebrated John's mom's birthday over the weekend with an adult-only dinner (Kimberly was the one exception)
 
Here's the clan. It was so fun visiting with everyone without having to worry about our kidlets. Don't mind the picture with too much light. remember, I am still an amateur working with my camera. By the time I noticed I needed to change the settings a little more, everyone was back to eating, therefore, the above picture will have to suffice.
 
After dinner, we made our way over to the Hale Center Theater to enjoy the Les Miserables tickets mom and dad gave all of us adult kids for Christmas. It was the best play I have seen to date at that theater. Simply incredible.
 
Most everyone made it. We missed you Keith and Delores (who had to attend on a different night), and Marian and Randall (some insane distance away in Kentucky).
 
  Kimberly and Tammy
 The newly pregnant Heather and Justin. So excited!!
 Gail and Mike, who sold their house in one day and will be off to Arizona soon. Traitors. Okay, maybe that is too harsh...we will miss you!!
 ...and the ones who initiated the fun evening, Mom and Dad
 The newly engaged Tammy and Conley

Kevin...how did I completely miss getting a picture of you?
Wait...I may have something...here we go -


 
On Monday, we enjoyed the local swimming pad, and on Tuesday, the girls enjoyed this:
 


 
Now it is back to the grind. I am currently in the process of painting the hallway from the front entryway (remember the one we "created" to get the piano into the office/den).