I'm sure a lot of people are looking at us like we're horribly cruel parents. We are those loonies that have our kids repel down things that most grown men wouldn't even attempt. But truthfully, they are a whole lot safer in that harness than you are in your car. Sure the kids are a bit scared as they slowly creep their feet over the edge, "You got me dad, right? You got me?"
It's okay kids, I'm scared too! It's okay to be scared.
But once that fear subsides and they enjoy the rest of the repel, they realize that they did it. They can do scary things. They can climb higher than they thought they could. They can do hard things!
Maybe it will help them later in life, or maybe they will just resent us for making them do terrifying things when they were little. Either way, I'm proud of my little foursome. They are some pretty tough kids. (thanks Cam for molding our posterity.)
We had a fun Easter Sunday this month. We started the festivities by coloring our eggs (and our fingers) on Saturday. On Sunday morning, the kids awoke to a house full of eggs. After finding their hidden baskets, they scrambled through the house searching out colored eggs that were full of coins, not candy. (that silly bunny, not wanting the kids to have a sugar high right before church.)
After church, we headed to Nana Trish's house for a delicious Easter dinner followed by yet another egg hunt (this time with candy in the eggs!)
Kelli is packing up as she gears up for Chicago, and she brought all kinds of "goodies" for the kids, including an inflatable cowboy costume. Watching Daxton try to run and gather eggs in that get up was quite hilarious.
Joshua
I can honestly say that I love to hang out with Josh. Call him up and be like, "Hey Josh, it's your mom. Do you want to go to the movies or something?" He's just a fun kid to be around (especially when he's not around his siblings, fulfulling his "older brother" role.) And although he's in second place in his 6th grade class for "think times" (not a good thing,) I am happy that he has his confidence back and the ability to make his classmates roar with laughter. We are working on the "there's a time and place for being the class clown" thing, as was evident in his progress report for citizenship. He scoried a 70% for things referenced as "botherin Isaac," "talking about poop," "bothering students when he should be writing," and "singing out loud when the lesson was being taught." Oh this boy.
The weather has begun to warm up a bit, and the kids are able to go outside again without the many layers that accompany winter. Here Josh is with some neighbor friends, Abe, Elizabeth, Claire and Ella; all hanging out on the tramp.
This month the kids helped me build a garden box. We are just awaiting our landscaping to finish so we can put it in place and start growing delicious berries and vegetables!
Josh was messing with the different features on my phone.
Daxton
Oh, my little Daxton (only, not so little anymore.) This boy is such a goof. The thing I love about this kid: He is who he is, and he doesn't give a hoot what other kids think of him. Whether it's wearing moon boots with shorts, or tucking his shirt into his "way to short to wear in public" soccer shorts, he marches to the beat of his own drum. Now that's not to say that his feelings don't get hurt once in a while. There is a boy Daxton's age whom I refer to as "the bad seed." You may find this boy roaming the streets of Midway on his bike, seeking out trouble, or his next victim. For some reason he has it out for Dax (maybe it's the moon boots or the tucked in shirts.) Regardless, when Dax comes home in tears after having an encounter with this "rotten tomato," my mama bear emerges and I want to rub that mean little dude's face in the mud.
Life lessons, right? Poor kid.
Above, we went to see the baby chicks at Ace.
Below, a perfect example of this goofy boy: Placing a neck pillow on his head and making a weird face so I could snap a photo.
Take one: Josh photo bombed us with his foot.
Take two: He did it again.
Take three: this time I snapped the shot fast enough.
At just 14 months apart, these two are good buddies. Sharing a blanket over breakfast.
Ella
Ella has lost some teeth this month. All she wants for Easter are her two front teeth....
She keeps leaving notes for the tooth fairy, asking to "please please leave me flying pixie dust." But for some reason the tooth fairy is always plum out. Instead, she gave Ella pixie dust that makes your hair grow faster, and then another batch of pixie dust that makes you a faster swimmer. That tooth fairy is a clever one.
She looks real happy to get her picture taken here.
Lost her front tooth.
And a few days later, lost the other!
I was being snoopy and read this journal entry from school:
"I lost my tuth last nite. I asct the tuth fareae for some flying picksea dust but insted she gave me pixea dust that makes me a betr swimir."
Our visit to Ace to see the baby chicks.
Ella had her 1st grade performance this month. She was a "flamenco dancer" with her dual-immersion class.
Amelie
My little side-kick is learning and growing. She can finally spell her own name (Amelie is a tricky one) and she is reciting the pledge of allegiance and singing her abc's. She is loving her time at Sunshine Circle Pre-school, and is hoping to go to pre-school at the elementary school next year (she really wants to ride the bus.)
We paid Shera a vist this month at her new, beautiful home in Mountain green. Here are Kenny and Amelie "washing" his motorcycle.
She was a little upset that I didn't get a photo of her actually holding the baby chick.
Amelie had "Special Visitor" day at her preschool this month. Her special visitor was her dad! She was so excited to show him around. They even did an art project together. She was all giggles when she told me that she painted dad's hand green!
Every once in a while Amelie and I go out to lunch together. It's probably one of my favorite things ever. We sit and talk, and enjoy a lunch together that I have to neither prepare, nor clean up. On this day we went to "Cafe Galleria" for some pizza. I think I may be treating her a little too often as she often asks if we can "go to lunch" after I get her from preschool twice a week. Perks.
Cameron
The snow has melted and our grass and dirt have once again reappeared. We had a few truck loads of dirt brought over last fall, so we can finish our bermed mounds in back with our landscaping. We are a few months out on their waiting list, so Cam decided to turn the mounds into a dirt track for the kids. So far we've had quite a few neighbors wipe out, but so far, no broken bones (well, at least not from the dirt track. A girl already broke her leg on our trampoline. So far no law suit.....)
Above, Cam is digging out a spot for a sweet jump.
Below, all the kids on the street testing out the new track.
This month we enjoyed our last ski day of the season. The girls and I had a blast, and Cam took his brother Collin and the boys off some gnarly stuff (as in there were warning signs that read "beware of cliffs." Double black diamond for the boys that day. Crazy kids! Crazy dad!)
The baby chicks at ace were so cute, we just couldn't resist. Plus, Cam wanted chickens anyways (he also wants bees, but that's a whole different story.) So, this month we got 5 baby chicks. We got a variety of birds, from "americana" to "cuckoo maran." Laying egg colors from dark chocolate brown, to blue. The kids all picked out and named their birds. From left to right is Shade, Belle, Fairy, Candy Corn and Thunder.
The kids and I also put together the chicken coop and painted it to match the colors of the house. Here the kiddos are helping me put it together. Dax is flapping his "wings" like a chicken, and Ella is plugging her nose because they stink.
Cindy
Being outside with the sun shining is therapy for my soul. And thought I still have another month before I can start weeding and planting, the sun and warmth is a welcome change of season. I continue to try and be a good mom (and good person). I think patience and love for others always tops my prayer list. I need all the help I can get!!
Me and my boys!
Two more months of our singing class! It has been such a treat to do this class over the years. I think this is the 5th year I've done it. Might shed a tear or two when this year is over.
Here is Amelie with her neighborhood friends, Luke G., Joey, Jake, Luke W., Isaac and Jonathon.
Dax made this heart for me one day. He cut out the felt, then stuffed it some cotton. Love that boy.
