A Weary Week and A Piano Recital

This was a long week. We had a lot of things to do to get the house ready to list and paperwork/phone conversations for the relocation. Appointments with the dentist, doctor, an unexpected flat tire (are any ever expected?), visits from a couple of different realtors for various things related to the relocation, a surprise showing to some of our realtor's clients (which we weren't at all ready for) and, oh yes, the Piano Recital.

Anna is in her first year of piano lessons with Toni Tetreau (our pastor's wife). She played her first recital piece this year, Rejoice in the Lord Always, as a duet with Mrs. Tetreau on Saturday night. She is not afraid of performing and she did an excellent job. Toni is a great teacher and Anna loves her lessons. She is one of the dear people that we are going to miss when we move!

Resurrection Sunday

A lot of people rise early on Easter Sunday for a special service. Anna got up around 10:00 on Saturday night-- but not for a worship service. Her tummy didn't agree with her dinner and we were up all night long cleaning out her system. Not the way I had imagined my Easter Sunday but we still had time to remember and celebrate the resurrection a little together and remember our hope in Christ.

We were planning to go early to church for breakfast and then attend the service. Instead, Anna and I stayed home (and Luke who napped) while the others went. When they got home we gave them small Easter baskets with a little candy and a 'prize' thing. Anna got a wallet, Jack got a forklift that someone sent home with Derek from work and Leah got her very own school bag/marker set so she can be like the big kids.

Luke got candy and he loved it. There were probably 5 or 6 Hershey Kisses in there and he recognized them and downed them as fast as he could get them open. He kept looking around at us like he was wondering if we knew he had all that candy and if we were going to stop him. He was focused.

Not more than 15 mintues later...

I called them up to dry off from the water play and gave them a little cookie snack. Anna took it hesitantly because she's had trouble biting with her loose tooth. She stuck her finger in her mouth to touch the tooth and out it popped! She was pretty excited, especially that it didn't hurt!! (see the two posts previous for the preview to this)

It's a beautiful day...

To make up for that last post here is a more pleasant scene. They're still out there playing as I type and having a ball.

This is yucky...

That tooth NEEDS to come out but she won't let us get near it. Maybe we'll be more forceful about it this weekend and see if we can get it out. Sorry about the food on her teeth, she was eating while we took this picture! This is the closest I could get to touching her tooth. She's not very brave in the slight-pain department.

This just looks bad.

Babies

My youngest sister is expecting her first baby! It will be fun to have a baby in the family again. Luke is at an age where he just loves babies. We had a friend's baby at our house for a few hours yesterday and he just loved it. He tried to give him toys, feed him his bottle and just pointed at him with his grunting noises all the time he was up. It was really cute to see him love this little guy. Watch out Kathy, I'll have a 2 year old ready to baby sit by the time your new one arrives!

California

It's official. Derek accepted the job with his current company back in California. We'll be moving to the Fontana/Rancho Cucamonga area in the next few months or whenever our home here sells. This is it... I hope. We knew our AZ stay would be short (didn't think it would be this short) and we wanted our next move to be one that stuck for a long time. We think this is it! As my old professor would say, we're off to the 'Land of the Fruits and Nuts' again. Frankly, after living there for decade, it feels more like home, or as our CA Realtor says, 'God's Country'. I'll sorely miss our church and friends here, and the kids are old enough to miss their friends, too, but God is always faithful to provide and we are so glad to have had this time with these precious friends.

Say Cheese

Nearly every time you point the camera at Luke he makes this face until the flash goes off and then he laughs a silly laugh. If you're takinga picture that doesn't need a flash, that confuses him and he's not sure when to end the 'cheesey' smile.

Sleeping

This seems to be a theme of a lot of posts, lately, but here we are again. After a late night out, this is how I found Jack on the floor of the school room during our afternoon quiet time. He took 'quiet' seriously and barely made a peep for the whole hour he slept in this position.

This one's for Mom

Look! I have living, blooming flowers on my front porch that I planted myself!! They won't last with the heat coming but here they are. And Mom, I know the name of it-- a geranium. I actually got them because they reminded me of the ones in Grandma's back walk area (Krebs) in that white planter.

The Ice Cream

They ate it in character: Anna with a book, Jack being silly, Leah with it running down her arms and Luke just plain cute. This is his first ice cream cone ever. He was mesmerized.

The Official Start of Summer

Official for us anyways. The kids got in the pool today for the first time since last fall. The water was a cool 65 but they all got in up to their neck and more... and enjoyed it. Their expressions after they first went down the slide were priceless... not of joy, but rather more like shock and trying to breathe at the same time. I tried so hard not to laugh at them! Then we got out the ice cream cones. Summer is here.

Actually, doesn't spring start in just under a week?

Bike Rides

The weather in the last month has been perfect for bike rides and we know it won't last so we've been doing a lot of them. The kids really like them and are getting fast. Leah keeps up really well and is the bravest when it comes to slanted pavement and bumps and other possible obstacles. Maybe she doesn't know enough to be afraid like the others. Jack and Anna stress about biking along the sidewalk where it slants down to a driveway and walk their bike over that section. Leah peddles along and just bikes on by them. Can I shame them into being more brave about it and trusting me that they won't fall? Probably not a good idea but I think on their own they've seen Leah go and realize maybe they could try it, too.

We're up in the 80's this week. I think that is warmer than normal, but I know that the 90's come regularly in April so it won't be long until these aren't as much fun anymore. Who would have guessed we'd bring our bikes out in winter and put them away for the summer?


There they go!

Luke in his 'ride'. He enjoys it now but didn't the first time we took him out a month or so ago. When we say, 'Want to go for a bike ride?' to the kids he makes an excited yell, sticks his hands in the air and tries to jump around. Then he makes a bee-line for the shoes and the garage. Sooo cute!

A sure way to break my new camera is to take pictures while I'm riding so I decided to stop for a little while and take a few.

Our Bikes Have Names

I think I mentioned this in an earlier post, but the bikes have names. We actually refer to them by these names. Anna likes to wash Starburst and then usually Leah and Jack wash Jewels & Pearls and Rocket at the same time.

Getting Ready

She has her helmet on... and at least it is the right way this time. She's working on the jacket part and obviously forgot to clean off the brownie from dinner! It takes a lot to get ready for a bike ride.

Freckles

I love those freckles on that darling face!

Saturday Afternoon Nap

This is Derek's way of getting out of painting! But how could you get up with such a cute thing snuggled up next to you? They slept that way for about an hour and a half last Saturday afternoon.

Sleeping on the Job

This is what happens when you tell a way-too-tired 3 year old to go clean up the play area before she goes to bed. The rest of us were working on cleaning up other things and this is how we found Leah... in the midst of all of our noise she just decided it was bedtime. Could she have been trying to get out of it?? :)


Overwhelmed!

They all look like angels when they sleep!