No photos

I had the video camera out this week, and forgot to put my card into my digital camera. So, you'll have to use your imagination this week as I describe things.

We have official signs of spring. 4 of Emily's 5 caterpillars made their metamorphosis into beautiful painted lady butterflies. We kept them and fed them with sugar water and orange slices for 4 days. Then we noticed other butterflies outside and realized the weather was sufficiently warm for them to be released. I recorded them just before letting them go on the video camera. It was a really cool thing to watch. Thanks grandma and grandpa!

The wind has been blowing alot the past few days and the kids were able to try out their kites that the Easter bunny brought them. Jacob has a buzz light-year kite, Tara a 'hello kitty' and Emily a "barbie"one. They are getting really good at flying them alone. Of course, most of the time they are running to keep the kites up, but hey, it's entertaining and excercise all at the same time.

Jacob wore a bow tie to church today. We couldn't find his red one, I bought him a new blue clip on, but he refused to try it. He has had this bow tie in his drawer for 3 years...he wore it happily today, and for some reason he was not his usual grumpy self. Maybe it's a magic tie.

The girls both got their report cards on Friday. They both did a great job, as always. Emily is crusing with her reading. We just forgot to work on identifying coins...I didn't realize she'd be tested on that. Oops. We have til next term to get it right. Tara did great, and her teacher loves her, says she's looks exactly like a smaller version of her best friend.

Gene starts his golf league tomorrow with work. He hasn't done that in a couple of years, it should be fun and a good outlet for stress at work. He's heading to Chicago next week. And this is cool..he will be in Nurenberg the second week of May.
We spent this weekend spraying for ants around the house and then going through all the vacuum attatchments and doing some real spring cleaning around the house. It really is my favorite time of year. Windows open, scrubbing away the accumulated dirt that we can't usually see in the darkness of winter.

We had dinner Thurs. at Chili's. We have a deal with the owner that he will donate a percentage of profits made one night a month to anyone in the school who turns in a reciept. This is our second time to go and the kids cleaned their plates. It really was fun to see all their school friends out on the town. I got 'roped' into doing kindergarten round-up for PTA on Tues. So, I've arranged for several volunteers to do personal tours of the school for incoming kindergarteners and families. It should be fun. Plus, Jacob practically lives in that school, so he doesn't need a special time to tour the place...he will be one confident kindergartener. We have a clothing drive going on too, so I'll be at the school in my off hours organizing incoming clothes.
I also am going with Tara on her last field trip for the year. (I haven't been on one yet, Gene usually goes)...so, it should be fun on Tuesday. I'll do my best to remember my camera this week. We look forward to Jonathan and Kristi visiting sometime in the near future. Glad you had a good birthday Kayla. Hope all was well with the Messiah. We think of you all often and miss you.
Have a happy week.

Happy Easter

It's been a fun spring break. We had 2 playdates at the park, went to the zoo to check out the new ribbit exhibition...we saw electric blue frogs and a huge albino snake. The news was there, and I bet Jacob will be in quite a few shots as he could not avoid the video cameras. The huge willow tree at the kids elementary school was blown over in the storm and the next day we saw it took out a few benches at the kindergarten playground. Emily sprained her toe break-dancing the night before the easter egg hunt so she didn't get to go egg-hunting. Tara and Jake had a good time. Unfortunately, without realizing it, Tara traded her two "golden eggs" for shiny rainbow ones with her friends. Both other friends found out and won the prizes. There was a little sadness, but then we went shopping for an easter dress and all was well. For her activity days goal, Tara shopped, cooked and served dinner to us on Saturday. She did such a great job, that I am sure she will love to cook on her own more often. Yeah!
Happy Birthday to Kayla.
The girls both had fifth's disease this week. Just a huge rash all over their bodies. We didn't know they had it until the rash showed up. Luckily, there's no pain, just alot of itching and being tired. We hope you all are well.

Happy St. Pattys day

We had a great week. The girls both had their school performances this week. Emily's kindergarten did an under the sea "go fish" musical. Emily was an orange fish who said "the crazy clown fish have arrived to brighten our day!" She did a great job, she spoke very clearly and enthusiastically. She knew all the words to the songs a long time ago.
Tara had a rythms festival. Her class did fun things with a parachute to music. At the very end, they poked their heads out ...you can see in the picture.
Emily made a "snow angel spudette" potoato person to celebrate st. patrick's day.
I helped in Emily's class on Tues. and on Friday. But Friday I ended up taking 4 kids to the nurse, teaching the substitute nurse how to use the thermometer, and taking Emily home early because of a really bad rash (which is the result of a virus she had a week ago, and now the rash has shown up, she's no longer contagious). 4 days later, she still has this rash..I think we'll take her to the dr. and check it out. Tara had her party and made leprechans and hats. I'll need to get a picture.
We had to cancel the easter egg hunt because of rain on Saturday.

Elephant and baby zebra

the beloved cotton candy

At the circus

Tara's latest art work

Gene's Birthday and the circus

To celebrate Gene's last year in his 40s....we went to the circus. We had a great time. The kids were in the edge of their seats the whole time. Jacob's favorite part of the circus were the clowns. Emily loved the lions and Tara said she loved "everything". We had cotton candy and popcorn (and gummie bears I snuck in my purse). I couldn't believe a snow cone was $10. Outrageous! Gene had no meetings, no where to go. We just stayed at home together...it was the first time in a long time to do that. He said he didn't want a birthday cake, so we made a cherry pie.
The Stk. pres. finally came over and got the corn meal corn that we had under the house since the fall harvest. He ground the corn and gave us half. It made alot of cornmeal. Guess I'd better learn how to use that kind of flour.
Emily is ready for her kindergarten program tomorrow. She has a speaking part. She's so excited.....well, we were a little less excited this morning with one hour less sleep. We'll show pictures tomorrow.

Caterpillars, brakes and Jonny 5

Today both Emily and Jacob are running around in their spiderman outfits. We ordered pizza last night and watched "Independance day". Jacob fell asleep on the trampoline and Emily fell asleep on the couch during the last 5 minutes of the movie. On Friday we were lucky to have Dad come home early from work and fix the washer. He replaced the pump, figured it all out just by checking out instructions on-line. Emily went over to Maya's house to play and then Maya came over until dinnertime. We then watched "Short Circuit". The kids loved Jonny 5. I had forgotten so much of the movie, and was surprised by the amount of not so good language. But, overall, it was a fun trip down memory lane.
Wednesday the brakes in our van went out. Of course, it was the only day in Knoxville that we had icy roads and snow in the morning. We took the van in immediately and found there was next to no brake pads left. We have just about replace that whole interior engine if you count the battery from last week too.
Tara went to Activity days and passed off her first 2 articles of faith and made goals for the rest of the year. Emily got a butterfly canopy for her birthday and the caterpillars arrived, all are still alive after traveling in the mail. One has even trekked to the top of the canister. We will show you photos as the transformation takes place.
On Tues. We had book club here at the house. The kids went to grandmas. We read the book "Emily of New Moon". Marisa and Kayla I think you would like it.
Tara is reading the Magic Tree house series and is on book #14. I helped in Emily's class on Tues. (her teacher was gone most of the week with osteoarthritis developing in her back.) I helped on Friday in her class too to do odd jobs whereever I was needed. We got cute pictures of Brielle and Brinlee too.