April Happenings

Since Breck and I were gone for Craig's b-day, we did a little birthday dinner when we got back. Staying true to tradition with our salmon, potatoes, asparagus, and apple crisp. These kids sure are lucky to have such a great dad!

We didn't get around to dying eggs this year. Instead, on the FHE following Easter we attemped string eggs. This involves dipping string through a 1/1 sugar-water mixture and wrapping them around a balloon. Aside from our normal potpourri of perfectionism, anger managment issues, "can't help but break, spill, and generally knock things over because I can't sit still" we had a good time. This experience immediately reminded me of Pres. Uchdorf's talk about good sacrifices. We will never attempt this inside again, and probably not in the after dinner-before bed state of being, but all in a all, a fun project.

Rhyse loves her chicks. She daily runs up and asks, "I hold my chick?" They are getting much quicker, but she still manages to catch them.

Pepper is a favorite with everyone. After we've been away for whatever duration, the kids always clamor out of the van trying to reach Pepper first. They great her with their highest pitch "HHIIIIII, PEPPPPERR! You are so glad to see me!!!!! She returns with the fastest, wriggling, wiggling, ballistic dance you've ever seen, almost assuradely accompanied by what we call, "happiness dribbles."

Having a picnic!

Breck and Parmesan.

I'm thrilled to report that I have 5 different types of tulips blooming. They were a gift from Kara ( a dear friend in Centerville) and they bring me great joy as I drive into my driveway each day. I have sprayed the heck out of them (like every three days-instead of the every three months or something that the labels recommends) to keep the deer at bay. So far, so good....

Capriel finally got her birthday present this week. (Yes, her birthday is in December, but I just can't do Christmas and B-days at the same time) THough her new 18 inch wheels take a little boost to get on top of, she is now experiencing new speeds. Watch out!

Though Rhyse is a little handicapped with her probably-6inch wheels, her round little legs can really pump fast. I love to look out the window and see her chasing around, "catching" someone.

This is Capriel's latest favorite dancing ensemble. Inspired by her favorite Soundtrack, Tangled, she will often race off to her room coming back in this hand-me-down from Getti (who unbelievably fit in it) and begin dancing. She loves it when her awkward Mother relaxes enough to step into her eternal role as prince-whose only job is to fling her into breathtaking and gravity defying lefts. No matter what position I manage to heft her into she always creates something with extension, flair and energy (even if I'm nearly dropping her on her head!)

We hit the Willow park zoo for a field trip this week and were highly entertained by some very flamboyant male peacocks. My favorite memory of the day had to be watching Rhyse feed her little handful of duck food to two black and white ducks. She found a rock away from the crowds of kids and ducks and quietly fed her pair of duck friends. When she ran out of food, she quickly and silently ran between the legs of the kids and adults who were frantically getting more food out of the dispenser and carelessly dropping a nugget here and there. She would gather a few and run back to her rock and the two awaiting ducks. It was a sweet moment to observe.