Little miss OCD like to have her candy organized before she eats it.

Check out Avery's bday shirt!

Super cute!

Avery is practicing.

Chase lost his first tooth! Actually, he pulled it out himself. Brave boy!

Working on her abs and posture already!

Garden update! Pay no attention to the shaggy lawn. That's Rion's job today.

Rion and Avery being silly.

Progess! Time to cut the mosquito netting.

As Eric puts it, they are "thread injecting" together. I love seeing my boys sewing manly things! They are making a camping hammock for Rion.

What you get when you mix a toddler with olives.

Eric is learning how to sew on this fine 4th of July!

What the heck, Hailey? She came downstairs and said something like, "I'm going to battle!"

Chase's first time on an upside down rollercoaster. They are in the very back.

This clip was from Rion's jazz concert on March 19th. They sound pretty good! Rion sure loves to play jazz music. I hope it lasts!

Saying Grace in a Restaurant - Priceless!

Sometimes we forget the really important things in life.

Last week, I took my grand-children to a restaurant. My six-year-old grand-son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Nana gets us ice cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all! Amen!"

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, my grand-son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my grand-son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer." "Really?" my grand-son asked. "Cross my heart," the man replied. Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my grand-children ice cream at the end of the meal. My grand-son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."

School Pictures

Rion - 7th Grade - so serious!

Hailey - 3rd Grade - Miss Smarty Pants!

Chase - Kindergarten - The year can only get better from here!

School Tears

Found out yesterday that Chase spends the first 1/2 hour to hour at school crying that he wants to go home. Poor little guy! Today we sent him off to school with a teddy bear in his back pack and a picture of Mom & Dad in his pocket. Hopefully that does the trick!