Performance Season

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 It's spring, which means performance season all the way around.....

Sweet friends - Margaret and Garrett preparing for their 

Kindergarten/1st Grade Spring Musical.

 Margaret "Sprouting"

 I do believe she has learned to perform for the camera, as well.

 

Matthew wanted in on the action and performed this stunt on himself...ouch!

At Ash Lawn, Margaret learned how to make candles and how to "perform" games they use to play for evening entertainment.

Matthew, again, pulling his own stunts in Sunday School.

 Apparently we have morning doves this year (in addition to the nests underneath the deck).  She chose not to bother building a nest inside the house and just laid her egg right there on the roof!

I failed to capture their enthusiasm, but Andrew and Margaret LOVED playing hooky to go see The Lion King in Richmond with Dody!  Granddaddy and Matthew had a special afternoon together while we were gone....not sure who had more fun---there seems to be quite a mutual fondness there:-)

Andrew's first piano recital was on stage at the auditorium at PVCC.  A grand piano staged his grand performance.  He did just great but, much more importantly, said it was a lot of fun, just like playing in church and in the church talent show!  (Praying this lasts...)

And Mommy's performance of the month???  Aging Michael an extra year on his birthday cake!  I'm ALWAYS relieved for his humor with me, "This is gonna be a bittersweet picture if I don't make it to next year!"  #whatwasIthinking

We hosted a Church Family Playdate on Derby Day, including Derby races for the kiddos (complete with a formula to adjust their times for age appropriateness), picks for the Kentucky Derby, and "pretty pink prize" for the winner---what a fun afternoon!

 

One must wear a helmet when riding a horse!

The pretty pink prize goes to Vail and Ella!

Michael and Andrew's Mother's Day lax game----Susan loved being back on the field again!

April's in the Bag!

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And just like that, April's in the bag.

There is no pool to overlook and no gin & tonic in sight, but I couldn't help but think of Mom as I sat on the deck picking green beans watching the boys play lax and listening to Margaret joyfully, "woo-hoo!" on the swing.  I wonder if they will remember these times.

 As Andrew played goalie, Matthew meticulously lined up all of his balls before he started shooting practice.

 Beautiful day for a game at St. Anne's...and comical when their opponents make them look like the poor guys in town....#goodpeoplewatching

 Sometimes, you just have to grab the closest rocket, poop in your pants, and pass out next to your sleeping bag.

"Dear Jesus, thank you for dieing on the cross for our lives.  It should've been me on the cross.  We don't deserve it.  Oh thank you Jesus.  I can never thank you enough.  Amen."

 School Fun Fair with Violet

The VERY best part of preschool is the opportunity to go read to their class and watch them do their morning weather and calendar routine, complete with "Blast Off!".

 Having finished all of his AWANA verse memorization for the year already, Andrew unselfishly helps the non-readers without even being asked, we are told by his leaders.

 Kathy's Sip n See at Grace Estates, complete with Baby Olivia, Lauren's priceless stories, and Ray Charles, apparently.

 Andrew lost 10 teeth fairly quickly, but hasn't lost any in over a year.  X-rays show he has two permanent teeth primed and ready to drop, but with no space.  So a double K-9 extraction was ordered. 

Quick and easy (for him), but I think I'll not watch next time if we go through this again. My stomach's getting queasier with age!

Good grief, those suckers were HUGE!!!

 Days later, Little Miss lost her first tooth---by contrast, you can barely even see it!

Waking up Margaret every morning---yep, there's a child in there somewhere.

 Making progress!  (And we're doing other things in the potty now, too - Hallelujah.)

 The Annual Dogwood Festival Parade, 

with acts and bands from all over VA and PA.

 Daddy, once again, pleading for a motorcycle for his birthday.

 Sunday afternoon game on the high school's turf field.  

I love everything about this picture.

 

 And the mysterious snaking plant is off the ground and blooming!

 

 An oldie from Christmas that just snuck in....

 His favorite place to sleep lately....not gonna be pretty the night he rolls off. 

Talent Show & Birthday Parties

One of the neat things about a smaller church is that you can have intimate functions like an annual talent show.  Andrew played his upcoming recital piece and did just great----no nerves at all and said it was really fun, just like playing in church! 

All three sang their books of their Bible song from AWANA.  Matthew might be the only child too young for AWANA that has already mastered some of the K-2 material----he's going rock the 3 & 4 year old material next year!  Really wish I could have trusted Matthew with a mic because his pronunciation of some of the books is absolutely priceless!

Birthday parties are so much more fun 

when the birthday boy's mom is a photographer:) 

6 year Princess party - they're in Heaven.

 Sweet, sweet friends...patiently waiting for Margaret to finish gymnastics and reading their magazines to each other.