Lazy days?

We are enjoying our summer, but I think it's only "lazy" for the kids who don't have homework. For the parents who have to come up with more activities, some semblence of learning so their brains don't turn to mush & who push double strollers up steep hills on a regular basis to go to the park, it's anything but lazy!
Here's some of our adventures:
Going to the playground is fun for kids & getting there is good exercise for mommy!


D just turned 8 and will be baptized soon. (For more information about our views on baptism, click here)

Miss H will sing at the baptism. She's so pretty in her dress.
We went downtown for a PBS kids event. (You can see I cut my hair to get it off my neck.)


I made a teepee for the kids to play in until we get a playhouse built. Miss H is sitting in it in her pjs... Lazy days of summer!

Space Party

D wanted a party to celebrate the new house & the end of school.
So this weekend we had 8 eight-year old boys over for a Space party. It was crazy, but fun. Here's a peak. (Miss H & Lil'Stinker are sporting the "jet packs" made from a cereal box, painted silver, and soda bottle feul tanks.)


We had pizza for dinner. We did a space race relay where they wore jet packs, squirted aliens with water guns, shot moon balls into a rocket & orbited around cones. Then we had them build space objects with legos. (This was the only calm part of the party- we were amazed how they quietly & cooperatively constructed legos!) I made a moon cake for dessert. It was fun!

Easter Events

This year, D asked that the baskets be found after a treasure hunt since he loved the St. Patrick's day treasure hunt at his cousin's house.



Miss H had a ballet leotard in her basket which she LOVES. She wants to start ballet & practices twirling on her tiptoes.






















CUTE KIDS... let's sugar 'em up before church & see if their teachers agree with us...














I like how D is laying on the floor. I was so tired after staying up late composing rhyming clues & stuffing/hiding eggs that I wanted to do the same.





Our Easter art: The painted egg is from our oldest. The empty tomb is from Walter Rane. It's titled "He is not here". I've found myself starring at it so much lately. Such a simple image but such a powerfully reassuring message.

New House & Nauvoo

We planned to go visit my brother in Nauvoo, Illinois for spring break. Even though it was less than a week after our loss, we decided to go anyway since we need the hugs & time with family all the more. My parents came from DC & it was so good to see them too & to go to the temple.
The kids all had such fun playing together.

Also, I promised pictures of the new house...













The living room & family room have a see-through fireplace.












We love the open kitchen & just all the extra space in general.





This last picture shows the blanket & hat we made for the baby laying over the box that holds her ashes on our dresser. The willow tree figure is from friends & is called "Angel of Hope" which describes perfectly how we feel about her.

Hope

Baby Hope
Delivered into God's hands March 14, 2011.
5 inches long - tiny, but perfect...
We will miss our little angel.

We're the proud FORMER owners...

We sold our townhouse! It closed this afternoon right on time even though there were lots of questions whether everything would go through as scheduled (for example, our appraisal was just yesterday which was the day we moved. I wasn't striping beds first thing in the morning I was making them very neatly & cleaning like mad!)
THANK YOU to everyone who helped us move. We really appreciated the support!
We're scheduled to get keys to the new house tomorrow, so we're in a hotel tonight. The kids are enjoying the pool.
Pictures of the new house coming soon...

Good news & more good news!

Our midwife did an ultrasound for us yesterday. Baby is about as big as we thought (8 1/2 weeks) & we saw it's little heart thumping.

Also, we've accepted an offer on our townhouse, so if all goes smoothly, we'll move in March! Not sure where exactly yet (we still haven't heard on the short sale we put an offer on in Aug.) but the selling end is what's tough in this market. It's hard to go wrong buying right now.

We're so happy we feel like dancing!