Orchesis

These two gorgeous girls did a wonderful job at their dance concert in the dance they choreographed themselves!

just the usual

We had a regular old Saturday today, running some errands and then took the kids to Steak n' Shake.  I was laughing so hard at Archie because he was so so tired, but kept eating... We still think he's adorable.

Sufjan!

Today we had to say goodbye to Charles for the summer so we took him down to St. Louis where he caught a train to Kansas City to sell pesticide.  Fun stuff.  After we dropped him off we went to a yummy Korean restaurant for dinner and then to the Peabody Opera House to see SUFJAN!  He's my fave, for sure!  We had great, I mean completely amazing, seats!  And no one stood up in front of us, score!

Happy Birthday to my oldest son -- he came in with a bang and has been livening up our days ever since. I am so happy with the person he has become -- he is smart, has interesting opinions about everything, is a wonderful big brother, and is hi-lar-i-ous!!!

spring saturday

The weather has been so beautiful so we spent some time cleaning up the yard and then headed out to the soccer fields for a great, albeit quite windy, game.

"Mommy, is me being nice? I'll go to bed nice tonight, too." Oh, okay, I'll take it! A thank you to the hydrangeas for being a glimmer of loveliness through the long winter.

And another tooth down -- love that smile!

loose tooth

He lost first top tooth and the second front one soon to follow!

we're all together again

Hail, hail! The gang's all here! But only all together for three days.frown emoticonElla is off on Friday and Charles on Monday.  We had time for a little family photo shoot, so that was nice.

lovely lovely spring

Gah! What a gorgeous morning! Early thunderstorms followed by a burst of sunshine illuminating the green green grass, the dogwoods, forsythia, magnolias, tulips, daffodils. Spring is so pretty in Illinois! It almost makes the winter bearable... debatable.  To celebrate we decided to have lunch en plein aire

NATURE rarer uses yellow
Than another hue;
Saves she all of that for sunsets,—
Prodigal of blue,
Spending scarlet like a woman,	5
Yellow she affords
Only scantly and selectly,
Like a lover’s words. - Emily Dickinson

happy birthday to Ella Bella

Happy Birthday to my oldest -- she's 21! My oh my! She is such a wonderful big sister to all of the youngers and has been nothing but a delight from day one -- a gray and snowy afternoon 4:06 pm on 4/6/94.

We are so glad that she was actually with us to celebrate!