Spring!

We have had a beautiful spring around here.  Kenneth has been hard at work on the garden.  I love to see it grow.  I've never really been involved in the planting, that's always Kenneth's job, but I do help with the weeding and harvest.  The kids love these chickens!  We got the chicks out with the chickens, finally, and after some squabbling and separating, they are finally all together and we didn't even have a fatality!
Kate is really growing up.  Oh, and she thinks she is a chicken, too apparently.

Kate decided she is ready to spoon-feed herself

Kate loves the chickens; not so sure if the feeling is mutual.

Kate chasing the chicks!

 

Caught one!

Can you tell how delighted she is?!?

Grant with his Americana

Chives in our yard

We actually got to see our peonies this year.  Last year we missed them completely- hadn't bloomed before we left for New York and had already lost the blooms by the time we got back.

They grow up too fast!

Afternoon smoothie in the chicken coop!

Kenneth planting/ transplanting.

How do you like my tomato plants?  Interesting varieties, eh?

The eight new chickens.

Chicken Little

Funny baby!

Hello California!

Kate, Kenneth and I were in California last week.  We had a wonderful time!  Kenneth had work in Livermore, just a half hour away from where we used to live out there, so Kate and I tagged along to visit friends.  Kate was a wonderful traveler.  She slept and napped in a different place the four nights we were there, but she did great!  Our first stop after landing in San Francisco was to see my Aunt and Uncle in Berkeley.  We hadn't been to their house in 11 years!!  And sadly, we only saw them one time during our 2 1/2 years living in California, so I wanted to make it a priority.  We had a great visit and they were delighted to meet little Kate.  She didn't really want them to touch her (that is normal for her), but she was cute anyway. 
Our second stop was the temple in Oakland- just a few minutes from my Aunt and Uncle's home.  Unfortunately, we didn't call, just assumed, we could go Saturday evening, but the temple was already closed.  We enjoyed walking around a little and just being on the grounds, though.
We visited the Milpitas Ward, spent time with great friends, had lunch with other good friends.  It was just fun to talk and glean ideas from each other.  It felt like we had never left!  Everyone missed the kids, but it was too much to bring everyone out on this trip.  The last night we were there we also went out to a fantastic restaurant called Dish Dash.  It was Middle Eastern food and amazing.  We loved it.  (It was, I guess, a celebration of our 10th Wedding Anniversary a week early- can you believe it!!!!  10 years!!!!) 
Kate even slept on the plane on the way out and the way home.  She is such a good baby!  (Except that she's not so much of a baby any more.  She is really growing up!)  She even learned to say, "no" on the plane ride out.  Great. 
I didn't bring the camera with me, so I just have the pictures from my phone.  I didn't do a great job taking pictures of everyone, just some people =(. 
One memorable thing was: Little T Riker wanted us to sit with them in church, so we did.  At one point he was having a hard time being quiet and G leaned over and said to me this is why we don't usually sit with friends.  T immediately said, "They are not my friends, they are my cousins!"  Later in the week when we hadn't returned to his house he asked his mom where his cousins were and why they hadn't come back.  So sweet.  I feel very privileged. 

Here are the pictures:

Kate at the Oakland Temple

Kenneth and Kate at the temple, overlooking the city

Kate and C- M and I were both pregnant with these two when we moved.

Kate hanging out with the Hills.  We had so much fun visiting!

V and P- oh how we miss doing Mighty Kids Co-op with these boys!

Kate and L- these 2 were little hambones together!

K and D with Kate and me

Kate showing her mad trampoline skills with L.E. and T.R.  I am amazed at how well she manages on the trampoline.  She loves it!

We had such a great visit.  I am very grateful for the dear friends I made in California.  I know that we were supposed to be there at that time in our lives.  I learned so much from my friends there- things that will bless me for the rest of my life.  Thank you, dear friends!

All tuckered out

All tuckered out after a day of travel.  So sweet:

Sleeping Beauties

These ladies had trouble falling asleep in their own beds and this us where we found them:

It is a strange little space between the wall right at our bedroom door and the railing above the stairs.  It was funny, when we talked about it in the morning, Arianna didn't know Emma was with her; she joined Arianna after she was already asleep!

Here's Kate the same night when we checked on her.  Such an angel!

Happy 8th Birthday, Emma!

We can hardly believe Emma is 8!!! 

Emma with the 'You are Special Today' Mug.  My Mission President gave it to me on my mission.

She was so excited that her Birthday fell on a Saturday this year so that Daddy could stay home all day and she didn't have to do school.  We had a great day together!  The famous Birthday Caterpillar came to visit, but this time, on Emma's request, in the form of a butterfly.  It was a hit!  Along with that she requested Cinnamon Breakfast Cake and scrambled eggs.  After Breakfast she opened her first gift. . .rollerblades.  I have to give Kenneth credit for this one (even though I am the major rollerblader).  She was very excited and strapped them right on to try them out.  The first loop around our street was a little rocky, but by the end of the day she was doing much better.  Give her a month and I bet she will be a pro.  I am excited to be able to go out blading with her!  The other kids have said they want rollerblades when they get older, too.  We bought them online from Dick's Sporting Goods and they arrived in less than 48 hours!  That's my kind of shopping! 

For lunch she requested homemade pizza.  (Thanks, Betsy; I only use your pizza dough recipe now)

I was going to make a salad to go along with it,  but with our rollerblading and all, I ran out of time, so we just had pizza and I even pulled out the bottle of root beer we happened to have  down in the basement.  I felt like a total rebel!  (We NEVER drink soda and we NEVER eat pizza without vegetables to go with it!)  Kenneth even told me he was having a hard time even enjoying it it was so unusual for us.

After lunch she opened her siblings gifts and we went rollerblading again.  For dinner, Emma invited her piano teacher and her husband and another family in our ward.  She wanted her traditional birthday dinner of Swedish Meatballs with a vegetable tray (at her own request, believe it or not, and she wanted a BIG section of broccoli).  We also had watermelon and pound cake with strawberries and cream for dessert.  Last minute we made a piñata and it was a big hit with all the kids.  We ended to evening with opening gifts. 

It was a great day! 

I am so proud of Emma.  Eight years old is a special birthday in our Church; Emma can be baptized.  She will be baptized at the beginning of June while we are visiting in New York, so that family can be with us.  Grandma Pilz gave her a special white towel to help her remember her upcoming baptism with her name, CTR, and her baptismal month on it.  

Here is the Birthday Interview (pictures to follow):

How old are you today?  Ahhh, eight.

How soon will you seek employment to help pay the family bills and fund this operation?  I don't know what that means.

Why is this a special birthday for you? Because I'm turning eight.

     What does that mean?  That means I'll be baptized.

On what day of the week were you born?  I was born on Wednesday.

     How did you know that?  Because Ma told me.

If you encountered a chicken crossing the road, please describe what you would do first:  Ahhh, I would,...if I saw one of my chickens crossing the road I would run and catch it and bring it back to the chicken coop.

What are you going to do for your special day today?  Jump on the trampoline with Dad.

     Is that it?  No, but I'm not going to tell you any more.

What are you expecting to receive as presents today?  An American Girl doll.

     Is that what you think is in that box over there?  Umm, I don't know.

     Will you be upset if Grant hides your present? Yes, very upset.

     Will you be disappointed if you only get $6.00 from Grandma?  No.

     You'll understand?  Yes.

     What if you don't get any dollars, just a present, will you send Grandma a bill?  No way.

Do you have a nick name?  Yes

     What is it?  Ma.

     [Mom] What do I call you?  Louiser.

     Do you like that?  No way.

What do you enjoy doing most?  Going to the Farm.

 

How is school going for you?  I don't know - I'll answer it later.

     When later?  Umm, now...Um good.

     Is that it?  Yup.

What has been your favorite subject this year?  History and Art.

How many poems have you memorized?  I have no idea.

     Can you give an estimate? About 14.

How many prepositions have you memorized?  [After some thoughtful counting]...31.

How many spelling words do you learn each week?  20.

Are you a mammal, an amphibian or a reptile?  A mammal.  Not anything else.

 

How many books have you read this week?  Ummm 2 or 3.

     What is your favorite book?  Mystery books...the Falcon's Feathers (A-Z Mysteries)

What is your favorite animal?  Horses.

     Why?  Because you get to ride them - but you don't let me

     Do we have a horse to ride?  Umm [no answer].

What is your favorite color?  Purple and blue.

What is your favorite food?  I don't know, there are too many choices.

What is your favorite treat?  Ice-cream.

     Any particular kind of ice cream?  No...wait, Butter Brittle.

What is your favorite song?  Book of Mormon Stories.

What is your favorite movie or show?  Barbie and a Pony Tale.

What is your favorite thing to do?  Play with Daddy.

Where is your favorite place to go?  To the farm.

What is your favorite toy?  My black horse.

What is your favorite time of the day?  The afternoon

     Why? Because I get to read books.

 

Who is your best friend?  Nani.

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A Mom like you.

Who is going to pay for your college education?  You Two.

 

Who loves you the most?  The Godhead.

What have you learned in your eight years of experience?  Mostly about animals.

 

Emma, how would you describe yourself? As a pretty princess, like Dad always calls me

Any last words for your Birthday interview?  No thank you.  Can I open my presents now?

Birthday Breakfast

Hello Birthday Butterfly!!

 

Breakfast again



I think the other two were just as excited about the gift opening as Emma was!

Rollerblades!

Getting them strapped on.

 

She's excited!

 

She's pretty stable on the carpet.

 

Learning to rollerblade

She needed me to hold onto her the first time around

 

Emma actually spent a lot of the day doing this.  She is really into the A to Z Mysteries right now and couldn't put the current book down!



It's a bunny!  Emma came with me to pick out the ponies for her cake the other night and saw this on clearance and really wanted it, so I let her get it for her birthday.

It hops.  It is pretty cute, I guess.



Presents from Grant and Arianna.  I took them to the thrift store Thursday night to pick something out for Emma.  They were excited about giving her the gifts!

Grant found her that castle (for 10 cents!) and Arianna bought her that basket (Arianna and I painted it white and put a bow on it to spruce it up)

Tug-of-war with the kids after dinner

We let Emma decorate one side and Arianna the other side.  With a January Birthday, we have never done a piñata for Arianna.  Here are pictures of the piñata (after the fact):

Arianna's side

Emma's side

 

 

Piñata!



Whack it, Grant!

Emma knocked it off the hanger without breaking it open her second turn.

Daddy through it all in the air for the kids to collect

Kate is usually such a Momma and Daddy's girl it is rare for her to let anyone else interact with her much.  She's finally gotten used to Amanda, the piano teacher and my friend.  I can't tell you how happy this picture makes me!

 

Birthday Cake with funny trees, two ponies and an 8.

Yummy cake!

She loves her new ponies

Opening gifts with friends

 

What"s in your jar?

For art today, I gave the kids a jar shaped piece of paper and asked them to use their imagination to fill them.  Here's what they came up with:






It was a really fun project!  From left to right: Arianna, Emma and Grant.  

We are reading The a Chronicles of Narnia as a family (we're on Prince Caspian) and this week Emma decided to pick it up and start reading it on her own from the start.  I love to see her read!  Arianna is reading Stuart Little (which I read to them a couple of years ago) and really enjoying it, too.  I am so proud of them!

Grant has started to really be interested in writing.  I haven't wanted to push it at all, but he is asking for help writing words.  For example, we started a Gratitude Journal as a family and Grant wanted to join in.  Here's one of the pages:

You can easily spot Grant's entries- the G at the front and the BIG writing!  Emma is such a sweet girl.  Look at all those entries!