Spring

Finally it seems we're getting some spring weather.

I think the thing that most says spring to me is when our ornamental trees bloom.

I especially love the pink one in front of the front door. Unfortunately, the flowers don't stay around very long--what with the Kansas wind and all.




I also love the row of trees just outside our back fence that seem to form a sort of canopy over the grass.

Sheryl Crow concert

What a great night!

Dan and I had a date night with our friends, Jeff and Kathryn. We had a wonderful dinner at Uptown Bistro and then went to the Sheryl Crow concert.

We had great seats--sixth row right off the center of the stage. I don't think we could have had better seats.

The concert was awesome. Sheryl can really sing and gives a great performance. I think the small theater at Century II really helped. It seemed like she was giving a private performance, not playing a huge concert.

Invention Convention

Today Brett's second grade class had an "invention convention."
The kids each made an invention to share with the class.

Brett decided to make a light-up baseball. In his presentation, he said that he needed a baseball that lit up because his dad often doesn't get home until after dark, and with this new ball, they can now play catch at night.

Brett and his light-up baseball

There were lots of other neat inventions. Among the ideas from the scientists of tomorrow:

Davina and her reaching pole



Emisha and her box to put away dishes
that go high up in a cabinet
(I'd be scared to see how this works!)



Tate and his two-handled bag opener


There was, of course, the "make the light
bulb glow" invention


Mallory demonstrating her smore maker


Nathan showing Casey his Lego sorter
(it was sort of like a sifter for Legos)


McKenzie's invention claimed to make it
easier to make your bed by sewing accent pillows
together so you only had to remove one pillow
instead of three separate ones

But I have to say the one that took the cake, was the one from Lauren. It was a contraption that held an extra roll of toilet paper on the toilet paper dispenser.

As she told the class, it was really handy "when you're on the pot and you holler for more toilet paper, but no one is able to help you."

Great weekend

We had a pretty busy weekend.

Dan's uncle, David, came to town this weekend. He performed with the Kansas City Men's Choir at a concert Friday night at the Orpheum Theater. I've never seen a choir concert, so it was really great.

Uncle David always brings something for the boys, and this time was no exception. He brought the boys each a bag of swimming toys including flippers, scuba masks, and snorkels.

The boys modeling their masks with Uncle David

On Sunday morning, Dan and I took our first yoga class at the Y with our neighbor Missy. I've never done yoga, but I have to say it really does stretch you out.

In the afternoon, we took advantage of the nice weather (finally!), and worked in the yard and went for a bike ride to our neighborhood park.

We even managed to spend some time at the Avery's house, enjoying Mike's new deck for the first time this spring. While we were there, Mike had the boys shovel some extra dirt he was giving to Captain Don into a wheelbarrow. They really got into it.

Tanner, Carson and Brett working hard

Birthday party

On Saturday night, we celebrated Lauryn's third birthday with a fondue party. It's a fun way to eat. Kathryn and Jeff provide shrimp, chicken and beef cubes for us to cook in mini-fryers. There is, of course, also melted cheese and bread cubes for dipping.

My chicken on a stick

Jeff and Kathryn call Lauryn their little monkey, so the birthday cake was made to celebrate that.

The cake

There was also a chocolate fountain for dessert. Man was that great.

Casey and his marshmallow on a pretzel rod

(I made sure they didn't double-dip)

Since we all go camping together, we bought Lauryn a Dora inflatable sleeping bag. Now she will be all ready for our big Memorial Day camping trip.

Lauryn opening her new sleeping bag

Stuffed peppers

Tonight I made stuffed peppers for dinner. For some reason, Brett loves them and often asks me to make them. Personally I just think he likes eating the meat out of the pepper. They are fun to eat, and I have to say both boys actually ate most of their peppers.

We're really lucky. Our boys are really good eaters--they aren't fussy and there are only a few things they don't like.

Brett enjoying his favorite dinner



Casey eating his pepper

Easter morning

Happy Easter!

Dan and I were up at 5 a.m. this morning seeing my parents off to the airport, but the boys didn't get up until 8.

The Easter Bunny made his annual appearance bringing candy, new Spiderman scooters and Crayola Color Surge coloring sets.

The boys and their baskets


Casey checking out his basket


Brett trying the edible Easter grass I found


Casey FINALLY getting the robin's eggs
he's been begging for all month