Grace's Spring Choir Concert

The theme was lighter this spring: Birds.  

Let's put the rooster in the stew!

Blackbird, fly.

More Mother's Day Gifts

Haircuts, fountains, and a van that keeps plugging along!

Spoiling MY Mother...

 Wheelbarrows full of dirt may seem like a weird way to show love, but it turns out they align right with G'ma Joan's love language!  Micah and I went down for the day to finish distributing the pile of manure that Uncle Pat brought last year.  LOTS of hauling...but it was so great to finish that pile!!!  We had such a fun time visiting throughout the work, and it was as much a gift for me as it was for her!  Micah was a trooper!  This year we had the cousins stay away to avoid the HFM...but I tend to always bring sick kids to the farm to recuperate! Ha!

Happy (Crazy!) Mother's Day!

 So...Micah acquired Hand Foot and Mouth Disease this May (and single-handedly shut down the co-op preschool for the week!) and Mother's Day looked a little different.  We played AZUL, which was a great gift, and then I went to teach Sunday School by myself--no germs in SS!  I talked to the Van Sickles and they felt so badly that we were shut-up for Mother's Day that they showed up with a big petunia to brighten my day.  What sweet friends!!!  I finally lost it, and decided to expose everyone at Panera to HFM...we had to get out of the house! 

Moms, Muffins, and Milo

 Shana was so sweet to go to Moms and Muffins in my place on Friday, May 10!  The kids were excited to show her the ropes.  And Milo is at G'ma Dianne's!  Taylor moved in with Dianne and Dennis, and Micah fell in love with her dog, sweet Milo!

Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly Away Home...

Lady bugs to the rescue!  I forgot to spray my pest-infested snowball bush again this year so when I saw the ladybugs at the Fred Meyer nursery check-out, I snagged the easier option!  What fun!  I'll let you know if they fix the plant...if nothing else, we've introduced the little ladies to he neighborhood!

Baby Alisa!!!  We are big Eccleshall fans at this house...

Flowers, birthdays, and Stain Glass

 Pots are planted!  Preschool big boys show up in matching neon.  Micah sees Brooklyn on our visit to school to celebrate Auntie Melissa's birthday.

This was the season that Mead Alternative was on the list of school cuts...what a hard season for us!  Jeff worked hard to advocate for the school, spending late hours balancing numbers, communicating with board and community members, etc.  In the long run, we were saddened with the news that this would be Mead Alternative's last year.  All sorts of processing and disappointment and "lasts" ensued...

May Beginnings!

 Micah lost his second tooth at church, and after the first dramatic losing--we tried to make this one light by taking a picture.  :)

And one Friday night I went with Alea and Heidi to Doggie School!  It was so fun--and funny!--to see all of those dogs and owners working together.  (Or not so much!) Alea is an excellent dog owner.  Heidi and I giggled on the sidelines as we saw some owners with some interesting methods.

Levi graduated from WSU!  (And this is the only pic I took at his afternoon party at Jerry and Sheyanna's!) The calendar says that on this particular Saturday we attended three soccer games in Spokane, provided snack at Micah's game, FaceTimed with Kaitlyn in Austria, and went down to Colton to party for the afternoon. Phew! 

 And then...BLOOMSDAY!  Love our tradition of going with the Showalters and Largents!  Micah stayed with Annie and the boys, but we're thinking next year he'll be ready for this!

 Ran into our favorites again at the top of Doomsday Hill...it was Evie's birthday!

April and May Birthday Extravaganza!

Soccer, Sleepovers, and THE FIRST HIKE OF THE SEASON!

 Soccer for THREE is in full swing this spring!  We are hopping!

 Hailey invited Grace and I to their Spring Tea at their church.  So fun.

Janie came to sleep over this weekend!  On the way home the next day we stopped to hike at Antione Peak.  "Let's hike the whole thing holding hands in a chain like this..."  Loved it! 

Jeff and I were cracking up with our whiny hikers.  I finally said that post-hike Dutch Bros only goes to hikers who've said TEN positive things.  "I like the color of those leaves, said with a a grumble..."Micah's not THAT annoying..."  ha! We worked hard to build the hiking stamina! 3.7 miles was a good start!