Ella's first guitar concert

Ella loves playing the guitar and she loves her teacher. She had her first concert this Spring and she did an excellent job. It's too bad I can't add video clips to a scrapbook, but we took video and she didn't miss a note.

So proud of this fiery girl. She feels things very passionately and music seems like it's going to be a good outlet for her. I look forward to seeing her develop her talents and with her strong desire and ability to learn quickly who knows what she'll end up doing.

 

Easter 2017

This year Easter fell at the end of Spring Break, so after the National Zoo and a wonderful trip to visit friends in Roanoke, we had a nice weekend dying Easter eggs and doing Easter egg hunts. And somewhere in all of these fun traditions we are trying to teach our children about the love their Savior has for them. That really, this is the most important holiday of all, for we celebrate the atoning sacrifice of Christ, his death, and Resurrection. He loves! How wonderful that is.

Alex really enjoyed dying Easter eggs. 

So did the girls.

They turned out so pretty.

The kids enjoyed their Easter baskets this year.

The girls got purses from their grandma C and Alex got a cute hat and ukulele.

We tried to stay away from candy although what's an Easter basket without a chocolate bunny?

Then we were off to church. This was the best I could get folks.

After church (which was obviously the most important part of the day)we were ready for our Easter egg hunt. 

We enjoyed a nice dinner with nana and papa after our hunt. It was a beautiful holiday spent with special people. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Spring Break: Roanoke Here We Come!

My good friend, Kristin, and her family moved to Roanoke about a year ago and she has been asking us to come visit for a while. I figured this Spring Break seemed like a good time to take her up on her invitation. I was a little nervous taking all three kids on a road trip by myself, but they were excellent! The trip was a lot smoother than I imagined. Three hours in the car I guess is a bit easier than 6-7 to the beach, plus my kids are growing up and maturing. Anyway, we had a really nice time. The girls enjoyed playing with Kristin's kids who are similar in age. Kristin has four kids so we had seven between the two of us, but that didn't keep us from having a good time. It was chaotic and loud, but never boring. 

My sweet friend, Kristin, and her little Elizabeth, now five months old. This is the only pic we got of the two of us.

Our first night there we drove up the mountain to see the Roanoke Star, the largest man made star that lights up every night on the mountain overlooking Roanoke. I was also born in Roanoke and my paternal grandparents lived in Roanoke so it was a little like coming home. It was so beautiful!

The next day we enjoyed being tourists in cute little Roanoke. Not a big city by any means, but that made it easier to take the kids around.

Ella loved this guitar art. 

We also ate really huge pizza at Benny's. 

We went through the lobby of hotel Roanoke and toured downtown some more, getting ice cream along the way.

You can see hotel Roanoke in the background from this city rooftop.

We also died Easter Eggs while we were there. The kids loved that more than any site seeing we did. 

We also just enjoyed hanging out with our friends. At their home, at Chick Fila. The girls were obsessed with Ben and Peter's Lego collection. 

We really did have a lot of fun in the few days we were there. Then it was time to 
head home to enjoy Easter weekend with Shaun and the family. Another post shortly to come on our lovely Easter. But we are grateful for wonderful friendships that make life so fun and full of adventure, like my dear friend Kristin and her family.