April (part ONE)

Don't you just love the interesting title I gave this post?  I have a LOT of photos to share from this month so I thought I'd break it up into three parts.  Part one (also known as Pre-Europian Vacation), part two (the wonder that is Austria), and part three (post-europian bliss).  So let's get started, shall we?


Early in the month, Mark and I got up early to witness the lunar eclipse.  Due to our position on Earth, we could only see the first half before the moon set and the sun rose.  Here's what it looked like for those of us east of the Mississippi.

We have been working hard to raise money for a single mother I know who is raising a boy with special needs and is in desperate need for a car.  The children's school has a very generous and giving spirit, and agreed to let us hold a bake sale to raise money.  The kids were so excited to help with it.





Another season of softball and baseball has begun which translates to lots and lots of time outdoors.  Here's Charlie and Morgan entertaining themselves during Taylor's practice.






Mark and I went to an Easter egg hunt the day before easter and invited the Wells family to join us.






Then we celebrated with skyline.


(and an impromptu photo shoot as I was location scouting on the way home)


I did not forget the obligatory egg dying activity that accompanies Easter every year.  Luckily, they love eating hard boiled eggs which justifies making a lot of them!


I was a little late this year and we ended up dying them the day before Easter.  I did not want stained hands on Easter, so we improvised with these gloves and rubber bands.






I skipped the obligatory bunny ear headbands this year so the kids did some improvising of their own.



The next morning the kids woke me up at 8:02AM excited to find their baskets. (I had told them they could come in at 8)






Then we took a quick family photo and headed to church.


After church we went to the Wells house.  The girls had planned an Easter play for our enjoyment.


See the empty tomb behind Jacob?  And that brown pillow in front of Charlie is the rolled away stone.


No Easter is complete without an outdoor egg hunt.












Then we headed to grandpa's house for some more food, and card playing.

The kids had different spring breaks so the big kids were able to come to Morgan's school and surprise her as the mystery readers.


Taylor had some friend's over during spring break to help make a sign for the Buddy Bench.  This is a bench that the girls are requesting for recess.  The idea is for children to come to the bench when they don't have anyone to play with.  As the sign reads buddy bench is 'where everybody finds a friend".  I thought it was a very sweet idea.




Mark and I had the pleasure of seeing Willie Tea Taylor perform this month.  He is a captivating performer and a terrific story teller.  I'd recommend him to anyone who likes a good show.


Taylor's AHG troop had a chocolate party for those girls who sold a certain number of flowers during their fund raiser.


Jessica and my mom did a great job planning it!


Here's another impromptu shoot on the way home from dance class.


Morgan's preschool class had a field trip at the local pizza shop and made their own pizzas!








As I mentioned in the beginning of this post, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Europe this month.  Before I left, I really wanted to squeeze in some one on one time with Charlie.  The evenings were booked so I picked him up from school early for a little date.










Stay tuned from part two of my april series soon!!

Marching out of winter

Well, march has come and gone leaving only these memories...


The kids were pretending to do karate so we dug out Daddy's old uniforms and did it up right.






Morgan opted out of that activity.  She is not allowed to bring her blankie downstairs.  I'm trying to limit its use and its chances of getting lost.  She's compromised by bringing it to the bottom steps and hanging out with it there.



This was just something I had to capture.  Every morning when the bus pulls up and Charlie makes his way towards it he yells back "wave to you on the bus!"  And that's exactly what he does.


I attended a pep rally at the school.  Taylor's volleyball team was honored.





Morgan came with me and made her rotations.  Here she is with Charlie.



Then she found her big cousin, Grace.


One morning I confided in Mark that I needed to start reading with Morgan more.  It was precisely that day that she decided to systematically read every single book in her room.  Great minds certainly do think alike.



My Granny Yates (Grandma from Kentucky's mom, aka Oma) turned 90 this month.  We celebrated with a surprise party for her.


I'd say she was very surprised.


And I think she felt extremely loved.



Isn't it amazing how sometimes just your presence can make all the difference?  That's what I love about our family, both my side and Mark's.  When it comes to family, we show up.




















Here's our Brady Bunch photo.  My dad with his three daughters and my step mom with her three sons.  And I guess that makes Oma our Alice!



Oma was not the only person to have a birthday this month.  My mom celebrated one as well.  I was so happy that my cousin was able to spend the whole day with her.  First I met them for breakfast.


Then they went to her favorite store (the thrift store) and met me at the school for Charlie's prayer service.


Again, his grandmother's mere presence that day made Charlie feel loved and supported.


Later that night, we had a birthday dinner at my house.




Julie was finally able to give my mom her wedding album.






I love this photo I snapped while we were all sining to my mom.



We also spent some nice time with Grandmama this month.  We went to a local rec center where Taylor's artwork was on display.








Then we enjoyed lunch at a hibachi grill.






Finally, we came home to work on pinewood derby cars.




Grandmama thoughtfully let Morgan pick out a craft to paint so she wouldn't be left out.


I started a workshop this month by the extremely talented Summer Murdock called "The Magic of Light".  It was so amazing and I know I will be chewing on some of these concepts for months to come.  Here are some shots that resulted from the workshop.









We finally got to go outside and play this month! The kids worked on their softball/baseball skills in preparation for the upcoming season.



And Morgan made sure the swing still works.




This was Charlie's leprechaun trap he made at school.


And here's Morgan celebrating St Patrick's Day at school:




I took these shots after a dance class to work on some of the concepts I'm learning in my workshop.




The kids performed a talent show for me after dinner one night and I snapped a few photos in between my applause.








Again, noticing light and shadow one morning before school.




We had fun at the pinewood derby this year.  Here's Charlie's car.




Taylor's is the orange, pink and yellow one.










Charlie was quite happy with his third place finish. (see him holding up three fingers for me?)






More fun outdoors.


And another shooting assignment for my workshop.




















Grace spent the night one night while Charlie went to sleepover with her brother, Jacob.  The girls camped out in the basement.


Just some macro fun:










Morgan's easter party at school.




I took this photo because I was struck by the difference in height between Morgan and some girls who have already turned 5.


I noticed this light when dropping Morgan off at her grandpa's house.


And just some simple moments around the house:




Finally, cousin Jacob had a birthday this month as well.  He had a video game truck come to his house.


It was a big hit.



I leave you with two photos of Morgan and her daddy at the dad's night at preschool.





And there you have it!  We've survived another winter and I discovered the magic of light just in time for spring.

Happy Spring, everyone!!!