Hannah's Honor Recital

Just a quick post to tell you about Hannah's latest piano accomplishments (Moms are allowed to brag now and then...) This year we switched to a new teacher & it has been a real blessing. Suddenly piano is fun again & her teacher is really pleased. Two weeks ago the Lynden Music Teachers Association held their annual Honor Recital. Each teacher gets to choose two of their students to perform a piece. (The top 3 get to go to the State Music Teachers Association Honor Recital) Hannah's teacher chose her as one of her students and here's a picture of her at the recital - with a beautiful red rose which all participants received.

Race Day is finally here!!!!

This past Saturday was the long awaited race day - JK's senior project (and fundraiser for her upcoming mission trip to Mexico). The weather was cool & cloudy - perfect for a 6K run. There were 85 runners in this race - far more than J ever imagined would sign up. Many people volunteered to help pull this off and it turned out to be a great event. Lots of prizes were handed out and with registration dollars as well as donations from local businesses $814.00 was raised for the cause. It was a huge learning experience - who knew all the details that needed to be planned for? Check out www.funrunlynden.webs.com for more details (and eventually photos). Here's a sneak peak!

Our very handsome guy!!

I just have to post some pictures of the most handsome fellow in our house. We just love this happy little guy & he's growing like a weed. V will turn 6 months on tax day!!

Alec's Fresh Eggs

We've been learning lots about chickens and what it takes to get them to lay eggs. We've really noticed that laying hens are really particular about their food - if it's not just right they withhold the gift of an egg... They also eat a LOT!!! Alec is learning how to keep track of costs, how to sell eggs and how to be disciplined about feeding, cleaning & collecting their eggs. (A couple weeks ago AK & Dad burnt down the old playhouse/chicken coop that was an eyesore in our field...lots of fun with fire!)

Learning to eat solids

Vinny's just learning to eat Rice cereal - more like suck it off the spoon & push it out. It's tedious but he absolutely loves it!!

Fresh eggs anyone?

Here's our latest project - a chicken coop which now houses ten beautiful hens. I must say I'm very proud of the great job Henry did - this is the place we were going to at one time build a greenhouse. I really couldn't justify the expense of a greenhouse - as much fun as I would have. We're hoping this will keep Alec busy this summer & we don't mind the eggs that we're collecting. Now Alec needs to be a real salesperson & find people who want to buy them - we certainly can't eat them all ourselves. Fresh eggs anyone?

It's a gerbil... no, it's a mouse... no, it's a robo hamster!!

Here's the latest creature we share our home with (sorry, Laetisia... didn't mean to refer to you as a creature) These are Roborovski hamsters - the smallest of all hamsters. Very cute but kinda makes me think of the mice we heard scurrying in our rafters last year. They're in an aquarium because they're so little they can squeeze out of the smallest of cage slats. Alec's having a lot of fun taking care of them & learning more about them.

And the last few from Florida

Henry & I spent a day along the coast - Tarpon Springs (Sponge Capital) and Clearwater Beach just for memories' sake. We spent some time there on our honeymoon almost 22 years ago. A very enjoyable & restful vacation.

Hockey in Florida??

Just a few more photos of our trip - can hardly remember that we went away... We watched a Tampa Bay Lightning vs Phoenix Coyotes hockey game. Lots of fun - haven't been to a pro hockey game in many years! Tampa won 8-3. "All In" !!!

Alligator Alley...

Today we spent a good part of the day kayaking down Hillsborough River east of Tampa. It was an amazing day - we saw such a variety of wildlife & came face to face with so many alligators I think I just might dream about getting too close to one tonight. Again, plenty of sunshine & not too hot for a 9 mile kayak trip. I think my arms will remind me tomorrow of what we did today...

You are my sunshine!!!

We are enjoying it here in sunny Florida! Our condo is great - the resort fabulous - and I'm loving the sunshine!!! What perfect timing for a week of rest - after spending a few days in the hospital with our little one battling RSV and working part-time I was burning the candle at both ends. We're enjoying our time with Ed & Lorraine - laughing more this week than possibly the last few months. (Yes, my kids say I need to change that...) Anyways, here's a few pics to show you where we're staying and what we're doing.

How do you not become attached?

There's not much "new" to blog about - things are plugging along as usual - kids in school, Henry enjoying his work, I'm keeping busy with a part-time position at an insurance company and taking care of this little cutie. Everyone asks how we can give these kids back & it's obviously not been a huge problem or we wouldn't continue to do foster care. But this little guy is sooooo cute and such an easy going character that we all have to admit he's got us wrapped around his fingers & our heart strings are definitely being pulled to this little man. It doesn't look like he'll be leaving us any time soon which gives us some time to enjoy him and hopefully work on these attachment issues... sigh.

Holiday Photos...