Orff Concert

Well, I don't know if this will work or not. It's supposed to be a little clip from Madalyn's concert so hopefully it works.

My Stripling Warriors

So, McKay has this knight costume that he loves. I had gotten it for an Armor of God fireside because I needed a sword, but it has turned out to be one of his favorites. He was playing dress up when Erik was taking birthday pictures and had to have his picture taken with his sword and helmet. Erik metioned afterward that he foresaw a stripling warrior blog in the future. He was right, as always! All of us mom's know there is something special about our little guys. Maryn gave us a Family Home Evening lesson tonight about the Stripling Warriors and bore her testiomony that she knew that Heavenly Father helped them to fight their battles. Later that evening she asked me if I wondered how she knew that about the Stripling Warriors. When I asked her how she knew she said, "because it says in the scriptures." So matter of fact. I'm glad somewhere in the confusion and chaos of life she is learning and remembering that the Lord helps those who trust in him.

Me and my kidos. It's the end of a LONG Saturday and we are all tired and filthy.....but Happy.

Gretchen's Birthday

So, here I am blowing out candles on my birthday cake....Key Lime Cheesecake....YUM!!!

Orff Honors Concert

About 6 weeks ago Madalyn was chosen to represent her elementary school along with 10 other 4th graders and participate in the Atlanta Area 5th Annual Orff-Schulwerk Concert. She has been rehearsing before school several days a week and the concert was on Saturday, May 3rd. 15 schools in the metro-Atlanta came together, meeting only on that day and prepared nine ensembles which included percussion instruments, voice, movement to music and playing the recorder. Madalyn said by the end of the day she was all sung out but she had fun and we really enjoyed watching the fruit of her labors.

So, I've been inspired by my sisters to make my blog "cute." Last night the kids and I sat down and went through all the cousins' blogs and decided we needed to make ours better. We looked through all the cute blog templates and Madalyn's vote won this time with the yellow flowers. Erik put up a songlist with a few of our family favorites and fixed the layout. I put up a ton of pictures and I don't think you can see them all on one page, so you'll have to check the archives to make sure you get to see them all.

4 away from 40

We celebrated Erik's birthday on Friday because he had to be out of town for the actual day. Erik asks for the same cake every year since he first had it...that Chocolate Prailine Cake. McKay asked if daddy was 4. Erik laughed and said 4 away from 40! Are we really that old already. I say we because my day to be 4 away from 40 is just around the corner.

The kids were exhausted every day. Erik couldn't resist taking a picture of our sweet babies when they were asleep. I just love that they can't talk back. The girls had so much fun sharing a room at the beach that they've decided they want to share a room at home. They have been getting along great. Erik and I are on pins and needles wondering how long it's going to last. I hope forever. I told them how Aunt Kate and Aunt Emily shared a room thier whole life until they got married. Madalyns eyes got huge and her jaw dropped..."thier whole life?!....WOW!"

At the pools, the girls made friends with some girls from Kentucky. It's like they were kindred spirits or something. We've never met another sister combo that had so much in common with Madalyn and Maryn. They had a blast in their pretend animal worlds and running back and forth between the hot tub and the pool. This is a picture of them on thier last day together. Erik and I had fun visiting with thier parents, who were also amazed that there was another pair of sisters/daughters just like thiers. It was alot of fun! HELLO to the Patels if they read this!

Here's Mads checking out her treasures. She wasn't too interested in getting totally wet, unless there was a cool shell involved.