In Other News

A few days after my gall bladder surgery, my mom (who was here to help) and I took the twins to a park. The sun was really bright. I thought this picture of Isaac was pretty funny.

We had an Easter egg hunt with a load of neighborhood kids. I don't know if I've mentioned how much I love our little neighborhood, but I really love it, and the contingent of kids is a big part of the reason why.

We had about 1,000 eggs hidden. Or more.

The kiddos have been enjoying shrinky dinks. I really need to buy these more often; they are awesome.

Everyone oohed and ahhed over the magic shrinking in the oven.

Farco the Magician made a visit and gave us a great show.

Isaac and Madeline's preschool had a trike-a-thon to benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital. I guess the school raised over $10K last year. Their goal was to exceed that number this year, but I haven't heard yet if they did.

Here is the twin's class, lining up to go.

Isaac and Madeline sped around on their too-small trikes. They are so ready to graduate to "real" bikes, but their older siblings need bigger bikes before Isaac and Madeline can claim the old ones. It's the trickle-down effect, you see.

Nathan ran a one-mile race with an obstacle course in the middle.

He came in at 12th place but in 2nd place for his age group, running the race & obstacle course in 8:08.

About five minutes after the race ended, and all smiles, he asked when he could be in another race. I think we may have a little runner among us.

He also had his first soccer game of the season. His team lost, Nathan explained, because the other team left their best player in the game for the entire time.  ;)

Madeline donned her hat, sweater, and gloves on a lovely spring evening.

Emma is the first of the kids to move up to a bigger bike. She has enjoyed cruising around on it.

Madeline got a few lessons from Daddy.

Isaac cruised around on the scooter...

…and a plasma car...

…and then, with his Star Wars shoes on backwards, he took a spin on the Disney Princess bike.

Finally, we took a trip to Kansas City to attend the open house for the new temple. Emma is a lucky girl and gets to participate in the huge cultural celebration for the temple next weekend.

And with that, I think the blog is finally caught up--for now!

Nauvoo

During Spring Break in March, we took a few days and went to Nauvoo.

I loved the sculpture garden outside the Visitor's Center.

We went on a wagon tour of the city.

I loved this sculpture, adjacent to the temple.

The temple itself is absolutely stunning, and in such a beautiful setting.

We walked down Parley Street and stopped to read each plaque. The plaques were quite moving, but this one cracked me up.

The kids on the dock at the end of Parley Street. It was pretty remarkable to picture the events that transpired here so long ago.

This sculpture faced the Mississippi.

The gravesite of Joseph and Emma.

We went to Carthage Jail.

We went on another wagon ride that took us farther out beyond the city. The wagon rocked the twins to sleep.

The kids enjoyed the shops, homes, and demonstrations given by the many senior missionaries. It wasn't quite Williamsburg, but enjoyable all the same. Nathan loved making the rope (below).

At the printing press.

And Emma was able to attend the temple for the first time.

We returned home, Brian studied for precisely one day, and the following day, he took his specialty's written boards--his sixth board exam over the course of his training. Only one board exam left, and he will be free!

Twelve!

Emma turned twelve in early March.

I suppose she's not technically a teenager for another year, but we have witnessed such amazing transformations in this young lady over the last year. For one thing, she has grown about seven inches in the last eighteen months. She has started babysitting. She is forging through the jungle of middle school and doing so well with all of it.

For her birthday, she wanted some deco for her room. And that's what she got…along with a couple books and a whole heap of clothes. (She had outgrown everything in her closet for the summer season!)

Her biggest present hid under the blue sheet:

Revealed:

I had had surgery the day before her birthday (ciao, gall bladder!), so we waited a few weeks to have her friend party. A lot of girls couldn't come because it was during spring break.

It's taken a while to find good friends here in our new city, but slowly, it's coming along.

Emma is a wonderful twelve-year-old, a gem in every way. We love her so much and are thrilled she's ours.

Age Four

Dear Little Twins,

You just turned four.

You are adorable, and precious, and precocious, and delightful, and devilish.

You make my world go round, and one of the best parts of each day is the morning hugs you give me.

Will you please just stop growing already?

Love,

Mom

Isaac and Madeline had their fourth birthday at end of February.

I still can't believe that they're four. It's been the fastest-slowest four years of my life. At age four, they are pure joy, and I thank God every day that they're ours.

We had a "friend party" for them this year--their first. I kept it simple by having it at a local gymnastics center. It may be the first and last time I can get away with combining their parties together. I made separate invitations for Isaac's friends and Madeline's friends. The parents had no idea it was a combined party until the kids arrived, and that's what I wanted. I didn't want anyone to have to buy a gift for each of the twins.

The party was a hit. One of the moms told me that her fourteen-year-old son asked if he could come and play on the equipment, too.

After an hour of free reign in the gymnasium, we went to the party room for presents and treats.

A few days later, it was their Big Day.

Isaac and Madeline are already having lengthy conversations with each other about their fifth birthday. I think we might just skip it. That way, they'll stay four forever.