Pictures from our Weekend

Our family had a very different vacation this year (or "staycation" as Kimberly pointed out!). We stayed home for the biggest part of it, doing fun stuff around here. Sticking it in the eye of oil companies, as it were. I'm sure they were devastated. :) We did leave for a short weekend trip to Indy where we spent time with G-Pa and Nana, as well as provided a service of music in their Sunday worship service. God really helped us with that, and we feel that we received a blessing as well as provided one. Before we did that, we had "Family Fun Splash Day" in our own back yard. Our kids are still the age that if you give anything a title and dance around saying "YAY!" about it they think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. We even have "Family Goes to Dentist Day!" and believe it or not it works. :) As a matter of fact, we did that last week too. Our kids have an AWESOME dentist that they are always very excited about going to. Anyway, I digress. The pics are basically in order. One pic of "splash day", on to Indy, Newport Aquarium on the way home (which I highly recommend to anyone who gets a chance to go), and then our local Japanese restaurant which we really love. Enjoy the pics!

A "Hallet" finds a Home

I mentioned previously that an exciting event has occurred in our home. To be quite honest, all the pregnancy vibes floating around the blogosphere have given me a little bit of baby fever. As completely irrational as it is and would be, I almost wish I could share news of another human baby....but that is NOT the case!

Instead, I have a new baby of the not human kind, and not the furry kind either. I feel almost as unworthy to have this baby as I do my four biological children! Anyway, we were made an offer that we couldn't refuse on this beautiful "Hallet and Davis, Co., of Boston" baby grand piano. I've been calling her "Hallie", much to my childrens' chagrin. The day she was delivered here to our home was a very exciting day....it really was like getting a new family member. An investment for a lifetime. As I mentioned, I do feel very inadequate to have such a beautiful instrument, but I'm already practicing more and playing more daily than I have in many years. Every Sunday morning, I have the privilege of playing a beautiful piano, and that is usually when I do most of my practice time, before services on Sundays. Now, I am committed to applying myself more to all the things that I have forgotten or set aside. Not to mention, with 3 of the children taking piano lessons, it has been wonderful to have this new blessing.

My old piano sits forlorn in the corner having seen better days for sure. I've had that piano since I was 4. I'm hoping that my brother will want it since he's "setting up house" in a few short months with his soon-to-be-bride. Just hauling it off somewhere would be a little sad for a sentimental sap like me.

So, now that the "mystery" has been uncovered, it's on to the pictures!

Waiting very excitedly for the instrument to arrive.

The movers showed up right on time.One insanely heavy creature, she is! I love the way the Hallet &Davis Co beautifully finishes even the bottom of the piano; it's as beautiful beneath as on top!Just adjusting the artist bench that came with it, and we're good to go.Lauren takes her "for a spin". Mommy did too, but I won't be posting that unsightly picture! :)

Ahhhh....such a beauty!

Cameron is SEVEN!

So many things to post about...so little time. But before I move on to anything else, honor must be duly given to the celebration of Cameron's 7th birthday, which was this past Monday, April 21st. Our little family party was on Sunday....and as usual the boy made out like a bandit. (don't you just love that expression?!)

Cameron is one energetic bundle of boyness. Many times I shake my head, at a complete loss to understand him. His daddy says, "he's a boy, Mama." As if that explains everything. :) Cameron is a very loving and affectionate little guy, so gentle with his little brother. Such an enigma to me in his "smartness" and learning style. He blows me away sometimes with his quick grasping of concepts, especially in Math. As of late, though, he almost always has one word on his lips: "WHY?" And I don't mean, "why" as in questioning why he has to do something. I mean he wants to know WHY about everything. Why was this named that? Why did that person do that? Why is the sky blue? Why is the grass green? Why is there a word called "why"?!!!!!! WHY can't I know everything???!!!!! AAAGHH!

Cameron takes the reading of the birthday cards, very seriously! I love that!

Montage'...Part Deux

So I'm a little lax in continuing my picture blog. I am happy to report that I retrieved the pictures of the cake when cut. So I hope you enjoy those. The rest of the pics are in no particular in order and for no particular reason, other than I haven't posted pics on my blog very often lately! :) I have one more picture blog that I am working on....very special pics of an exciting event that has occurred in our home......ooooohh, MYSTERY! :) Aren't you excited?!? I promise I will try to make haste in posting.

The famous cake of Rainbow and Sky. mmmm...goood. :)

Easter Mornin' Finery: thanks to Jam. :)

Daddy's powerful influence at play.

I asked Lauren to quickly brush her teeth; a few min. later, this is what I found! My multi-tasking book-worm~!

This pic. is especially for Julia, who thinks that I'm damaging and indoctrinating my children! What can I say? My little guy is UNUSUALLY bright for his age, and knows a good thing when he sees it! :)

A visit with Nana

Now, let me be clear: Mommy loves G-Pa very much.....but this gift that he brought for the young'uns is the new bane of my existence! I don't have room for it! :) There have been many hours of fun from it, though.

Uncle "Stott" with Reagan

Uncle Scott and the girls

Can't figure out why this pic is so blurry. :( But it's a keeper, 'cause

getting four kids to smile at once is an amazing feat.

Uncle Scott and Aunt Erin

The only "tattoo" I ever intend my boy to have :) But it says, "MOM"...*sniff, sniff* Aw!




I'm not sure why I'm throwing this picture in: maybe just for authentic documentation of my life! :) We had JUST cleaned up the living room, put away all the toys, etc. FIVE MINUTES LATER......a 14 month old tornado came through and left a trail in his wake. I just had to take a picture.