Little painter

We have had lots of little house projects going lately, and Stephen has really joined in the spirit. He helps dig, holds tools. Today he decided he really needed to paint. I think it had to do with the fact that he found this paintbrush laying around. So I filled this bucket with water for him, and he painted the bricks. So cute!

Spring Piano Recital

The girls played beautifully at the recital yesterday. They were dressed to match their individual songs.

Mariana's song "Come See the Parade"



Duet "The Russian Sailor Dance"

Allia's song "Prelude No. 14 in B Major"

Soccer star!

I didn't take any great photos because my camera ran out of batteries. :p But Allia played SO well this Saturday at soccer. The whole family was there watching, eating a picnic lunch, and we were all so proud of her. She was amazing! Yay, Allia!

Movie time

Daddy had to work late the other night, and it is our tradition that the children get to watch a video after bath when that happens (started when Anastasia was a baby, so I could keep them quiet while trying to put her to bed!). I was actually about to go ahead and put her down, but when she saw everyone preparing for a movie, she plopped down in Allia's lap and pointed to the TV in anticipation. Cute girl!

Getting Ready

Mariana had her retreat for First Communicants yesterday and chose me to go with her. We had a nice morning, even squeezing in a little date beforehand since everyone else had to rush off to soccer. Here she is with the banner she made for the pew. Only two more weeks!

* I would just like to point out that we opted for middle ground on the banner. It was funny to observe the room full of parents and children working on this craft. There were the super-controlled parents making the professional looking banner with a little help from the child. There were the opposite, mostly dads ;), standing back and letting the child go at it...with some very interesting results. We opted for somewhere in the middle. We worked together, with mostly Mariana's ideas and creativity. I think it turned out great. :)

Mama called the doctor...

and the doctor said, "Broken Collar Bone!"

This little monkey climbs everything these days! Friday evening as I was trying to get dinner ready, she kept climbing up on the dining table. I retrieved her several times, but once she did it without me realizing...until I heard the splat on the floor followed by the screaming. She was very clingy and fussy the rest of Friday and Saturday, but we couldn't really tell what was wrong. Then yesterday it was obvious that every time we pick her up (lifting under her arms), she would cry and grab at her neck on the left side. So we took her in this morning. Lucky for her that it is the most easily healed bone in the body. It makes its own cast and heals on its own, so we just have to be careful, lift her by her waist, treat her with otc meds and wait a few weeks. Wow! So our two redheads have each had a broken bone now!

On the up side, she weighed almost 21 lbs! :)

Soccer Saturday

Another busy but fun weekend around here. These are some photos from Allia's soccer game. Her team won 4-3. She is really enjoying it and gaining a lot of experience since there are only 6 on her team, and five play at a time!

Swinging and Bluebonnets

Anastasia has been wanting so badly to swing on the big rope swing. Leave it to Daddy to find her a way. What a pair, those two!

Speaking of where there is a will there is a way...

This is our wildflower planting party. Mariana asked me to buy her some bluebonnets the other day at Lowe's. $4 for a plant that grows abundantly on the side of the road? No way! (Yes, I am that cheap). However, I am a law abiding citizen. So we spotted some in the unmowed field at church (private property, not state), asked permission, and harvested ourselves some flowers (bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes). :) I just hope they will come back on their own next year, and so does Daddy who gets all the credit for hiking out into the field in his suit with the children while I hung out in the air conditioned car with little red!

Soccer time!

Allia had her first soccer game yesterday. Austin and the older girls went while I stayed at home to let Anastasia nap and hang out with Stephen. Her team lost, but she had fun!

Easter surprise

We ran into Allia's Godmommy at Lowe's yesterday just as Allia was begging me to buy her some daisies. So her Godmommy decided to bless her with an Easter gift of daisies that she eagerly planted when we came home. She was so excited! What a bright cheerful reminder of the joy of the season! :)

Happy Easter!

Manah dyed Easter eggs with the children Saturday morning while Austin and I did some cooking and cleaning...

Easter morning...so excited!

After mass...everyone was soooo good for the long Easter mass!

 With the quilt that Tina (Manah's friend) had made for them

Anastasia was in awe

Allia setting the children's table

 Time for egg hunting while we wait for the guests to arrive

 It was a wonderful Easter Sunday with family, friends and lot of yummy food! He is Risen. Alleluia!