Brad stealing home.........

we call him "flash"!

I love my peonies!

the ultimate woodpecker!!

I was VERY excited this afternoon- the girls and i were having "tea" after school, and I happened to look out the window- there at the edge of the yard was a PILEATED WOODPECKER! I saw one once in Washington state, many years ago and have often told the kids about it, because they are the COOLEST bird ever- they really do look just like woody woodpecker and they are HUGE! So, I grabbed the camera and took about 50 pictures- of which only one turned out because he was busy bobbing around pecking the tree stump for bugs. he was about 20 inches long from top to bottom- totally made my day!!

'special needs " soccer

Nikki had her 1st day at soccer today and just loved it......she is in a special needs soccer program because of her physical delays. there were 16 kids in her group- only 2 girls, so they hit it off right away! many of the others were little boys with varying degrees of autism, so it was quite chaotic for the 1st half hour or so. Overall it was so much fun for all of the kids and I'm so glad we found this group so she can experience playing soccer at all!

Catch 'em high, catch 'em low.......

Elise has been playing softball this spring and is doing a great job as catcher!

April showers.........

DID bring May flowers! my white lilacs and Bleeding hearts always bloom together......we are having a wet but flowerful spring.

hmmmm, maybe I can keep her in here til she's 30...

more corn!!

At the iron pigs game.....

Obamas back yard............

my dads watch

my mom asked me if there was anything of my dads i would like to have........I remembered he had kept this old watch of his in his 'man-jewelry" box on his dresser for many years. He wore this watch when i was a little girl and I always liked it.

church window

this is a window in the rebuilt church at the original jamestowne settlement. I sat along time on the benches, wondering what it must have felt like hundreds of years ago being one of those people who came across the ocean to make a new life here......

teeny tiny flowers

I found these itty bitty flowers at the old jamestowne settlement in Virginia- everyone was just stomping over them looking at the sights- sometimes we forget to see whats right under our feet

mmmmmm, corn

bodie island light house

we visited this beautiful light house and got to meet a gentleman who used to paint the outside of it ( hanging from a rope )when he was 19 years old.........a mere 74 years ago! He was amazing to listen to and we all enjoyed his stories

to be 11.........

sometimes I remember just what it felt like to be that carefree............... Elise and Brad on the beach in Kitty hawk NC last week. the water was freezing but they had a wonderful time just running and jumping and being kids.

Wednesday, March 25

my new toy.........it's pink. thats my boy rockin' out playing the Beastie boys on guitar hero........

Tuesday, March 24

I found this picture today of my older brother and sister holding me up on kevins bike.......taken ( ack!) in march 1966, 43 years ago this month! i turned 3 that june. that was our house near Atlantic city NJ.

Monday, March 23

my 1st seeds are up! these are Hollyhocks......my dad used to plant them in our border garden when I was a little girl- if you plucked the flowers off, they looked like ladies in fancy gowns when you turn them upside down. I will teach Nikki how to have a "hollyhock" ballroom dance this summer!

Monday, March 23 , Trio

All three of my children are playing violin now- I love it! Elise is playing so well now, I look forward to hearing her practice. Brad has made tremendous progress since he started in September, it seems to come easy for him as many things do. Nicole started private lessons about a month ago and just played her 1st few notes yesterday. It will be a challenge for her as it takes a LOT more strength than I imagined for her to hold and bow, but it will also be very good to help build her strength. She LOVES it and is blessed with the most patient and sweet teacher . I hope all three kids stay with it!

Sunday March 22- ahhh, sunshine!

After 2 months of condo living in our basement ( we had an especially cold few months tis winter!) Panda was VERY excited and happy to get back to the fresh air and sunshine!