4 Years Old!!!!

Alexis turned 4 last Sunday. It seems like yesterday when Kendra and Jason headed for the hospital from the doctor's office. The doctor had warned Jason not to hit any potholes on the way and there was a high level of anxiety in the air. I remember that soon after her arrival at the hospital, Jason greeted us in the waiting room (wearing a slightly wet t-shirt) but he was one proud daddy as he showed us the pictures of his precious blonde-haired, blue-eyed baby girl. And...look at her now:


Alexis is 4

 "Be careful Alexis! Don't get too close!!!"

 (Blake looks a little relieved.)

Alexis's favorite part of her birthday was blowing out the candles.
Notice how protective her brothers are of her. She is blessed with two of the sweetest brothers possible.
 

The Decorations:

A home-made sucker bouquet



So pretty and tasty too!

Nicholas tests out the strawberries.

Home-made flowers

"Pizza peaze"

Jump, Lexi, Jump!
What a great gift from PopPop Jim and Grandma Connie.

Blake is such a helper!!!

Rip it, Lexi!

Alexis liked her hand puppets!

How many puppets are in there?

"This is so much fun!"

"Oh I just love my birthday!!!"

"What's next Mommy?"

"It's my own cup for a birthday tea party.
What a wonderful day!"

And when you are 4 years old, you celebrate the following day with a few groovy moves:

You rock Lexi!!!

Happy birthday to my youngest grandkidlet!
I love her more than chocolate!!!

Thanks to Tom for taking the pictures and telling me all about the party. It was the first time that I have had to miss the birthday of any of my grandkidlets but it was at the advise of my doctor. My back issues are getting better by the day!!!

Spring is 'Springing'!!!

Finally!!! Tom and I walked our path last week and there were signs of spring! Has this winter gone on forever or what???

It was a gorgeous afternoon.

 

I keep  reminding myself that very soon, the woods will be so thick, and we will not be seeing all of the dead wood. Every year I feel that there is so much dead stuff on the ground but once everything comes into bloom, you don't even notice. Amazing!

 

The beavers are busy!

The lawn is strewn with branches and sticks, and the yard work begins again.

The sun is going down but there is a haze of green. I'm sure that Tom (Mr. Color Blind) can't see it yet. That doesn't matter. He loves his path.

 

Happy 91st Birthday Aunt Eleanor!

 

Happy birthday to a wonderful woman!
This photo was taken a couple of years ago when Mother and I went to Coldwater for a visit.

 

Mother (left) is now 92 and Aunt Eleanor is 91 tomorrow (April 5)!

 

Can we say that good genes run in my family???

 

I have such wonderful childhood memories of my visits to the Patch farm:

 

riding ponies

admiring the big red barn

smelling a big meal at noon

hearing Aunt Eleanor laugh

seeing a sewing machine at work

playing with children, children everywhere

cuddling with kittens, kittens, kittens

visiting the nursing home

learning to sing I Have The Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in my Heart

hearing Aunt Eleanor call Uncle Harold, Butch

realizing how much Aunt Eleanor loves Jesus

having fun with Bonnie, Linda, Carol Ann & Treva

loving how Aunt Eleanor put others first

watching her care for Grampa Patch and Grandma Grace

being proud of her Volunteer of the Year award

 

...and the list could go on and on!

 

Happy birthday Aunt Eleanor. You are precious in His sight...

 

and mine!

 

 

 

 

A Spring Break Field Trip

All 5 grandkidlets are with us for the first part of spring break! It doesn't get better than that! Though it was a crispy day, the blue skies called for a trip to the Notre Dame campus. My back issues caused me to stay home but with (nearly) everyone armed with a camera, I get to use them for my blog. I had to choose a few from each photographer:

Beginning with Tom:

Miss Layla:

The kids were lined up to take pictures of PopPop and Kendra

 



Nicholas and Kendra:

Lexi is "running to Jesus"

Exhausted!!!

Blake:

It was a wonderful day and a great experience for the kids. They were wonderful and enjoyed being together.

Tonight, Nicholas and Blake watched  The General  (Buster Keaton movie) from 1927 with background music from the Lerner Theater Organ. They LOVED it. Blake was so much fun to watch as he kept jumping out of his chair and laughing. I've got photos on my camera. Thanks so much to Larry App for loaning it to us. I think that I know 5 grandkidlets that will sleep well tonight!