English Emma Blooms

Joel went on his first solo vacation. He checked in his bags at the Broad Ripple Family Center airport and flew off to Hawaii with Miss Martha, Jake Fine  and new friends. He swam in the ocean, played on the beach, and made a necklace and a fire stick, and learned a fire dance.

For my dinner we went to the new Mexicanish restaurant El Torinto. The food was a little different from the standard fare. David was a bit scared of Jamia's dinner. We all were...I don't know where Joel gets his funny faces from! Jenny and me.  BIRDS OF A FEATHER... All kids love David and no-one can figure out why! :) Squashed in-between Jamia and David

When Joel helped me open my birthday presents there was some confusion. Joel said : "These aren't for you! They are for me! Ceecee and Sophie sent them for ME!" After church and India Garden for lunch, Laura, Lars and Philip hit the road back to Newburgh. Joel showed Philip how you could make having your picture taken more fun. Laura and Lars make being parents look easy! THIS IS WHY we don't send out family pictures as often as we used to. Joel sabotaged the "boys only" picture. The next time I see Laura she will have another baby!

Laura, Philip, Joel and I braved the CHLDRENS MUSEUM! Everyone in Indianapolis had the same idea AND Radio Disney were there doing some special Spring Break thing. We only did the basement level of the museum because that was quite enough stimulation! Laura wanted only to see the Chully exhibit. I wanted to see the Curious George Exhibit and Joel wanted to see the dinosaurs. Philip did not have an opinion.

Laura and I were playing air hockey in the YMCA game room while Philip and Joel climbed on the jungle gym. It soon became apparent to them that we were having far too much fun and, moreover, that we did not know what we were doing!

...than to travel with Joel's preschool class to the Indianapolis Zoo!

This is how Aaron and Joel enjoy themselves when I am not home.

Here is some of Joel's art. Apparently he draws at the level of an 7 year old. Today in the car he was trying to draw Homer simpson and he actually did a great job! When he showed me the picture I thought it was Aaron!

Joel's eight week gymnastics course culminated in a performance for friends and family. He has a break next Monday and then his classes start up again for another eight week stretch. He practices at home all the time, much to the horror of his mother. He does handstands in our living room.

The Easter Bunny scattered eggs around our living room while Joel slept. The best surprise, though, was a Spiderman Easter Egg that Nana and Grandad sent in the mail.

Spread spring fever with this colorful craft. Cut a styrofoam cup in half lengthwise and glue to a piece of cardboard (creating a flower pot). Glue colorful buttons (or other objects) for flower centers. Cut out small petals and leaves, crease down the center (for a 3-D effect), and glue in place. Add stems with a green marker.

Welcome Spring with a flock of wooly lambs. Have your child trace his hand on black construction paper and cut out the shape. Glue a wiggly eye on the thumb, turn the shape so the other 4 fingers are legs, and glue on cotton balls to fill in the body. You can also add a colorful bow on its neck.

This was the big day when I got all of the above done! I had taken classes since September, and the ceremonies were on Easter Saturday evening, or Easter Vigil. The Kalinowskis were supposed to come down from Michigan, but a large snowfall stopped all traffic north of Fort Wayne. Aaron was my sponsor for everything and Jennifer and Matt were our witnesses for our wedding. The Easter Services went from 7:15- 9:15 approximately. I took the confirmation name of Margaret. Joel usually goes to bed at 7:30 so he laid down on the pew and tried to sleep with my coat on him. The constant getting up and down and singing made sleeping a little difficult for him, but he did not lose his temper with us. He was a picture of purity of spirit! Joel came up with Aaron and me for the baptism, but stayed with Jenny and Jamia for the confirmation. The remarriage directly folllowed the easter service. It was short - about 5 minutes. We said our vows again, but this time I did not have to ...

so we head outside.

ways of thinking and living that are contrary to God’s will” - Lawrence E. Mick

For dinner Joel and I took him to a hole-in-the-wall Greek restaurant, which Aaron loved. OPA! He said it was the best birthday ever.

For our family vacation we are spending the night at the U of I Union! Whoo hoo! We get passes to IMPe and a suite. I am so excited! I feel very geeky about it. We wanted to go to Florida .. then we changed our plans to stay in a state park cabin. Now we are staying a night at U of I! We didn't really have the cazash to do the other things. In other news, the weather is above freezing. Joel is pretending to nap. Solomon is staring at me, Jeremiah is staring at the bird feeder, and Aaron is at Lowes. When he gets back I will take Solomon out.

Stations of the Cross 1. Jesus condemned 2. Jesus receives the cross 3. The first fall 4. Jesus meets His Mother 5. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross 6. Veronica wipes Jesus' face with her veil 7. The second fall 8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem 9. The third fall 10. Jesus stripped of His garments 11. Jesus is nailed to the cross 12. Jesus dies 13. Jesus' body removed from the cross 14. Jesus is laid in the tomb

Holidays never end when you have a kid. Last week (March 8) we went to a bunny hop. Pictures are right here! Tomorrow we are going to an Easter Egg Hunt. ON Easter Saturday we are going to ANOTHER Easter Egg hunt!