Piano Recital....Year 1

Oh My....she is a Beauty!

The Piano Teacher asked Cory if he wanted to do the duet that she was going to play with Esther...He left it up to Essie...guess who she picked?

The Recital was held at Good Shepherd Nursing Home...the residents there got quite a treat!

Esther with her teacher...she must have impressed Isaac, cause guess who wants lessons now?

Elijah...our busy boy!

Work Hard.....................Play Harder!

I Love Flowers....

These are just two of the flower pot plants that I have...I am very proud of them...I planted lots of Snap Dragon plants too, but some of them got eaten by moles I think...argggh.

Our Little Garden....

It is a tiny little garden, but we are happy with it none the less. Our poor pepper plants...they NEVER grew...it just looked liked the leaves burnt up...there are some blossoms, but the plant itself is not going to make it...wonder what went wrong? Hmmmm.

I started some plants from seeds, and others I bought at the nursery.

Next time I will not plant the peas next to the beans...that was dumb.

12 Years...I Love You Cory!

MORE NOTHINGNESS....

How exciting...nothing is really happening. I like that. Ballgames are over...(check) Membership to the town pool gotten...(check) (Thanks Mom and Dad V.) ....no more late night suppers (I hope)...school is over next week (Double Check!) ...etc...

I am just so excited to have Cory and the kiddos home soon...it is something Ive been looking forward to for so long!

We have a small garden in place...nothing much...some Roma tomatoes, red peppers, lettuce, burgandy beans, sugar snap peas...another plot will have some different squashes, grape tomatoes...I have some container plants...mint, lemon basil, reg. basil, sage, parley...and some flowers. We are proud of ourselves for not killing them so far. The one thing I have planted that I love is my favorite flower...snapdragons...I love those things.

Fathers Day is soon...gotta dream something up for the guy who has nothing, but cant seem to think of anything he needs hahahaha! Gander Mountain here we come :-)

Gotta feed a hungry baby...until next time...

SWEET LITTLE ASHER...

Wow...when I look at this picture... I see how big he really is...he used to be such a small little thing...Cory calls him the "Peanut Mamas Boy"....I always answer...there's nothing wrong with a "Peanut Mamas Boy" :-)

These aren't the best photos obviously, but since I was in the shot AND took them myself you have to cut me a little slack...PLUS ... I was carrying a "Peanut Mamas Boy" in my arms!

Here he is...the Peanut Mamas Boy! (nothing wrong with that!)

LITTLE HELPERS....

Elijah loves to help out. He likes to "fix things"...and especially with his father. Hes a sweet boy--that is for sure!

VALENTINE STUFF...

Look! I was there too! I am the main picture taker in the family...so I try and make sure that we have at least one picture with the birthday kid...its a nice tradition :-)


Whats new here? Hmmm....Asher is crawling. (there goes my baby ....*sniff*) In less than two short months he will be one....(*sniff*)(*sob*)...it really is true...I grieve...and am totally pathetic.

Elijah...starts preschool this next year. I dropped the big kids off at school and he was waving to them as they walked in, and he yelled "bye my hero!" I asked him who his hero was...and he said "Esther"...It was a special moment.

Gayle...is getting ready for a special Fathers Day party in her classroom...she is very excited for Cory to come :-)

Esther...has a piano recital in June. She is playing softball and having a simply fabulous time!

Isaac...just finished a project on Mary Lou Retton...He did it all by himself, and did a great job! He is still playing baseball too. Tomorrow we are heading to the B-Mets for scout night...FUN!

Wendy....is busy. is tired. Just got her hair done...my one luxury :-) I made a little runner for the cedar chest with some matching pillows. I got my first "when you die....can I have that?" I was surprised and a little worried that they might want to help it along...I said "yes" anyhow. haha.

Cory...is also busy. His team won their game yesterday, so they play today...maybe...it is supposed to rain. He also got 100% on one of his assignments for his doctoral class...Way to go!!! He works really hard in his "free" time...I am so proud of him! I am enjoying this class too...I get to be the "editor"...This specific class is about Spiritual Leadership and Ethics.

That is it in a nutshell...not anything new...just more of the same. Now....where did the baby crawl off too?

DUET WITH DADDY...

Unfortunately my camera was on its side...but you can still get the main idea.....almost a year of piano, and here are some good fruits of her labor...how cool is it to play a duet with her Dad! Awesome job Esther...I am jealous. She is truly enjoying her lessons, and upon coming in the door from school, sits down to play...I am glad. I always dreamed of taking lessons! It is my hope that she will have such a talent for it, that if she wants to earn some money for her family, that she can give lessons herself! How I wish, I had some talent that I could give...at any rate...Im proud.

For my first baby...who is not so little anymore...*sniff*

This is a little video that I put together of Isaac...I just can't believe how much he has grown...I still remember being pregnant with him! I can't believe what a blessing he has been in our lives...God is so good to us!

*ALMOST*

I can't believe it...my sweet baby is almost 10.....DOUBLE DIGITS people!!!! This is a milestone moment...I know it is cliche to say...but ...it went SO fast...(it did!)

There are so many things that come to mind when I think of Isaac...but the words that I always use to describe him are "Tender Heart"...I love this boy of mine...and can't believe how blessed I am to have him.

I will have to do a Birthday Post after his celebration...stay tuned :-)

FEELING THE BEAT...

I thought this was so funny. During Isaacs concert, Eli was so interested in all of the music...I figured he would be bored...I caught him directing the music a few times too..wish I would have captured that!

My Drummer Boy

Isaac...the boy NEVER practices...ever. I told him...you just wait until the concert and everyone will know...you'll see...I don't know why I didn't really push him to practice...maybe because I didn't want to hear the banging...or perhaps because we actually pay for Esther to take piano, and well, if he wants to play an instrument at school--he needs to be responsible...whatever...anyhow...I just assumed that he wouldnt have a clue.

Imagine my surprise when it actually *sounded* like it should! I really couldn't believe it..."Hey thats MY son up there...haha! " I kept looking to see if some other kid was playing the snare drum...nope...thats my boy...and when he was finished...I told him...all of that not practicing paid off...I was kidding of course...but imagine what you could do if you *practiced*!

Not to take away from Isaacs moment...but Esther is doing so well at Piano...Im so proud of her. She has surpassed me in all that I know...which is not much...(no snide remarks!) I always wished that I could play...and am glad that she will have that chance. Meanwhile, I have been able to teach myself playing in chords, and that is very rewarding...instead of me playing Christmas carols for the kids I think it will be Esther this year :-)

MR. FIX IT...

Elijah has been quite the helper...hes quick to lend a hand that is for sure. Here he is with Cory fixing the leg to the table...and he is equally eager to help me with laundry, and carrying loads to designated rooms to be put away...he is a dear heart for sure.

Even little guys can learn to use power tools as long as they have a patient poppy to help them :)

MOTHERS DAY SPA....

I was invited to Gayles classroom for a special Mothers Day Spa...she was so excited..."Mom, theres going to be a special song, and a special snack, Im going to paint your tonails and finger nails, and you even get a massage...WOW!

I was really excited to share this special day with Gayle...The special song was nice, the snack was yummy, and she did a great job on my nails...but I kept wondering about that massage...

On our way out, she was showing everyone her handiwork...and pointed at my homemade corsage, and said...Look...I even gave her a massage...I had to smile :-)

A song she sung with sign language.

MOTHERS DAY SPA CONT'D..........

"THE GIRLS"

here is the finished product.....Actually Gayle did my toes and some other little girl did my nails...it was sad...she said that her Nanna was coming but she never showed up, so I told her that I needed someone to paint my fingernails...so the little girl stopped crying and went straight to work...using gobs and gobs of nail polish :-) We also were given juice and a cookie snack :-)

Our friend Terri visited the classroom and Gayle did her nails as well...Looking good Terri!

HANDSOME BOYS...

Two of my guys....I'm so lucky :-)

BREAD WINNER *AND* MEAT WINNER !

Cory went out this morning with his buddy Steve and brought home this 20 # Turkey with a 10 inch beard and 1 inch spurs...apparently all of the extras are important...all I need to know is the poundage...the kids were SO excited...they stayed for all the "extra" parts...I decided to take Asher in the house :-)

Cory and his pal Steve...a good sportsman team.

Below...My proud husband...or perhaps...*TWO* turkeys :-) Great Job Cor...Now guess whats for supper?