Firsts

I cried as I helped my little girl slip into her tights and pink leotard.  All the joy I got from dancing 18 years of my life could not compare to this moment of taking my little girl to her first dance class.  She was so excited. She swaggered past the step aerobics class to the beat.  She did not hesitate to go into her class.  She followed every move the dance teacher made and smiled the entire time. 

 I love you Eva.

The next first was Luke riding his bike all on his own.  We have waited a long winter to get out and use his bike.  Daddy ran over his training wheels with his car so he could not use them anymore.  Luke didn't want to try and then after a little convincing he was off.  He was giggling and pedaling as fast as his bike could take him.  I was laughing and running right by his side.  He was so proud to tell Daddy.  He was then concerned if Uncle Riley knew how to pedal without training wheels.

Easter 2011

Easter is my favorite spiritual holiday.  I am so thankful for the new life associated with Easter.  Luke says he liked the candy in the Easter eggs and Eva liked finding her own basket this year.  Here is the line up for the hunt.

 We finished Easter by having a sleep over at our house for my nephews while their parents were out of town.

 Here we are getting full use of the Suburban.

 There is something precious about kids in their Easter clothes.  Eva acted like a little lady in her dress and kept spinning around and around.  She was also careful not to get her dress dirty.  (Thanks mom for the dress and Dad for the delivery.)

Luke's Spring Semester

Maria Montessoi talks about developing the full potential of the child.  She believes in an unlimited potential if the child is freed by the right setting.  I can not believe what the children (2.5-6 years old) can do when they are at school.  I could never recreate this at home and I could never help Luke to do the things his teachers help him to do.  I am so thankful that he will have a strong foundation to build his academics on.

Luke multiplying 9*9*9*9*9*9*9*9*9 with the beads.

 Luke and the 10 chain or 10 cubed.  It is so long it goes around the corner.

 Luke adding 3473 + 2524 with Lincoln.

 Luke and Kate working on Europe.

 Kate is a better reader than Luke so she often reads to him.  I just think this is so cute.  This year he is learning to work in a community.

 Here Luke is working on using "sh" in words.

 This is my favorite.  Luke can choose to spell what words he is interested in during this activity.  He has all the most important people from mom, dad, luke, eva, and then crooz ship.  Luke has been asking when we can go on a cruise ship again.  I told him when Eva has good manners at the dinner table we can go on a cruise.  He has been trying to teach her all the right things so we can reach our goal.  Obviously he was thinking about it during this work.

Out with the old, in with the new

We said goodbye to Dave's Sable on the recommendation from our mechanic.  Dave bought it right before we got married when his other car stopped working.  It carried us away after the ceremony on our wedding day.  Dave was trying to drive to the moon (230,000 miles), but he did not quite make it (228,004).

 Now we have upgraded to the mini van world.  I am still getting used to the new personality that goes along with the mini van.  The kids love the automatic doors.  The van does make everything feel easier.

Dave and I went to Luke's Montessori school auction and had a wonderful time.  I am always overwhelmed by the generosity of the Montessori community.  We ended up bringing home a basket of dress up items for Eva, a birthday party at the fire station, Betty Brynn tickets, and a half marathon training program.

Every year the children make something to be auctioned off.  Miss Molly and myself helped the children create the Mosaic tables below. I thought they were beautiful. 

Five years old!

Luke has been counting down the days to his birthday every day in March.  He loves looking at the calendar and calculating the days until.... something fun happens.  It has been so fun to see him learn this last year.  There are so many important things to learn when you are four.  He has learned how to read and write.  He has become much less afraid of new situations or loud surroundings.  He loves to help and talks to me about everything.  He postulates all sorts of "good ideas" including when we can take our next vacation and where.  Or he projects what he will be doing when he is 23.  Which is, of course, working on the 96th floor of a tall building.  He enjoys setting the timer for his quiet time where he will hide in a fort or read his phone books.  He has been teaching Eva how to talk and he has been counting how many successes she has had with potty training.  He has added upon his love for running by loving to run and then slide on his four wheeled scooter.  He was doing "wind sprints" in this fashion for 1 hour while in the University Lake School gym.  I still love when he holds my hand and tells me that he loves me.  He is getting harder to hold, but I love that too.  I am enjoying my last year without him in full day school.

Below are some pictures from the three different Birthday parties for Luke.

Miss Kim at his Birthday Celebration at school

 Aaron and Bennett playing laser tag.

 Uncle Bryce feeling 16 again.

 Boden and Luke ready for cake

 Boden's socks after playing too much laser tag.

 "Happy Birthday to Luke!" is what Eva said while running around holding the balloons.

Opening presents with Grandpa and Grandma Krause.

 Luke got a infrared thermometer in the form of a hand-held gun.  He can take the temperature of everything by pointing it at an object and pressing a button.  It then gives him a digital readout.  He loves taking it with him everywhere.  He measures everything from lights to ice cream (the light below was "208 degrees hot" and ice cream is "only 4 degrees").

 Dave's family