Pals

We met the Merrick's at drop in story time this morning. I love this picture of the kids covering their eyes for a game the librarian was playing with them (it was everyone's favorite part). Sam and Teagan are just right of center, covering each other's eyes (those are Julia's red boots sticking out :)~
Later they kept busy with Legos, during their semi-regular Greenhouse playdate~

Pretty cute, huh?

Spring Concert

Sam had his spring concert today. We're coming up on a year of lessons! He's made some great strides since he began. Here he is today~

Charlie and Scott caught the White Sox game, but made it back just in time for the grand finale. Here they are outside the chapel enjoying the lovely weather~

Party Time

We celebrated Charlie's birthday with the family today. He's so cool~
One of the benefits of having a birthday that follows Easter~

Mary's a hotshot~

Sharing with Uncle Dan~

Look at Mary's expression - it takes a lot of concentration to dissolve that ice cream cake~

Charlie has been begging to use deoderant - he insists he needs it (he doesn't)~

He's growing into such a nice young man. He's a hard worker, and very polite. He takes good care of his baby sister and looks out for his brother. We are so proud of him~

It was a nice day (we never know what we're going to get this time of year). We still have to plan his friend party - Charlie wants a sleepover this year (yikes!).

And so it begins~

Baseball season, that is. Sam's first at bat~

Sam was moved up a level this year (he should be playing with the 6 year olds, but "the right" people saw him play last year and agreed that he could hold his own with the 7 year olds).

Here's the little tag-along~

Only 37 more games to go, not including if either gets called up, or play-offs!

Daffodil Glade

A host of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. ~ William Wordsworth

In honor of Earth Day, the Morton Arboretum was offering free admission today. The weather was perfect which meant crazy crowds. So, we didn't make it over to the Children's area to meet some homeschool friends. Instead we hung back near a field of beautiful daffodils~
It was a little damp from all the rain, but the kids still had fun running around~

Brothers~

Really great photo ops~

It's difficult to get everyone looking at the camera at once~

A little better~

Mary says "cheese" now when she sees the camera~

Mary is going to have a hard time keeping up with her brothers~

But not for lack of trying~

It was a beautiful day. The Morton Arboretum really is an amazing little retreat here in the western suburbs.

Working for A Living

Sam went with Daddy to Take Your Kids to Work Day~
Mary and I joined them around 11, just in time for face painting (some job, huh?)~

Then the kids got to check out a co-worker's race car~

Definitely a highlight~

Mary even took a little ride~

Then back inside to wreak some havoc~

Mary's got some mad computer skillz~

We had Noodles for lunch, then Mary and I left for our afternoon nap, and Sam helped Daddy finish the day. He had a blast - he keeps saying, The Carlson Group ROCKS! Charlie had Greenhouse today, or he would've gone along, too.

Perfect 10

The oldest - double digits!! It's really hard to comprehend how quickly time flies. It's painful sometimes, but mostly a joy~

For Charlie's surprise dinner, we wanted to take him for seafood, could not figure out a place, and finally decided on Cheeseburger in Paradise, since we thought he could at least get shrimp there, and the atmosphere would be fun. When we uncovered his eyes in front of the restaurant, he said, "Oh, I love this place! But I've already been here." (The birthday dinner tradition is taking the guest of honor to a place they've never been before). Apparently, Grandma had taken Charlie a while back. This development left us with a scramble to come up with another place, and quick! Scott had the great idea of "Ditka's". Scott and I had gone about a week and a half before Mary was born, and the food was really good. I was just a little concerned, though, that Charlie would be too young to know who Da Coach is. But when we uncovered his eyes for a second time, he immediately knew where we were, and was really excited. Charlie was also impressed with how fancy it was. he actually whispered to us that "he should have dressed up". No worries though, the place wad dead on a Monday night.

The waitress surprised us with a delicious flourless chocolate cake. Charlie loved the raspberry sauce~

"If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand."~Anonymous

French Folk Song

Sam played beautifully for his Spring Recital. He worked very hard on the following piece~

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. ~Proverb

We went for a bike ride this afternoon - hoping to play some tennis at the high school courts. When we got there, though, they were being used by the school. Instead we rode over to a playground, where the "ants" immediately got busy~
Sam will find a way to play with a ball no matter what the circumstances~

Charlie is so wonderful with Mary~

This shot truly captures our "moments"~

This one, while cute, is a rare moment of non-movement~

Spring Break

Luke is on Spring Break this week, so we had a sleepover. Mary loves hanging out with the big boys~

Easter Babka

Sam woke us this morning before 7, with a stage whispered, "It's Easter!!!". After last night's Vigil (which ended after 11pm) I groaned and told him to go wake daddy. He did, and we started our day. After following (quietly - Mary was still asleep) the jelly bean trail, the boys were delighted with their baskets (Sam is doing a little move he saw a long time ago on a "Toddlers and Tiaras" commercial)~

Mary finally joined us and dug into her treats~

Our little Babka~

The only picture of Mary in her Easter finery~

The Easter Babka~

We started calling Mary "Babka" when she was just a few months old. The name stuck and I decided to make a real one this year. Sam is paczki and Charlie is chrusciki.

Green Eggs and Sam

We had our annual egg decorating with the Eders~
Mary liked painting some, too~

These kids are all getting so big! Olivia and Charlie were each other's first friends~

Favorite eggs~