After I finished my exams (and passed! hooray!) Grandma and Grandpa Kotter made a last minute decision to come visit us. They brought Kaitlin along with them as well. It was great to have a week to relax after all of the stress of preparing for exams. We had a great week! One of the first things we did was take them to visit Silver Beach on the shores of Lake Michigan. It was a gorgeous day and we had a blast.
Oliver had a great birthday this year. We celebrated a little later than usual, since I was taking my comprehensive exams during his actual birthday. I think the wait was worth it, though. We gave Oliver a Little Einstein’s rocket and a Wall-E remote control robot (both fabulous finds by Kay on Craigslist!), Grandma and Grandpa Kotter gave him some tinker toys, and Grandma and Grandpa James sent an awesome homemade sock monkey. I love how excited he was to open presents.
Abby’s last comment was “Oliver not have dress.” I guess I’ve had too much studying with too little sleep.
Easter was wonderful! The Sunday before our ward hosted a musical fireside. It was amazing! There were classical numbers and pieces from Messiah along with hymns. It felt so good to be there. Saturday before Easter we hunted eggs in the back yard. Jason and I were surprised to find a plastic egg half chewed apart by a squirrel. It makes sense that he wanted to break it open to get the peanut butter candy egg inside, but there wasn’t any sign we could find of the chewed off pieces of plastic egg. Maybe he swallowed them? Probably not. The kids had an awesome time! I’m grateful for this time of year when everything comes back to life just like our Savior did.
So spring comes four times a year here. Lots of back and forth between sunny 65 degrees and freezing rain between March and May. I keep thinking I could live happily ever after in California. Avocados, warm sun, Pixar. Heaven. No, but really, Michigan is great and probably I appreciate the sunshine more when it comes because the winter is so long.
This was in March (hmmm… smell those flowers)
This was the Monday before Easter
The flowers come right back after it melts. Every time. They’re tough little things. So, what do we do with all our spare time indoors?
Visit the Henry Ford Museum (better than the Smithsonians in my opinion).
This is how big they make snowplows for trains in Canada.
Build more robots.
Jump, slide and fly like superheros at extreme bounce. This photo is hilarious to me because they’re running from somthing . . . . (see next photo)
Yikes. Strangers in costumes. They are Burt and Ernie-ish, but the kids were still terrified. Obviously we’re not ready for disneyworld. I know both girls in the costumes, by they way, and they’re really nice. I think it’s so funny. I’m actually sort of happy they found it creepy and reacted so cautiously- shows good intuition.
Oh, and we’re making blanket nests too.
Hope to post some photos of us outside soon! Thank goodness the library has tons of good dvds.
This is what happens when computer time runs out before Oliver is ready.
Oliver made up this song. Abby wanted to be part of the show.
She thought this up all on her own.
Kay made playdough for the kids recently. They love it!
Oliver and Abby love to create things together. Abby usually makes a ball or a snake. Oliver is always thinking of something new to make. He’s made robots, snails, a volcano and bunches of other awesome things.
Two of the professors in my department are married. They have been so nice to us! They often ask how our children are doing, and they sometimes pass along used items that their own children have outgrown. Just before Christmas, they offered to give us this amazing playhouse. It was in like-new condition, and we were thrilled to have it. It’s nice to have something fun for the kids to do indoors, especially during these long Michigan winters.
