She's a...

thumb sucking * hair twirling * Coke guzzling * veggie eating * bed wrestling * sister loving * dolly toting * nonsense singing * table climbing * shoe obsessive

TWO YEAR OLD

We had a fun day celebrating Valerie's birthday as a family: gifts after breakfast, Settler's Park while Sierra was at school, pizza and Kiddie Cove for dinner and sno-cones to top it all off. Marc had saved up his personal days at work and used them all this week to celebrate some special days at home.

Happy Birthday, Val-Val!

Let's get this party started!

During the next two months Marc will be spending lots of time, money and creativity celebrating the women in his life. Here's the May/June line-up: Mother's Day (May 8), my birthday (May 9), Valerie's birthday (May 11), our anniversary (May 23), Ally's birthday (June 17) and Sierra's birthday (June 25). Are you feeling sorry for him?! You should. He likes to make sure that we all feel well loved and goes out of his way to do or buy special things. I have seen him scribbling his lists on scraps of paper lately: gift ideas, activities, cake choices, etc. So, over the next few weeks, if you see him wandering through our local shopping venues looking a little overwhelmed, will you please just send him home. Thanks!

"Marc's Girls"

(* I couldn't resist posting my favorite picture just one more time! *)

Weekend A-B-C's

Aunts & Uncles

Bird feeders filled and hung

Cozy cabin

Trip to the Dump (as in the place where you take trash)

Eating

Fire wood stacked

Grandpa and Grandma

Hot-dog roast (Hebrew Nationals, of course!)

Ally's fear of Insects

Jokes (plastic cockroaches)

Kids

Laughter

Motorcycle rides

Nieces and nephew

Outdoorsy smells: pine trees, smoke, rain

Payette River

Quality time

Raking pine needles

S'mores

Tangled

Upper 50's and beautiful sunshine

Valerie falling down the stairs

Wheelbarrow rides

X-tra fun

Yard work

Zzzzzz's (good naps!)

My Mom

... does not eat the bread of idleness. (Proverbs 31:27)

... is humble and gentle. (Ephesians 4:2)

... hides God's word in her heart. (Psalm 119:11)

... is able to teach and admonish with wisdom because the word of Christ dwells in her richly. (Colossians 3:16)

...speaks the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15)

... looks after widows in their distress. (James 1:27)

...regularly uses her gift of hospitality to bless others. (I Peter 4:10)

... demonstrates her faith by her good deeds. (James 2:18)

Mom and I on the beach in Brazil in 1976.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

We love you.

HE'S ALIVE...

...and I'm forgiven!

Spring Break Stay-cation

All good things must come to an end. I just prayed with a sobbing six-year-old because she doesn't want to go back to school tomorrow morning. (And I'm a little afraid that Marc might start crying any minute now too!) We had a good week of spring break together as a family. Here's a quick re-cap. Monday: First ever visit to the state capitol building! It was fun to see members of congress in session, to peek into the governor's office and to walk around the beautiful marble staircases and hallways. That night, the girls had Sierra's good friend from school come for a sleep-over. It was a late, giggle-filled night! Tuesday: We spent the morning and had lunch with Grandpa and Grandma Obenchain. Even though we live so close, days like this are few and far between. It was special for all of us. In the evening, we celebrated Chuck's 30th birthday with the family.

Wednesday-Friday: It seems like we may be starting a Mouser family tradition. We discovered Oxford Suites in Boise last year and decided to visit "our hotel" again this year. The girls spent hours (and hours, and hours, and hours!) swimming in the pool. All three of them are little fish. We also enjoyed watching Tangled on the laptop. There's nothing like eating microwave popcorn out of hotel mugs!

Now, it's back to reality... just two more months until summer break!

Chuck-Bob

Makes you feel kinda old when the baby of the family turns 30!

Happy birthday to a great brother and uncle.

We love you!