They also double as a figure skating costume...

Check out Jack's new workout shorts! You can't tell from the photo, but these little spandex beauties have the legs sewn together. They force Jack to use a narrower base of support with his legs so he can work out his abs and practice his balance more. He wears them for about 15 minutes a day, and I laugh every time. They are awesome!

One year down, three (or four) to go...

Mike just took his last final for the school year today! Mike is really getting into the swing of student life, and the rest of us are, too. Time has flown by!

Another Visit from Grandma Susu

Last weekend Mom visited Philly again! She's becoming quite the cheesesteak expert. We had such a fun visit, and Mom got to experience a beautiful spring. We miss you already, Mom!

Here's a photo of Mom and Amelia at her preschool. They had a little program while she was visiting, so Amelia requested that Mom wear green (and like a great grandma, she did!) and join her at school that day where they sang one of her favorite songs, "Jesus is my Rock and He Rolls My Blues Away". It's really awesome!

Here's Mom and Colin at Longwood Gardens. There were 100,000 tulips! It was georgeous.

Here's the gang at Chanticleer Gardens. Mike says they look like they're at the Council of Elrond. All of you other LOTR nerds out there know what that means!

Mom and Jack
Group hug!

Tricks

I haven't posted lately about the kids' latest tricks and skills. Jack is now sitting independently, waving, clapping, and giving five. He is doing well with his PT and has such a pleasant personality. Amelia is starting to read now. She is getting better at sounding out words and loves to spend time on a website (she goes to it all by herself) practicing her skills. Colin has been working on his jumping, counting, and letters. I'm amazed at how fast they all learn and change. They're getting so old!

It's Raining... Cherry Blossoms

We have a lovely old cherry blossom tree in our backyard, and it's HUGE. It's much taller than the house itself, and it's covered with lovely white and pink blossoms. A couple of days ago the petals began to fall off a few at a time, and now every time I look out the window there are petals in the air! It's beautiful. Here's a picture of Amelia trying to reach the lowest group of branches.

Spring Farm Trip

Amelia's preschool class took went on another field trip to a farm. We had a wonderful time checking out some of the baby animals.

What's up doc? (That's a bunny she's holding, not just a ball of fur.)

Riding a horse named Misty
Squeezing this very unhappy chick!

This darling baby goat was only a few days old, and much cuter than its adult counterparts!

Tooth Buddy

Every night Amelia and I have a similar conversation that always makes me laugh. She brushes her teeth for a while and then I jump in to give them a professional once-over. A half second after I start she always interrupts me and says, "Mom, don't forget to brush my gumlines!" This has been going on for weeks, and it cracks me up! Amelia always says she wants to be a dentist when she grows up, and she and Uncle Ryan are officially "tooth buddies".

More Easter Photos

On Saturday the kids colored Easter eggs and loved it. They also decorated them with Hello Kitty stickers, (Colin was strangely tolerant of them) and admired them in their bowl. Amelia had already decorated some eggs at school, so she was a pro. Sadly, all of her 3 school eggs broke one at a time as she was pretending to be a chicken and sitting on them. I guess it takes three tries to learn that lesson!

Here are the kids finding their Easter baskets Sunday morning. They were so excited that it took them a long time to fall asleep Saturday night. They came running into our room around 6am claiming that they had seen something on the stairs and begging us to get up so they could go downstairs. It was wonderful!

Happy Easter!

I took pictures of the kids in their fancy easter clothes this morning. Here they are!

Back to Chanticleer

Mike took a studying break today from a very rough week so we had a picnic at nearby Chanticleer Gardens. It was a really wonderful visit, and a great chance to get back outside and enjoy spring!

I know he was crying but...

I heard Colin crying in the office while I was doing dishes, so I ran to him and found this. He didn't realize that he just needed to sit down and he'd be free. I was laughing hard and had to take a photo, while poor Colin cried. I have a heart of stone. :)

Egg Hunt

Some girls from the church organized a fun Easter egg hunt for the kids this morning. It was at a lovely park nearby and we had lots of fun! Amelia was SUPER excited about this egg with hearts on it. She was talking about it all the way home. Colin had fun, too, despite a runny nose.

Almost Potty Time

Colin is thinkin' really hard about using the potty. He hasn't managed it yet, but the Cars (movie) underwear and potty seat are calling his name!

By the way

At Jack's 9 month appointment today he was measured and is in the 95th percentile for length. He's a big boy!

Silly Table

It's official... the kid furniture is starting to take over the house. Between Colin's train table and rug with streets on it in the office, Jack's basket of baby toys in the living room, and the toy room bursting at the seams, there isn't much room for anything else. Except this little table. And these little chairs. I can't believe myself, but I went to Ikea, bought the table, fixed it up with a little paint, and used it to crowd the kitchen and dining room. What's my problem!?