Carver's class recently wrapped up a study of puppets. They built a puppet stage for their class, made puppets, and recreated stories using their puppets. It's been great fun and to show off some of their new found knowledge they put on a puppet show for the 3 day 3's class. Springer and I joined the audience and got a real kick out of all of the mini shows. Carver and Dylan put on "Jack and Bill". They re-wrote the story and added their own puppets and twist to the story. Getting ready to go on...

Springer made herself at home among the three year olds. She got such a kick out of the show-regularly belting out a huge laugh. The little girl in front of her was not pleased with her outbursts. I got so tickled watching her try to 'shhhsh' a very un'shhhsh'able Springer!

I know her pain!Take a bow ("and girls curtsy"-as Carver, the director, reminded everyone)

After the show Springer decided to check out the action behind the scenes.

Art Gallery Reception

On Thursday evening Carver and Springer's preschool held the annual art gallery open house. The halls were filled with beautiful work crafted entirely by our little ones hands. As an aside,their school does an amazing job with art and art history. No cookie cutter art work to be found; instead the children really learn what goes in to making masterpieces. I am constantly in awe at all they're learning. All of the artists receive name tags and proudly stand before their work as we madly snap pictures.

"Tom the Dinosaur"
Tempera paint with blocks

Marble painting

Carver's is on the bottom; Dylan's is above.

The purple painting to her left belongs to our little artist.

One art event wasn't enough for the evening so we headed over to Carver's new kindergarten for a school wide art gallery opening and dinner on the grounds. Springer was in rare (actually to our dismay-not so rare) form and was all over the place. My camera never made it out of my purse, but we had a great time none the less. We met our sweet host family and ran into other old friends as well. We're all really looking forward to this new beginning...although sweet Springer's eyes filled with tears at the mention of her brother going to another school. Currently they are across the hall from one another and more than once she's requested to go visit him. Apparently, she'll come in with her teacher, give Carver a hug and head back to her room.

She will certainly miss that next fall.

Garden Party

These pictures speak for themselves...

over the weekend we purchased plants to fill containers and window boxes; let's just say that the children thoroughly enjoyed the leftover dirt.

Sweet Pals

I love the look on Springer's face...she is just so smitten with her big brother.

Now, don't get me wrong the tides can turn without warning,

but when it's good it's very good.

Spring Break Wrap Up

We ended spring break on a wonderful note-on Thursday Micah, Tricia and Sara James came up for a long weekend. On Friday we headed to Lazy 5 Ranch for a little visit with some exotic animals.

All week prior Springer talked non-stop about how she wanted to "hug da wamas". Well suffice it to say as soon as that llama stuck it's large head into our car her tune quickly changed. She didn't cry or say a peep, but the picture below captures her position for much of the journey. Carver on the other hand was wonderfully brave as he held tightly to the feed bowl and fed llamas, ostriches, cows and other large horned animals. Sara James squealed in delight and both she and Springer found the funny looking ostrich particularly amusing. It was a great adventure to share with our family.

Saturday began with a bit of drizzle, but that didn't stop us from continuing our theme of animal adventures. The children particularly enjoyed the Nature Path at the Nature Museum.

Or maybe it was just that they could run freely?

We tried our best to get a cute shot of all three of them, but I never quite captured it. By Sunday afternoon sweet Sara James was not in the mood to pose;

it's a good shot for posterity though!

Thanks for coming y'all! We miss you much.

Art Adventure

Carver and I created a week's worth of 'adventures' for spring break...today was art day. Although we didn't spend the whole day doing art the better part of the afternoon was spent painting. It wasn't the cleanest of days around the Hiatt house, but much fun was had. Carver and Springer both worked diligently on their masterpieces. Carver pulled out a picture of Starry Night and worked on creating his own similar painting. Not to be out done, Springer brought in a book of her own and began painting "Cinderella".

Day three of our spring break adventures was a hit!

A little road trip

To celebrate our second day of spring break we hit the road to visit the Morrisons. Jennifer and I enjoyed catching up and the boys and Springer enjoyed trains, bubbles, hide and seek and some chocolate milk! Thanks friends, for letting us join y'all today! Springer, Carver and Blan
We couldn't pass by Daddy's Alma Mater without making a quick stop to the bookstore to pick up some goodies. As we've whole heartedly cheered the Wildcats on during March madness Carver declared a picture with the wildcat a must! We're certainly proud of them!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Cloudy skies and chilly temperatures were no match for us this morning. After weeks of talking about it, we headed off to the zoo. Springer's been planning to see the "wions and elephants" and Carver was anxious to see the tigers. Well, we did that and much, much more! The elephants took top honor with Springer and Carver deemed the flamingos the 'most interesting' animal in the zoo. A great way to kick off Spring break!

Springer was smitten with the little ape...this hug was entirely her doing.

Just Because

This was taken almost two weeks ago now, but I forgot about it until just this evening. G and I have remarked lately that Carver and Springer have become really good pals. They play real games together-without needing a referee-and they love it. This is a recent example of one of their make believe games. You see that Carver dressed them in Daddy's matching t-shirts and they created swords and shields from things they found around the house. They were Musketeers, I believe, and fought with the best of them. These are often exhausting, but greatly fun, days. It thrills my heart to watch them love time with one another. May it always be so.

Happy Easter

I am sure Photoshop could cover her torn up nose quite nicely,

but this is who Springer is this year...our pretty little tough girl.
Carver insisted on getting a bow tie for Easter. I had to take a big gulp
(he just looks so old!), but he was as proud as could be and thoroughly
enjoyed his big boy look. Uncle Micah and Pops (fellow bow tie wearers)
would be proud!

Springer and Mae compare their goodies.

Springer, Carver, Jack and Mae...

another wonderful Easter day with our sweet friends.

Easter Weekend

Coloring Easter eggs, surviving a big fall, a soccer game (Carver scored three goals!) and our church's egg hunt in the park....Friday and Saturday at the Hiatt's house.

This is how I found her not long after the eggs were placed on the table...

the one closest to her was being picked a part bit by bit-and then she ate it!

This picture doesn't quite do justice to the fall she took-on asphalt.

This was about an hour after it happened on Friday; I think it's going to look worse

before looking better. As we were dressing her for bed she saw her face

for the first time. "I don't want this nose! I do not wike it! It is WED!"

all said amidst sobs. It was pitiful.

Mae and Springer enjoy a beautiful day for swinging.

Springer insisted on picking up only the PINK eggs; needless to say she

didn't end up with quite as many eggs as the other children!

Mae and Springer took their cross decorating very seriously.

For reasons unbeknownst to me Springer only used lamb stickers.

Did I mention she was a bit particular?!

Carver and friends join in on the Hokey Pokey.