A new family in our neighborhood

Momma Robin decided to build her nest in the burning bush next to our front door.  We can see these two beautiful eggs that she has laid.  We watched her build the nest on Mother's Day, so given the short gestation time, we are expecting babies in the next 24-48 hours (we hope).  We are really ticking her off every time we open the front door, I can only imagine her irateness once those babies are here!!  

Cuddle Up and Read!!

Caleb's preschool held its first 'Cuddle Up and Read' event this April.  The children were given a chart for the entire month and a roll of stickers.  If they filled their chart every day, having read with someone in their family to earn a daily sticker, they earned a free new book from Mrs. Wheeler!!  The evening event was the culmination of the reading frenzy and book selection, also including hot cocoa, fruit and yogurt parfaits, graham crackers, and a reading by Mrs. Wheeler of 'Pete the Cat'.  

Caleb with his friend Myles.  I chose this one, as it looks the least like he is choking his buddy!!

Mrs. Wheeler, pre-story, showing off her stuffed Pete the Cat.  I'll bet she sleeps with him too!!

A very rapt audience!!

She is sooooooo into this!!

Caleb's Finch Hollow Field Trip

Caleb's class went to Finch Hollow Nature Center a couple of weeks ago.  They take the children on a hike outside along one of the nature trails; they also have a presentation about birds (complete with stuffed animals, as in, they used to be alive) that is interactive with the children.   This was my third and last field trip with the UPK to Finch Hollow.  Luckily, even though it was a bit cold, it wasn't raining like it was last year.  We did see all types of birds, hear the calls of some birds, and left little bird seed piles for them to enjoy.  Fun morning!

Getting ready to leave bird seed....

Holding it in his hands, waiting for directions.....

Out on the hike, looking at the nests of the tree swallows

Inside, touching some of the stuffed animals

Final random shots

Granddad posing with all of his grandchildren, each person wearing one of Granddad's old Navy hats.  This is the more serious photo.....

......this is the sillier photo!!

Best. Dragon. Ever.

Tinsel in my hair :)

 Two brothers with two beers.

OUTSIDE!!!!

We had superb weather while down in NC, which made it easier for the kids (and as a result, the adults) not to go stir crazy!  There are some small water falls which empty into a pond right near Granddad's house (and the goats), which the kids all love to climb on.  What kid isn't drawn to water?? There are also large open grassy areas for the kids to run around as well.  Dave and Doug took the kids kite flying one day, but although it was windy and clear, the kites didn't do very well.  In all, being outside was good for everyone's mental health and provided energy release!

Odin and Caleb crossing the mighty creek

Odin posing, while Molly just goes on across

Pretty Meredith on the grassy knoll

The kids went running around the upper pond and all the way back to where Meredith and I were waiting.  They thought this was fantastically awesome to have that small bit of freedom.

The day before we left, with only a few hours work left to do in the house and loading the truck, we all packed up and went on a picnic lunch at a park nearby that sports a frisbee golf course.  If you don't know what frisbee golf is, you should read this.  First the kids found a playground and hung out there for a while.  We took a break for lunch, then we finished our afternoon with a few more holes of frisbee golf.  It was such a fun afternoon and great way to end our trip.

All the kids on the playground bridge

The first hole, Odin is up

Potter, the lefty, gives it a mighty toss

Molly is ready to hurl that thing

Taleb Tark, frisbee golf expert

Just my beautiful girl, out in nature

Dave, my love

Odin and Caleb = BFFs

Molly's turn on the felled tree

Doug and Mere

Easter came and was celebrated while we were visiting Granddad.  The bunny was able to find all of the kids, even though we were not at our own homes.  The kids got a lot of candy loot, books as well, which was perfect for right before heading to church!  

Potter with his felted bunny left by E.B.

Kids checking out all their new stuff!!

All dressed up, taking a rest.

(Right here, there should be a few nice pictures of the entire family dressed up for Easter.  We took dozens of photos in the front yard after church.  Sadly, Dave hasn't downloaded his yet and I haven't gotten any from Granddad to post.  Sigh.  I'll have them eventually.)

While setting the table for dinner, Meredith and Molly went to pick flowers outside.   Molly got a fancy hairdo, complete with some of the pink flowers.

Doug, now sporting an apron, cooking in the kitchen.  And apparently using his magic finger to make it all taste just right.

The adult table - complete with fancy wine glasses and individual salt cellars.

Had too many beers.  Now apron is doubling as his bonnet while he performs his version of 'Little Red Riding Hood in the 'hood.'

Kid's table for Easter dinner.  Fancy pastel tablecloth, plates and napkins.

Post meal.  Can't move.  Can only read books.  Sedentary activities.  Burp.

North Carolina!

The day before the kids' spring break officially began, we packed up the van (sans the dog) and headed down to North Carolina to help Dave's dad finish moving from his house into his new apartment.  Even though the movers had taken all of his big furniture and gotten the apartment mostly moved in and livable, there was still a LOT of stuff at the house that needed to be gone through, divided up, and packed into moving trucks.  Yes, trucks.  The New York Clark family had one 16 foot moving truck to load, the Idaho Clark family had their own similar moving truck to fill up.  And boy, did we fill those up!!  

The first couple of days, we went through the house and took stock of what needed to be done.  The men spent an entire day going through the garage, tools, and stored boxes from the attic and dividing up all the fun new saws and such.  Meredith and I spent hours sitting on the floor with dozens of pieces of silver gleaming so brightly, I think we wore sunglasses most of the time.  

Our kids were all AMAZING through this entire process.  Over the course of the week we were there, they were left to their own devices for long stretches of time and not once did they complain.  We were mindful that they needed to get out of the house some and play, so we hooked up the hose for them (thankfully it was warm enough for that) and we took them on hikes/walks around the area, especially to feed the goats, always a fun time.  

At the close of the week, we were all exhausted, but we had such a good time all being together.  It is hard to get us all in the same zip code very often, but the cousins love it and we value that time together as a family.

First excursion to feed the goats.  Odin immediately loved the laser tag game, carried one with him for the first 48 hours.  

Odin:  hat ready, laser tag engaged!!!

Caleb and Odin loved having someone the same exact age and gender to play with.  New Star Wars lego sets helped ease the burden of being ignored by their parents!

Lin and Meredith, definitely a rare photo.  Loved spending so much time with her!!

In one of the closets, we found three old fur coats.  I promised not to post these on Facebook, but never about the blog.  So, pimp #1........

......disco pimp #2......  :)

Some of the many pieces of silver that we went through.  This is my new tea set, for when Michelle Obama comes over.

Molly with the genie lantern.  I think Meredith took this one to Idaho.

More boy cousin shots.  They each have their capes, masks, swords strapped on, and laser tag guns.  Ready for action!!!!

CFJ 1st grade spring performance

Molly's 1st grade put on a wonderful performance this spring, all about bugs!!  The entire show was written by her music teacher and the kids were extremely grown up and knew all of their lines through both the talking parts and the singing parts.  Molly was a generic bug, but she did have a couple of speaking parts.   Was so much fun to watch!!

Union Endicott Spring String Concert

Potter participated in the Union Endicott school district Spring String Concert.  Sadly, there were so many children on the stage and I was pretty near the back of the auditorium, that you cannot actually see Potter. He is on the left,  a few kids back.  At one point, I think I got a glimpse of his bow and his shirt.  They did a truly amazing job, this is not your typical 6th grade orchestra.  

.........and......SURPRISE!!

This post is about EmmaWright.  She does not like to have her picture taken at our house apparently, so this is a picture of her from last summer.  Just fyi.

So the long weekend when Molly was here visiting was punctuated (with an exclamation mark no less) by Emma's surprise Friday night arrival!!!!  She worked hard all week to get stupid L2 stuff done so that she could hang with us all weekend.  The kids pretty much pummeled her upon arrival!  We all ended up going to the Pancake Breakfast together at UPK (we took up a whole table) and eating all of the bacon there.  Mmmmmm!!!!  We then went to the new micro brew pub in Binghamton for lunchy snacks and beer for Emma and Dave.  'Lin, you'll really like this beer.  If you don't like any beer, *this* is the beer you'll like', says Emma.  It sucked.  We all enjoyed some cocktails together, a yummy dinner, and movie time with the kids later that night.   Emma and I spent Sunday morning on a really good long walk together, something I love doing with her and that Mollyariotti seems to be vehemently opposed to.   Looking forward to seeing her again soon, probably over the summer break.