Earnscliffe

On April 29th, these 2 got hitched.


Leonard and guest (that's me!) were invited to the British High Commissioner and his wife's home for a reception in Will & Kate's honor. Len was excited as their home is Earnscliffe, that was the home of Canada's first Prime Minister Sir John A MacDonald in 1867. I don't think I'll ever not be nervous attending one of these soirees- it's not everyday that I rub shoulders with foreign ambassadors from around the globe and national news anchors. However, the people I do end up chatting with are always friendly, and in the end people are just people.

Some more shots of the happy couple for my posterity's sake.

Do you think they'll have 6 kids?

Long live the Queen!

Risk Takers

Leonard and I have always tried to encourage our kids to try-out for any and everything they are interested in. We've talked to them about the risk it is to put yourself on the line like that. Sometimes they'll make it and sometimes they won't, but if they don't try they will NEVER make it. I hope they'll continue to have confidence in themselves and will always at least try.


In the fall, Kaleb and Noe both tried out for the school's Track Team. Kaleb made it, but Noe did not. Kaleb had weekly practices that culminated in a 12 school race. He came in right at the middle for his grade's race and has even higher ambitions for next year. Way to go Kaleb!


In the spring, they both tried out for the school Talent Show. This time Noe made it, but Kaleb didn't. First she had to audition for her class, then she moved on to auditions for the school. Out of about 90 school auditions they cut it down to 12 performances. Noe and her friend Tia danced their Jazz routine to a full audience (their school is Junior Kindergarten to 8th Grade). I'm so proud of you Noe!

So Tiny

I am now 15 weeks pregnant and officially in my 2nd trimester- wahoo!! The nausea is still there, but it has diminished a lot. I'm also not napping everyday when Teague and Gavin do (but I still do somedays), but I'm usually asleep by 9. At my last dr's appointment I was 12 weeks. He wanted to do an ultrasound and blood tests to see if the baby has Down Syndrome. Since I'm 35 I have a 1 in 300 chance of that happening, so of course the doctor wants to scare me to death about it. I'm not really concerned though. If the baby does have it, it will be good to prepare, but I just always like any chance to see the baby in utero. Little peanut is such a cutie already! and so active! I still have another round of blood tests to do for the Down Syndrome, but the ultrasound tech said from her point of view the baby looks great (no excess fluid at the neck). I can't wait for my next ultrasound where hopefully we'll be able to see if it's a boy or a girl?

At 12 weeks, peanut is the size of these little dolls- it's just so amazing! Do you think peanut is a boy or a girl? (Sorry, I don't have ultrasound pics yet, but they cost $6 each here and $35 for a 3 minute DVD! I'm used to getting pictures and videos for free!)

Give Metal a Chance

I must admit that I was completely shocked and really saddened that James left American Idol last night. I wanted him to make it to the top 2 and I thought he had huge odds of winning altogether. (If there hadn't been 3 previous male winners I would really want him to win.) However, now I am really rooting for Lauren to win!!

The final four

We're down to the final four on American Idol, and I really could see 3 of them becoming the winner.


I think it's time for a girl to win and I would love it to be Lauren. I think she is absolutely adorable and the girl can sing! She is only 16, but she doesn't sing like a 16 year old (like Brittney, Christina, and Miley all did in the day)- she sings like a full-grown woman!


I could see James pulling it off though. I'm not a "metal" chick, but I love watching him perform and he has an amazing rock voice too.

Haley has a fantastic raspy voice, but her song choices each week have been pretty bad. I really don't know what type of CD she would make.

Scotty is a cute good ol' boy and I am sure he is going to have an amazing career in country music. Once we started the final 13 I told Leonard that he reminded me of someone, but it took me a while to figure it out...

...then it hit me- He looks like the guy from Mad Magazine, to which Leonard replies, you mean Alfred E. Newman? What? The Mad Mag guy has a name? Too funny!

I still wish Casey was in it, I really enjoyed watching him. I'll be happy for any of the above to be the winner though!

Cuttin' the Cornsilk

It's always so hard for me when my little boys get their first haircut. It drastically marks the end of their babyhood and the beginning of their little manhood. Poor Teague's bangs were in his eyes though and I wasn't going to cut the front and leave the party in the back, so 4 days after his 2nd birthday we made the trip to the salon.


I know some people "don't get" why I grow their hair long in the first place, but I just think it is so sweet!

Prepped and ready to go.

Of course, I put it in a ponytail first so I could keep that first cut.

This boy was pooped by the end of it, but he was a trooper.

The following Sunday he looked so handsome at church. A future missionary in training!

Eggstra Special Easter

I miss celebrating Easter in the States when we had a week off of school for spring break, but I love celebrating Easter in Canada because we get a 4-day weekend for Good Friday and Easter Monday. At our house the Easter Bunny visits us on Saturday and we do all of our "egg" events. Then Sunday is our "special" day when we focus on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The kids were so excited Saturday morning when they found that our usual Easter centerpiece was gone and that the Easter Bunny filled their baskets and mom & dad had got them some new spring clothes.

They were even more excited to find the Easter Bunny still hopping around in our backyard!

We had so many chocolate bunnies- white chocolate, milk chocolate, with peanuts, with crispies, with toffee- yum! Do you prefer white or milk chocolate, or maybe you like it dark?

We also had a rainbow of Peeps. I like to eat one of these little guys a year, but what I'd like to know is if anyone can eat more than one?

Which do you think is the best-tasting egg?

We had fun decorating Easter eggs, then we made half of them into egg salad for lunch and saved the other half for later.

It's amazing how much fun you can have with crayons and food coloring!

We also had our 2nd annual Easter egg hunt with our sweet neighbors.

Teague was napping during our egg decorating, but he found his favorite eggs- the plastic ones, filled with candy!

I couldn't find regular jellybeans (only the nasty spice ones), so the kids scored some skittles and m&m's instead! We also watched "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!"

Sunday morning, the kids all dressed up in their new duds for Church.

It was nice having Easter so late in the year this year, we could actually take a picture outside! After Church we had a yummy dinner of ham, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes & gravy, and the other half of the decorated Easter eggs- deviled of course. We also had a special Family Home Evening where we watched "To This End Was I Born" and talked about how today truly is the most special day of the year!

Barnyard Dance

This little cutie turned 2, so we threw a little hoedown for him!


We invited all of the cows, pigs, sheep, and chicks in the neighborhood.

We had festive gift opening.

Teague was so excited to have more animals join our farm!

What a darling group!

Teague was so happy for his A to Z Zoo, Trio car, new outfit, and his baby album that mommy will now make for him (tee hee!).

We had little cupcakes decorated like chicks, cows, and pigs. But don't worry they weren't flavored that way!

I'm tired guys and you're giving me open flames?

Well, I do like chocolate cake.

Thanks everyone, this is tasty, and I've had a great day!