Porch Swing

I love the beautiful porch swing that Lyle finished last night. We first painted it the same blue as the porch ceiling, but we weren't thrilled with that. The obvious choice was white, but we wanted to branch out a bit. I love the green, and I think it will look great when some vines grow up on the porch.

Usually Madeline is the one I can count on to smile in a picture. I'm not sure what her issue was here!

O.K., now she looks happier!

Here is the view from the music room. Apparently Adam didn't want his picture taken.

Home School

Home school is not for the faint of heart! As part of Adam's anatomy class, he dissected a snake the other day. He wasn't the least bit queasy, unlike his mother.

Adam's quote of the day, "There's the testes.... why they're there, I have no idea!" Right after he finished, he had no problem going in and making lunch!

Easter

Spring Break 2006

During the kids' spring break, I enjoyed a spur-of-the moment trip to Chicago see our friends, the Bays. I left on Monday and came back on Friday. The weather was very sunny there and it was fun to see such a different landscape. The Bays live in the same ward as Laurel's in-laws and since Laurel and John were visiting them, I was able to go out to dinner with them and meet baby Max. He's very cute but has to wear a hip sling that makes him hard to hold!

I never get to have the great welcome that Lyle gets every night when he comes home from work. I decided to document this momentous occasion when I got the "Lyle welcome"!

I feel like the Mastercard commercial:

plane ticket to Chicago- $$$

meals at the airport-$$$

Knowing that your kids missed you- priceless

Lyle wanted me to have a "While You Were Out" type of experience. I know he thinks the "reveal" wasn't so great, but I was very impressed with all of work he'd gotten done. I love the planters he and Forrest made in front of our porch. It's actually concrete that they carved to look like stone. They still have some coloring to do, but I think it looks great. We already planted some wisteria to grow up on the porch.

I thought it was funny that Lyle added a "B" to one of the "stones". I guess we can never move--or have to sell the house to someone with the initial "B"!

Lyle aerated the whole yard, spread topsoil, and reseeded the lawn. To keep the dogs off, he put up the lovely construction fencing. While I was gone Lyle also cut out all of the pieces for our new porch swing!

I swear Olaf doubled in size over the last five days.