Easter Bliss

     O.K.  Seems the weather here in Maine is as crazy as anywhere we have ever lived.  There was a freak snow storm in late April, and less than a week later we were on the beach in 75 degrees and sunshine?!  Makes baseball season a challenge.  Wet fields and buckets of rain have made it impossible to practice.  Ethan has his first game tonight, and the kids don't even know each others names yet...let alone positions!  Should be interesting. 
     I am excited to report that we got ourselves a garden plot here at the complex.  It's about 3'x3'.  Super small.  We are working with an artist in the building whom we befriended, and has offered her time and knowledge to train us in the building of small structures.  Our goal is to create an amazing fairy garden, complete with mini pond and solar fountain.  There have been a few brainstorming sessions that were incredibly fun.  Can't wait to start!
     Easter was scrumptious.  The weather called for rain, but early in the day the skies cleared and the temperature soared.  Mom and Dad's yard was in it's springtime glory.  We enjoyed a delicious meal cooked by Dad of ham and lamb chops.  Meagan and Ellie and Jason were there, and we were all ready to welcome the warmer days of spring.

Yarn project.  LOVE IT!

Theo.

Ethan and his buddy Kaleel.  They are building a Porsche.

Tough Maine tulips.

A beach day with friends! (Same week as snow.)

Scott and Scott playing frisbee.

Scott and I were trying for a selfie.

Beach Bum.

Jason kids were here.

Ethan's up there...

Dying eggs.

A stop at the bird store...with Theo in his backpack.

Cullen was bored on the drive to Gammy and Gampy's.

Awwww!

On your mark!  Get set!

Go!

Meagan and I in our Easter bonnets...staring into the sun.

Fiona took this one.

The kids strategizing about the garden with Vicki.

   

Baseball Season is Here!!! At Last!!!

April?  Where the heck did March go?  We are seeing crocuses and snow drops in bloom, and it gives us hope that warmer sunny days are around the corner.  Ethan tried out for Portland Little League, and is in the majors playing for Waltz Plumbing!  Can't wait to see what these uniforms look like! His first practice is this Monday evening.  He's excited to meet the team and get back on the field.  I am so looking forward to seeing him play again.  Kids are still going strong at climbing.  They're in the gym 6 hours a week training and it really shows.  My goal is to keep that going for at least Fiona while Ethan has baseball. 
Scott and I celebrated our 16 year anniversary.  Incredible where we have been together in the last sixteen years.  Tiny cottage in N.C., then to the Cape, from there to Winthrop...and then we took the plunge with home ownership in Lynn.  Nahant had us for a good 6 years (3 different homes), and then way down to Texas, just to loop around the entire country (and portions of Canada) to land in Newton.  Not a bad town...but it too couldn't hold us, and so here we are in Portland, ME.  No telling where the next sixteen will send us.

My sweet baby, resting his head.

Part of my Lyme treatment is getting a UV-IV.  All the colors of the rainbow!

Red is my favorite.

We got the kids their own computers.  We are loving the new technology for school!

Our little anniversary shrine.

Theo snuggling me.  He likes scarves.

The kids with their friends at the Museum of art.

Silent reading time.  Ethan chose this as his cozy place.

What happens when I ask Fiona to wash the dishes.

Found a great bead shop down the street.

We all emerged with an original creation.

Our attempt at a family portrait.  Can you see Theo in his backpack? We just need to figure out how to get the fish in the shot. 

Warming up that arm for practice!

Best coach ever.

I practically have a twelve year old!

Oh boy.  Let's see....since I last updated Scott has survived the world's grossest cough (which the doctor thinks was the flu)...we have had some decent snow storms...Liz visited with her three year old and three month old...Fiona and Ethan have built numerous snow forts and people...I have been diagnosed with Lyme...survived a terrible allergic reaction resulting in hives too disgusting to post that landed me in the ER...and we have celebrated Ethan's birthday a few days early to be sure Auntie could attend before her annual meeting in Florida.  I think that about covers it.  So, as usual, big ups and downs.  Not even going to attempt to predict what the future holds.  I am just so happy to have healthy kids who are at an age where when need be, are capable of taking care of themselves.  Here's to a quick end to the winter, and a warm and sunny spring.

Kids and I are enjoying skating on the pond.

It's tiring though...

These Mainers are serious about their sledding!

Cool experiment with Gallium.

This metal's melting point is around 86 degrees F.  Melts in your hand!

Little Bernouli effect anyone?

We had a blast with "coffee spill" art.

Fiona's creation.

Ethan's...

Masking tape murals.  Fun and harmless to the walls!

Ethan and Nell.

Easiest babysitting job ever.

Enjoying donuts with Lil and the kids.

"Three-nager" and teenager.

What the hall looks like outside our apartment when the kids have their friends over.

Cullen is warming up to new people now.  He loves Heather.

And Theo thinks Mimi tastes yummy!

Sun and snow walk with the kids.

She turned around and smacked him as soon as I took the picture.  He KNOWS not to touch her hair...  What a stinker 12 year old brothers are.

Theo in the Valentine from Auntie.

Yup.  He's on the bed.  I swore this would never happen.  

It was only a matter of time before he found his way up there.

Oh yeah!  Just what he wanted.  Thank you Gampy.

Fiona sewed him his own mini jersey.

And here we go! "You'll shoot your eye out!",  just keeps running thru my brain.