End of School, Memorial Day and Micah is 3!!!

 No more lunches to make for a while!

I'm thinking of the positives. In reality, summer is hard for me. No breaks and over time work.

I do; however, look forward to long warm days at the Carmel Valley Pool and getting to take extra long runs in the mornings.

To celebrate the end of school, one of the things Gavin's class did was a square dance/ice cream party.

 For Memorial Day we went to the Monterey Cemetary by Dennis-the-Menace Park to visit my Grandparents grave and take flowers and see the breaktaking display of flags.  It was beautiful.  We talked about our gratitude for our freedom and also about the role Grampa Neufeld played in World War 2. We met up with the Snyder family and talked about how Grampa's life was miraculously spared. Apparently he needed to be on Earth a bit longer. I LOVED seeing all the huge flags lining the driveways and the small ones at each military gravesight. I want my children to know why we have a holiday for Memorials Day and that its not just a day to play only.

 Here we are with my sister's family. I wonder if my grandparents knew we were there. I miss them. I bet they did.

 Today is also Micah's 3rd birthday! He has been waiting for this day for months and months.

Unfortunately he had a cold but he still had a great day.

Jump-N-Around was his choice and he wanted his cousins to be there.

 Then we came back to our house for some cake and ice cream and presents.

He was surprised this morning with a tricycle. Then this afternoon he got some kitchen/food items, cool light up cars, a xylphone, a water toy that hooks up to the hose, dinosaur magnet toys, a car carrier that hold little airplanes and a puppy to take for a walk.  So fun.

 His cousin, Maila, shares his birthday! She turned 9 today! She helped him blow out the candles.

Love this little guy and so glad that he's in our family. Three years have gone by way too fast.

Albert's Hurt

Albert hurt his knee...badly.  It's been 3 weeks I think now.

He was playing soccer, playing on a team in a league game and was running for the ball. He was kicked full force behind his knee and he went down hard. I saw him laying on the gound moaning in pain and I knew it was bad. Poor little Gavin was saying, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy..." He had to be carried off the field and when we made it to the emergency room he was seen quickly, as his pain was intense. After an MRI we found out that his ACL and MCL and Meniscus (spelling?) were all torn as well as a bone fracture.  He was stuck on the couch for a week (thinking he needed a little bell!) and then slowly began recovering.  He could drive after a little over a week (because it's his left knee) and now is doing physical therapy. Surgery looks inevitable but we will see. Our insurance will only pay for a teeny tiny portion of it. He is exercising so well to keep his body strong and improve the movement and healing.  I'm so proud of him for that.

Easter Sunday (I know, it's about time...)

Easter morning started with a visit from the Easter Bunny

I wish I would have gotten a picure of everyone in their Easter dress clothes but that didn't happen.

Then after church, a hunt for chocolate Easter bunnies that Grampa Jim left. I have fond memories of finding our chocolate Easter bunnies and wanted to do that with my kids.

Gavin found his!

Then we went across the street to play some wiffle ball, one of our favorite family activities.

Go Linnea!