Early April

Aaron, tragically shot down by his big brother using a perler bead gun.

This is what I find on my phone when my kids run off with it.

Celebrating Uncle Timmy's birthday.

Enjoying one of the first warm days of the year and trying to walk a baby out during spring break.

Hiking and Longwood

As spring finally made an appearance, we decided to enjoy a morning hiking the MA & PA trail with some Knoxes. Gabe was even kind enough to ditch school so Seth had a buddy.

Gabe also snagged my phone at some point and became the official hike photographer:

Aaron, Gabe & Seth

Gabe likes taking pictures of Elise.

He has a thing for redheads.

Me & Melissa.

36 weeks pregnant is not my favorite look, but I'm glad to have a picture with my friend.

And where, you ask, was Catherine?

At Longwood Gardens with my friend Heidi!

Catherine loves all things plant, animal or bug related. Heidi is also a plant lover and offered to take Catherine on a special field trip, just the two of them. Catherine was THRILLED!

Enjoying spaghetti with enormous meatballs!

We are so blessed to have such good friends!

KYA Show

This year we got to take a gymnastics class with a bunch of friends from co-op. I love that all four kids got to participate every week! Elise was especially thrilled--she LOVED all the climbing and jumping. 

As usual, on the last day all the kids got to run through the obstacle course to show what they've learned. Even Elise got a turn!

Balancing on the jib line

Happy to get her ribbon

Aaron made great strides this year with his skills. Even Miss Paula commented on how much more independent he is now (probably because I have to help Elise now, so he's on his own). 

Aaron balances

Aaron's triumphant finale

Catherine doesn't need Miss Paula to help her balance:

Catherine ribbon time:

Seth on the Bubble Bridge:

Scaling the warped wall (his proudest achievement this year):

We love KYA!

Catherine Fun

Our stake had a cute mother/daughter Activity Days evening in March. Part of the fun included an obstacle course and the command to come wearing exercise clothing. I was nervous about being able to do anything at 35 weeks pregnant, so my awesome friend Bente offered to be Catherine's "mom" for that part. Catherine had a lot of fun pretending she and Brie were sisters for the evening (Talia was home sick, so it was just Catherine & Brie).

Catherine in her beautiful outfit of tin foil, plastic tablecloths and toilet paper. 

The four runway contestants.

The stake Primary president expressly forbade me from participating in the obstacle course, claiming that they had no OBs present that evening to deliver a baby. But Bente did a great job with the girls and I cheered loudly from the sidelines. 

Me, Brie & Catherine, Bente, Anna & Leslie, Hazel & Geri

Cute "sisters"

In true Catherine fashion, she decided without any prompting to decorate my door for Valentine's Day. I loved coming upstairs and finding all these "conversation hearts" with hilarious little Catherine sayings on them.

I sure love this little Catherine girl!