Easter 2011

One of the most rewarding things about raising the kids is watching their growth and development.  At the same time, "growing" also often means "growing out of" things we found so adorable when they were toddlers.  Both of our kids were little songbirds when they were 2 and 3, but have moved on, and these days it is nearly impossible to get them to sing on demand.

Easter was so fun for me and Steph this year, as we got to see Jackson and Mackenzie grow personally, as they were better able to understand the meaning of Easter, while at the same time taking a page out of their songbird pasts in preparing to sing at Easter Service.  For the past 4 weeks or so, they diligently practiced their songs each Sunday after church, and then rehearsed over and over in the car throughout the week, singing along to the practice cd given out to the kids. 

We can attest that their singing voices are as beautiful as ever!  They sang before the church at three separate services, and were poised and prepared each time.   They were each rewarded with a gift of a polished stone marked with a cross from the church.  They have yet to throw them at each other.

The rest of the day was spent indulging on candy from their Easter baskets, blowing bubbles, playing catch, digging for worms (Mackenzie, obviously) and just hanging with Mom, Dad, and Grandma and Grandad Werner. 

 

Ready Freddie!

 

Gettin' some quick Bible in before we get started



Kenzie lives for wearing pretty dresses





They told her to put on a big smile, and she is extra obedient on Easter



Alleluia!



A new trophy for their stone collections





Ears first... obviously!!



Bubble time!!

 

Back to his craft!

 

The only thing that could possible get Mackenzie to change out of her Easter dress is digging for worms!!



Spring Training

Jackson's 2nd year of Little League Tee Ball is underway!  He plays for the Orioles this year, a team of 6 year olds that all attend the same school as Jackson.  We are through our first practices, and the team is really gelling.  All the kids get along great and are ready for their first game on Tuesday!  Our coach is no nonsense and is teaching the kids what it means to be a ballplayer, including their first experience chewing sunflower seeds.

I wondered if the long winter layoff might dull the shine on Jackson's passion for baseball.  He had started saying a couple months back that he wanted to be a basketball player when he grew up, but sure enough, the first time we went out back to play catch, he picked up right where he left off, returning to his first love!

He watches every Mariner game up until bedtime (which is saying something, given how dreadful they have been to start the season).  He counts the days down until his next practice.  And he will stay out back with me as long as I let him, playing catch and practicing fielding.  He has a rocket arm and unbelievable hands.  And he really does look like a big league shortstop when fielding grounders (at least to the trained eye of a proud dad:)    Right now he is particularly into catching pop flies!

Opening Day Ceremonies

Learning the fine art of chewing sunflower seeds after a good practice!

The Crane Fly Incident

(Note: this is a very rare Steph blog post!  Originally written in cursive on a sheet of paper... very old fashioned like)

Today as I walked toward Kenzie's classroom to pick her up from school, her teacher (trying hard not to laugh) said "ask Mackenzie what she has in her pocket."  I did as I was instructed, resulting in a devious little grin.  Teacher Cathy said "Mackenzie, tell your Mom what you have in your pocket!".  I knelt down to Kenzie's response: "A CRANE FLY!!"

Our sweet little ballerina has a HUGE love for all creatures, big and small.  Not just butterflies, but slugs, snails, beetles, snakes... all of it!  So, when I began to explain to her that we needed to release the crane fly when we got outside, she burst into tears before I could finish.  "No, no, noooo!"

When I finally convinced her that the crane fly would have a better life outside her pocket than death inside her pocket, we walked outside and slowly unzipped her jacket pocket to find: 3 pieces of bark, a few rocks, a leaf, some grass and dirt, and finally a crane fly came tumbling out.  We couldn't find him, so he must have "flown away", right?

Snowpocalypse 2011

Snow finally came!  After our early Thanksgiving snowstorm, the kids have been sorely disappointed in old man winter.  Finally, snow arrived...  5 inches to be exact.  Just enough to do some sledding, build a snowman, and go on a nice winter hike on our neighborhood trail.  I took the day off and played in the snow all day with the kids, Steph, and Smokey.  Once again, Jackson and Kenzie both declared it the funnest day ever.  This is becoming a frequent phrase, so I guess we are doing something right:)

Catching snowflakes

Jackson quote: "What are we going to do about THIS?!?"

Ready for a big day!

Backyard snowscape 

Our snowy house 

Kenzie's best effort at a snowball

The kids with Frosty the Snowman

Steph and I with Snowy the Frostman.  We agreed to disagree on his name with the kids.  Jackson was the photographer here.  Nice work buddy!

The unimpressed expression notwithstanding, Smokey had a great time playing in the snow. 

Lovely snow hike on the neighborhood trail

Snow queen

Daddy - Kenzie ballet date day!

On Saturday I was blessed to be able to take my little girl on a special Dad - daughter date day.  Steph and I love our one on one time with the kids, as it allows us to slow things down and really focus our attention on each of them.  While Kenzie and I were out, Steph and Jackson had a Mom & kid sports day, going to his basketball practice and later to the Huskies basketball game.

For our date day, I took Mackenzie to lunch at the Edgewater Hotel, followed by the Cinderella Ballet in Seattle.  I tried to make everything fancy, and even if certain things weren't fancy, I told her they were.  She loved it!   I dressed her up in her special Disney Cinderella dress, complete with "glass" slippers, tiara, and wand.  I dressed up in a suit and let her help pick out my tie and put on my cuff links.  When I explained that cuff links (which she calls cup leafs) are like jewelry for boys, she was thrilled.

Lunch at the Edgewater was divine.  We valet parked, and got a table right on the water.  Everybody we passed complimented her and commented on what a beautiful princess she was.  I got several nods of approval and one thumbs up! 

After her lunch of "fancy" grilled cheese sandwiches, we moved on to the ballet.  We lucked into front row seats, so Mackenzie had a perfect view of the action!  The ballet was beautiful, and the nice thing about it being Cinderella was that she was able to understand the storyline, as she knows this story by heart.  Mackenzie was enchanted by the dancers, and I spied her in the corner of my eye moving her arms like the ballerinas several times.

She only needed to lie down on my lap for a few minutes during the second act, and she made it all the way to the end, aided by a power snack during the second intermission.  When the final act closed to Cinderella being twirled by Prince Charming as blue sparkles snowed down, Mackenzie clapped enthusiastically, a beautiful end to a day we will hold in our hearts forever!

Lunch with the princess at the Edgewater

So excited for the big day!!

Ready for the ballet!!

Self portrait during the first internission

A power snack of gingerbread cookies and orange soda brings a smile

Princess Mackenzie aglow after the ballet!