Visiting NoVA....

We spent a day in D.C. when we were visiting VA. Our friend, Kerry, met up with us and we enjoyed visiting the washington monument, the american history museum and the natural history museum. I never did appreciate the fact that I grew up next to so much rich history.

Awesome dollhouse!

Mirabella, Burns and Phillips children being silly!

So far, every summer, at least some of the 8 of us college friends are able to get together for a time of visiting....usually going out to eat and sharing our joys and trials from the previous year...and things to pray for for the year to come. I have really appreciated time spent with these girls who have known me for so many years now! Tom also spends a weekend a year with 3 or 4 of his college friends...they actually get away and stay up late playing cards (or settlers) and such. What a blessing to be able to have such good fellowship!

My brother and his fam were with us at our parents house for 4 days! The kids built a fort in the living room, played and traded pokemon cards, took walks to the school playground and overall had a great time together!

Grandma and her grandkids.

A-ma and A-kong and their grandkids!

the semi-matching Wu/Mirabella family pic! gotta love the self-timer with 4 shots in 8 seconds!! :)

AJ turned 6!!!

Very hard to believe that my once 2lb 13oz preemie is now 6 years old!! We celebrated twice in Virginia...once on her birthday with cake and chuck-e-cheeses (and wegman's for lunch) and once the next weekend at grandma's house with a couple friends and some of Tom's cousins. I've always felt bad that we don't have a kid party at home for AJ b/c it seems that we are always visiting family on her birthday....but she has really come to love having a party at grandma's house!

General Assembly Week!

It was such a blessing to have some non-kid time with the Quillen's, Hathaway's and Connor's!

Tom's mom came out to stay with the five kids while Tom and I were in Nashville for the week. She was such a blessing to us...we had a great time visiting with friends in such a way that would not have been possible with our kids there. THANKS Rose Marie!!

may to june happenings....

Entry to our "boat" sanctuary....VBS started yesterday and we had a great first day!

AJ had her gymnastics recital last week...she was very proud of all that she has learned!


The Quillen's passed through town a few weeks back. we only had an hour or so with them...way too short but definitely better than nothing!

Kylie's piano recital was at the end of may....she has learned A LOT this past year.

My cousin, Daniel, came to see us for a long weekend. I hadn't seen him since we were kids, so it was a lot of fun getting to know him! the kids loved spending time with him.

We recently switched the twins into the room with AJ and Kylie into her own room. Here they are after they "helped" me move some stuff. I heart ikea furniture. :)

misc. catchup pics!

the clouds from pinnacle mountain

cedar falls at petit jean state park

fun visit from my cousin, Amos!

being a part of karen flannery's (now wilcox's) wedding on mother's day weekend!

AJ's kindergarten graduation!

celebrating after the graduation ceremony at TCBY! AJ's rainbow frozen yogurt decorated her dress and tongue!

Today was AJ's last day of kindergarten! She had a picnic and a short day at school...and then we went back to the gym for her graduation ceremony. It was a sweet evening of celebrating our rising first-grader. She has had a wonderful year at Abundant Life School and has learned a lot!
Many of you know that we are planning on bringing the 3 kids home next year to homeschool them. It was through a lot of figuring out details and praying for wisdom that we've decided on going the homeschool route. Please keep praying for me as I think through curriculum and scheduling our days....it's definitely going to be a life-style change for our whole family. We are definitely looking forward to the freedom to be flexible with our time and what we do...but there are a lot of school activities that we will miss a lot. I am anxious to see if homeschooling will suite our family well....or if i go crazy and we realize that we aren't cut out for it! Either way, I am planning on doing it next year (1st, 4th and 5th grades) with the freedom to figure out something different for them the year after if all does not go well. This summer is already gearing up to be a busy one. K and J are involved in the swim team this year (mostly to grow their confidence in being in water...while giving them exercise), AJ is still doing gymnastics, K continues to take piano lessons and has her recital this weekend, VBS is fast approaching at church, General Assembly in Nashville soon after that.... and than a nice trip to Virginia to spend time with family and friends! Between all that and finding fun (indoor, AC'ed) things to do with the kids...this summer is going to FLY by!
Thanks for checking in. I am so far behind in posting pics of our spring and what we've had going on. Not sure if i can catch up...or if i need to just try and keep up from here. :)

our garden

the tendrils that hold the cucumber plant to our tomato cage amaze me.

so, i haven't posted in WEEKS...and i decide that it is noteworthy to post pictures of our awesome garden that i am very, very excited about. :) we have several tomato plants, a pepper plant, squash and zucchini, cucumbers, a popcorn plant, some peanut plants and several potatos! i am very excited to eat the stuff that we're growing when it's time.