home improvement

I know it has been a long time since I updated. These kids home all of the time might be a good excuse. But, actually they are so much more independent than even just a year ago. Since everyone is helpful with Evangeline, I will really miss them terribly when they go back to school in one short week!

I decided to prepare for the chaos of next week by cleaning house and organizing as much as I can. I wanted to show my before and after of the bookshelf wall in the living room. Here was some cost free decorating! What do you think?

School is out!!!!

Let the summer fun begin!

The Stauffer kids finished school last Friday. Mom picked the girls up right from school and the girls began our long trek to visit Aunt Carol and Uncle Dan in Chincoteague. We had so much fun! And the week just flew by. The weather was absolutley perfect and the wildlife was abundant (except the mosquitoes yay!) We went on a boat ride with the neighbors and also favorite family friends Wayne and Jean. We are tuckered out in a good way!

Gabriella's month

On March 20th Gabriella turned 9 years old. April was a whole month of special events for her. We had a visit from Mimi and Papa, she performed with some good friends in a community theater production of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and she chose to be baptized! What a way to show us how fast she is growing up! Hope you enjoy all of the photo's (don't you just LOVE the one of Hans and Evangeline!). Thanks for sharing in our joy!

spa time!

So our spring break is underway with a forecast of snow this weekend! But we are good at making the best out of whatever we have to deal with. This is my favorite picture from today. At least one of us knows how to relax and play at the same time!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here is a special shout out to my Mom-in-law, Pat,
Happy St. Patrick's Day! We love you, Mémère

OK, so it has been a while. My only excuse is a potential computer issue. Our computers are aging. Oh No! Hans removed some stuff so we would have enough room to download more pictures. Wasn't that great of him?

Spring is in the air!

Evangeline and I spent a half an hour outside today looking at the crocuses and running up and down the small hill (huge mountain to her!) next to our house. She is energetic, but what a great way to run off some energy! Her favorite play thing write now are crayons and pencils. Even me "the experienced Mom" learned the hard way not to leave a pen where she can reach it. My computer chair will never be the same! See the crayons behind her in the photo of her on her sit n spin!

Gabriella got a part in a community theater play! How exciting for her! She has practice twice a week.

Tim wants to run track again this year and has been practicing with the team.

Annelise is moving to the end of elementary school. She is so sweet and innocent, I am concerned that middle school will be so mean to her! We also recently discovered a great book that has been helping us both with caring for her hair. It is easier to take care of and less frizzy! It is called Curly Girl and we got to meet the author at our local book store!

enjoy the pictures! I tried to get a video too but I gave up after 5 hours.

If you were in my family room this morning. . .

This is what you would have seen!

Good Bye 2010 Hello 2011

What a lovely Christmas and Thanksgiving we had with family visits and many days off of school. Here I tried to capture the Stauffer kids outside after Christmas and before the new year (notice the short sleeves?!). We pray you all have a marvelous 2011 (I wonder if Evangeline will be able to say "marvelous" by 2012?)