My sister gave Bryan a Mohawk.

Marissa

The kids getting ready for the obstacle course.

Perfect Raft Jump

These pictures are from our week up north with our family! We always have so much fun. There were a lot of people as usual, but that is one of the things that make it fun. A week full of conversations and your favorite things to eat and drink, and people who know you well enough that you don't have to worry what they will think.They love you no matter what!

DISNEY WAS GREAT!

We had a great time. The weather was sort of how can I put this....WET! It did not hamper up though. We went to the parks, and did all the important things...realizing this is a totally subjective list!

Ron had the chance to ride with a stock car driver on the track! He really enjoyed it and he looked like quite the professional.

There was the flower show at epcot.

How lucky are we to have such a great vacation!

Every Mom in the world recognizes this sure sign of spring. Mallory and Josh gave these to me at one of our soccer games. There must have been 50 of them!

These are Just Happy people outside when the weather FINALLY gets nice!

Hi all. As some of you know and some of you might not remember, 2 years ago on May 8 we met Joshua Lu for the first time. He was a little old man at 2 and 1/2 and it was a scary and intense time for all of us. I am so glad we were able to work through the tough beginning. We are so proud of our youngest son. His growth and emotional connectablity (this may not be a word, but you get it!) and his becoming the 4 year old that he is has been a great pleasure not only for Ron and I but for our entire family. He is clearly pleased with himself as well. I would not change one thing. To celebrate Family Day we grilled steak and went to the ice cream store. Low key, but everyone gets it. It is a good thing to celebrate our family. In the middle of 80 thousand soccer games and arguments about everything from singing to the radio to who is wearing whose clothes and who is looking at who the wrong way, it is good to take time out to remember that we will always be there for each other, and that we are a family!( And yes they have argued over all these things in the last 2 days,except the looking the wrong way, that was Ron and I.....just kidding)

I love Josh's drawings. Here is a picture of Ron. Ron likes it because of the hair. I like it because of the smile.

Here we are! We do this every Easter. It is the only time you can count on seeing me in a shot.

Candy can be exciting and sunglasses were a specific request.

Easter was fun and sunny, and beautiful. The kids had a good time as usual. Note Bryan too cool vs. Josh too cool. It is all about being 4 vs almost 12 years old.

We cruised through Easter break. No vacation for us until memorial week, so we kept busy at home. I have to say Ron is doing an awesome job. He went swimming at the rec center, had a movie day, and we went to Greenfield village for a day. I felt a little like the bald headed step child, because I had to work, (pretty hard as it turned out) while everyone else had vacation. I am lucky to like my job, and I am happy to be able to keep everything together for us....

Soccer season has arrived. This means 3 people playing 1 or 2 games a week and one or 2 practices depending. We are all well, and watching the kids is a fun. Sometimes I wish I could be out there playing. (actually one of the other moms is trying to get a team together, and although I have never been on a sports team in my life, I would do it!) I was telling a friend of Ron and mine that I was not very competitive (I don't even like to play cards), and he made an interesting observation. He said he sees me as very competitive but with myself. I think he may be right.

Here is Josh ready to play! he loved the whole IDEA of playing soccer. He loved the cleats, he loved Bryan making a big deal about him playing. He liked running and running and running! Ron said he was a little shy for starters, but he got the hang of things, and really did well. I am glad the Cardio folks told us clearly to let Josh make his own limits. They were really good about explaining that he can do as much as he wants as long as he is allowed to rest if he gets tired. If the rest periods become more frequent or longer, then we do some stuff to figure out if we need to fix the valve or do something different. Josh never, never stops to rest. He hardly ever stops for a drink. He seems like he would run for days. Nice to be able to say almost 2 years after his surgery.

This is Bryan....

We went to the Pistons game last weekend. We sat in the upper seats, and had a good time. We had the chance this time to so on the court to have a family picture taken during the shoot around. Even Bryan was impressed with being on the court. Mallory was really cute. She stage wispers....Mom ! That's Rodney Stuckey!Josh loves the games, but this time his time his biggest concern was the cotton candy.

The Girls in uniform

Working on Grandma's birthday gift.

This is bryan's project. He worked really hard on it and was really proud of himself.

Ron and Josh doing puzzles. Josh likes puzzles and is really good at them, but likes the interactive aspect of puzzles. He wants "a lill help"

Mallory and Josh dancing in the family room.

We went sledding and had a lot of fun on the hill. Josh does not prefer sledding. He says "too bumpy, it hurts my mouth."( I think he bit his tongue the first time down, and it soured him on the experience.)Mallory surveying the hill.

Erin giving us the high sign.

Bryan

Mallory and Yours truly... We had the fast sled

Ron's birthday. He chose the birthday homemade blueberry pie instead of cake.

Looking over his gift from the girls.

My too handsome men all ready for school.

ENJOY WINTER!