Happy Spring!

I'm not sure it was ever really winter, but nevertheless, we feel the temperature rising, things are growing, and I am determined to enjoy our three weeks of spring--even if it is a signal of the impending inferno around the corner. Ah, Phoenix!

Barry and Kira have been hard at work planting and caring for these seedlings. Now if we can be sure the neighborhood cats will leave them alone, they will plant them in our little garden.

Park and Play

The weather here has been beautiful, but we would gladly trade it for a little rain (It's been somewhere over 130 days with out any rain). Aside from the pollution, it has been great for going on walks and playing at the park. Barry took these of Trenton one day. Don't tell him he's not big enough to push the stroller...or the vacuum...or the lawn mower...

Kira got the ring pop at a birthday party. Nice that her tongue is color-coordinated with her shirt.

Book buddies

Kira has really started reading well. She's turned the corner to where she wants to read to us instead of always asking us to just read to her. I was worried about Trenton since we haven't been as consistent about reading to him as we were with Kira, but he will bring me a board book and snuggle up to read with me several times a day.

In the picture of Kira, she is reading to me from the illustrated old testament (I am wearing my t-shirt from the crazy Valentines date).

A mile in our shoes?

Trenton is fascinated with shoes. I think he knows that wearing his shoes might mean that he gets to go outside, so he gets very upset if I try to take them off. But he is happy to try on everyone elses shoes for size. Once again, Kira must be in on the act, too.

Helmet heads

Why is it that if Trenton does something cute, Kira must do the same thing?

Water Boy

Kira

Kira gets smarter everyday, and doesn't she know it! She will be starting preschool in a couple of weeks that will be everyday as a sort of transition to get ready for all day kindergarten in the Fall. Yikes!

Kira's new primary teacher graduated from Harvard Law, but I think he was stumped for a minute last week in primary class when Kira asked him, "Does Heavenly Father love Satan?"

Big Helper

Trenton has obedience issues lately. Here he wants so badly to help Dad install our new wall fountain--especially if he is using power tools. Sometimes when he climbs up on things he says "get down" because he knows that is what we will say, but it doesn't dissuade him from what ever mission he has set out to do. He is getting really creative about moving furniture for his purposes. At church last week, he moved one of the primary chairs to the podium so he could climb up and sing into the microphone (and wave his arms, too--just like Mom!).

All Dressed Up

The Symphony

Barry's boss had bought season tickets to the Phoenix Symphony's Youth Concert Series. His boys are a little older and have grown tired of it, so we got the tickets. We got dressed up and went to Symphony Hall in Downtown Phoenix. We were too late for some of the before concert activities (instrument petting zoo, etc) but enjoyed the program a lot. The theme of the concert was machines. They had some fun numbers like a song with a typewriter soloist, and a movement from "The Grand Canyon Suite" using a wind machine. The final number was "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" with narration, much like "Peter and the Wolf". I think Trenton liked it better than Kira who started to get bored by the end. Still, it was fun to expose them to something like this. I think Trenton really liked the percussion. We were on the second row, so we got to see everything up close and personal. After it was over, Trenton just wanted to explore the auditorium.

Valentines Day Love Bugs

No pictures yet of the crazy date that Barry and I had for Valentines. But here are the kids dressed for the season (and who do you really want to see pictures of, anyway?)