Easter

We dyed Easter eggs on Saturday.  It must have been a year or two since we've done it, because Paul didn't remember doing it.  They both said it was fun!

We hid some Easter eggs in the yard.  Since the eggs at church have candy in them, we put coins in the eggs at home.  It turned out to be a nice day.  Benny said it felt like a perfect summer day.  (It was 65 and overcast, but it did feel pretty warm!)

I love it when daffodils spring up in the most unusual and random places!

The boys rode their bikes in the church parking lot Easter afternoon, while Dad napped.  This will always be remembered as the Lent when Jonathan got mono!  Thankfully, he was on the mend by Holy Week.

Swimming videos

This was taken of Benny during swimming lessons.

This was at our hotel pool in Ohio, where we were for Jonathan's grandma's funeral.

Collage Concert

The collage concert was a mix of all the school choirs and the band, singing and playing.  Jonathan's parents and brother were able to come to the concert, since it was the day after his grandma's funeral.

Here is Benjamin singing in the 3-6 boys' choir.

Paul and Benjamin sung in the K-4 choir.

Science Fair

A few weeks ago, the boys' school had a science fair.  Benjamin had to do his own science experiment at home.  Paul's class did an experiment at school as a whole class.  Grandma and Grandpa Buescher were able to come for the science fair.

Here is Benjamin doing the experiment.  We made a hovercraft out of a CD, pop-top lid, and a balloon.  He charted which size balloon made the hovercraft go the longest.

At the science fair

The kindergarten studied the life cycle of a butterfly, and had actual caterpillars that changed into butterflies.

Benjamin's birthday

Benjamin's 9th birthday fell on a Saturday.  We invited over two families from church for lunch, and then went roller skating.

I made a Reese's peanut butter cup ice cream cake.

Opening presents later that evening.

Playing on the new keyboard--no more going over to church to practice piano.

Snow fun

We didn't get much snow this winter.  Enough for a few snow days, but never more than six inches in one snowfall.  This was our biggest snowfall.  It looks like a lot because of the drifting in our backyard.  It was big enough to make a small tunnel. 

Benjamin made himself a small snow cave.

100th Day of School

Paul showing off his 100th day project.  He put 100 stickers on this paper.

Cousins

Ryan and Rachel came for a weekend visit.  We had beautiful, warm weather for February 20th!  This is a shot of the cousins at a local botanical garden, where we went exploring that Saturday.

Roller skating

A group from church went roller skating one Sunday afternoon this winter.  This was the boys' first time roller skating.  There were a lot of falls, but they still had a great time, and wanted to go back for more!

Bella's birthday party

We went to Wisconsin the first weekend in February to go to Bella's birthday party.  She had the party at a gymnastics place, and invited the girls in her class.

Retirement/65th birthday party

On Saturday, January 9th, my mom had a combination retirement and birthday party for my dad.  The whole family was able to make it, as well as Aunt Marilyn, Uncle David, Jacob, and his fiance, Lesley.    

The crew after church on Sunday.

Display of John Deere mementos and pictures of Dad's life.  Rachel also came up with a quiz, "How well do you know Mel?"  Dad said it reminded him of a graduation party.

Notice a theme?!

We had tractors as centerpieces, which quickly became things for the kids to play with!

Grandpa and Daniel in their flannel shirts.

That night, we celebrated the January birthdays in the family (Dad, James and Bella) with two red cakes.

A gift from Aunt Marilyn and Uncle David--painting of Rock Castle, which was on their old stomping grounds.  It had been hanging in the old bank, and Aunt Marilyn got it when they moved to the new bank.

Wisconsin Christmas

We spent several days after Christmas at Ryan and Rachel's house in Wisconsin.  All of my side of the family was there.  We had fun playing a lot of games, opening presents, going sledding, and just being together.

Seven grandchildren before the chaos of opening presents!

Basketball Hoop

Jonathan's parents and Aunt Mary and Uncle Ken got the boys a basketball hoop for Christmas.  They were very excited to try it out.  It took a while to get it put together--as you can see from the pictures, they are racing against the dark to get it up!  Come spring and the melting of our snow, they'll be a lot of hours spent shooting hoops!