Planting seeds

Despite the weather forecast, I decided to plant the potatoes and seeds in the garden on the only nice day available.  I had two eager helpers!

New deck furniture

In preparation for living without a kitchen this summer, we recently purchased some new deck furniture.  Lincoln & I broke it in at lunch time.  The whole family enjoyed supper on the deck.

Park pics

It was a rare warm day that we could enjoy the park with no coats. 

Chasing ducks

Every spring a few wood ducks show up in our neighborhood for a few days.  Emily wanted to see how close she could get to them...

Wedding Photography Pictures

One of Chelsea's family members did the professional pictures.  Here are my favorites...

Tyler & Chelsea's Wedding

It was a bit on the chilly side, but with the cold, wet spring we've had, we were happy for a beautiful sunny day to celebrate the wedding of Austin's brother, Tyler, to Chelsea.  Here are the highlights...

Waiting patiently for pictures

Cousin buddies--Flower girl & Ring bearer

Practicing their dancing moves

Lorenzen grandkids

Posing with the beautiful bride

Watching for the bride

Family picture at the reception

Gorgeous girls--with Cousin Macy

Austin giving his toast as best man

The kids did great taking professional pictures.  Emily did a fabulous job as flower girl.  I couldn't see very well, but I think she forgot to throw the flower petals until someone reminded her halfway down the aisle.  You could tell she REALLY wanted to twirl around in her dress while standing on stage, but she stood right where she was supposed to the whole time.  On the way out of the sanctuary, Emily stopped and started picking up the petals.  No one had told her she could just leave them!  Austin said, "She's a Lorenzen.  When you make a mess, you clean it up!"

The kids had a great time dancing before the dance actually began.  They didn't last much longer after the requisite Hokey-Pokey and Chicken Dance.  There is a video montage below.  The Moss family stayed at our house, so the kids had a lot fun with cousins.

We wish all the best to Tyler & Chelsea as they begin their new life together!

Rehersal

The big wedding weekend finally arrived!  Friday night was the rehearsal.  Emily did a great job listening and following directions.  I think she was a bit in awe.

Posing with Cousin Asher, the ring bearer

These are the paper rings Emily made for Tyler & Chelsea two months ago ( B&G for Bride & Groom).

Grandparents' Day

Emily was super lucky that it worked out perfectly for Grandpa & Grandma Lorenzen to attend Grandparents' Day at Kindergarten.  The class performed a special number, they shared a snack and did several activities including an interview and hand print flower.

3 years + 11 months

Lincoln is on the three-year-old homestretch!  He has mastered a couple important things this month.  The first is how to eat "freeze pops" (aka frozen Go-Gurt).  He finally figured out how to bite and chew and not just put his lips to it and suck until it melted down his face.  Next up: popsicles.  Much to Emily's chagrin, he also finally figured out how to run the remote for the DVD player in the van.  This is very helpful on our weekly errand runs to Waterloo on Mondays.  It is a point of contention to and from church on Sundays.  Emily is not happy about having to share control.

Another thing Lincoln has learned this month is how to ride a big bike (with training wheels)!  He is just tall enough this spring to be able to have enough leverage to pedal with the seat all the way down.  At first it was very slow trips around the block.  After a week I had to jog to keep up with him.  We've mostly stuck to the flat areas around our house, but Austin took him up to the football field once, and that's a steep hill!  I'm not quite confident enough to ride a bike myself while he goes up and down onto sidewalks and across streets, but it won't be long.  In fact, if we were taking bets, both Austin & I would say Lincoln is more likely to learn how to ride without training wheels before Emily does.  :op

Something we have been working on with the kids is not interrupting and talking over each other--especially at the kitchen table.  My head is often spinning with dual conversations.  They don't get mad at each other (yet), but my brain can't handle it.  I often have to put my hand up in the face of the child who needs to wait his/her turn.  Lincoln often says, "It's my turn to talk now!"

Lincoln continues to be outgoing and friendly.  He refers to everyone as "my friend" or "my best friend."  Ex: my friend, Dad; my best friend, Emily; my friend, Den (a Thomas engine); my friend, Miss Melissa (preschool teacher).  I also loves the way he says "Hos-i-pih-little" for Hospital.

Lincoln has had a few favorite books this month.  He loves to "read" them to me before bed.  He has them mostly memorized with a few variations.  I highly recommend them all!

 

Spring STAC piano festival

Emily participated in the spring STAC piano festival at Wartburg today.  It was a bit of a journey getting there, but she did fabulous.  She received a certificate with a Superior rating and glowing comments from Dr. Suzanne Torkelson, the piano professor who runs the Tower Music program at Wartburg.  I didn't catch the very beginning of her performance, but there is another complete video taken at home in the April play list.


A big thank you to Katie Schwennen for being Emily's teacher this year.  We wish her the best of luck as she pursues a graduate degree in social work at Boise State University next fall!