April holds Trinity’s birthday. And spring. Both worth celebrating. Don’t forget Easter and sunshine and Grandma’s visit. Wow was April ever a fun one! AND a lot of it you already know… Click on the words above that will bring you to each event.

Easter display at church

Trinity had her first Communion class.

We had a super special opportunity to try out a local put put golf place that was closing down after decades of service. Renee and Christopher had gone there, and I think Ken as a child. So it was a fun way to get our kids in on something they remembered. Even though it was rather cold. 

Renee lining up her shot.

Jeffrey

We went from the golf course to a soda shop. Not just any soda shop: Blue Sun Soda & Sweets where Renee spoiled the kids with letting them chose one soda each!!

CLEARLY CANADIAN!!!

And then time to hang out at the Schwartz’s. With Mystro and all!

With their sodas!

We have been trying really hard to make Friday night a weekly date night for Ken and myself. Not only to get out for a nice and quiet meal, but to spend quality time on us. This is AFTER my Friday night workout class, so it has been fun to work really hard and then shower and come out pretty and ready for fun.

Ready for class

Noms!

We have taken full advantage of our time at the YMCA as usual.

And continued our trend of watching our godson kick butt in soccer on weekends.

Trinity has been playing with her camera, and other lovely gifts.

April has been a regular month of school, of course. With lots of completions to celebrate. 

By Echo

Aimee (fellow homeschool mom) and I made it out to a major textile garage sale and found some gems.

We rode bikes and visited the local park.


Found some early spring flowers.

Of course I snuck in some crafty time.

Crafting in the sunshine

A good and busy month.

Putting a state study together (Gavin)

A new tack board!

Grocery shopping!

Learning in the sunroom

Another view of the crew

Mid May marks the end of a new experience for Emanuel and Trinity, well a temporary end as we have already signed them up for the twice a week continuation in July.

We were lucky to have a new opportunity pop up at the local YMCA. A very talented sensei has decided to open classes (and maybe eventually a full on local dojo) for children ath our branch. Sensei Tom is AMAZING with the kids.

For 8 weeks, we have come out every Thursday with their homeschool buds Bella and Drew to start out learning all about karate.

On the 18th of May we marked the end of this first program with the receiving of their yellow stripe on their white belts. This also came with a lovely certificate we are going to frame and hang up here at home.

The kids were super pumped when we told them we had already registered them for the next sessions in July (Sensei has a June commitment, so we have a gap). And we are super proud of their willingness to jump full in on a new activity.

Our Easter was more of an Easter weekend. Just chock full of fun and activity. So much so that we were burned out and exhausted for school on Monday!

On Saturday all my hard work of stuffing Easter eggs was put to good use. We spent the morning at the YMCA. Well, some of us did. The door on the van was left ajar and the battery dead. So in between Ken smoking Sunday’s ham at the Schwartz’s (thanks so much for the loan of your smoker) I took Gavin, Echo and Trinity to the YMCA. Gavin and Trinity for club and Echo for swimming with Mommy.

Once the van was jumped and filled back up with kit and kids we headed off to visit our very amazing homeschool friends. Aimee had set up a rather amazing egg hunt all over their woodsy yard.

We played, watched a movie, ate wonderful food and snacked happily while we visited. It is such an easy situation on all adults involved as the kids really do entertain themselves. Aimee and I even ducked out to Walmart to pick up a few things.

That had us home in the evening and into bed so that we could be fresh and pressed for Easter service. Trinity even had her first communion! Everyone clapped for her when they were told before service.

The girls had their usual fancy hats and new dresses. I think we all cleaned up rather nicely.

We had Easter baskets and goodies from the Easter Bunny to enjoy.

We did our yearly photos, of course.

Gavin, Zander

After church it was back to packing up the van and heading over to the Novak’s for dinner and ANOTHER egg hunt.

We had so much fun there, as always. And it was ANOTHER day of easy supervision on the adults.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate with friends who have become family. I don’t think we could have had a better plan… well except for having the battery in the van die.

The Easter corner for the kids to eat in.

Christ is Risen

He is Risen indeed

Hallelujah

Now, enjoy the excessive amount of festive images!!!

Snoopy

Kiara