Bryce's Graduation!

So, yes, Bryce graduated yesterday - I know, he has been in school FOREVER! We were so proud of him yesterday, seeing him up on stage and having some of his accomplishments read. I took this video of his PHD hooding on my camera (so its not the best quality) and I was holding Annabelle, but you can sort of get the idea.

Mother's Day

I have been meaning to put up some pictures of Mother's Day - no pictures of me and the kids together (what was I thinking???), but a few of what Bryce and the kids did for me!

They made me breakfast in the morning (which was totally unexpected because we have morning church and that means Bryce had to get up EARLY!) and brought it to me in bed (except I had snuck into the shower while everyone was busy, so I had to get BACK into bed!); it was so yummy! Just what I had wanted, as well as a bunch of hand-made loving cards.

All day, Bryce and the kids worked hard to let me take it easy. Bryce did lunch, and dishes, and naps, and dinner, and clean-up and dessert, and I just sat around and enjoyed my foot-rubbing kids! I orded homemade chicken cor-do-bleu which he mastered, and molten lava cakes for dessert. I have to be honest, I was a little worried these wouldn't turn out - but they were a wonderful mix of warm cake and inner hot gooeyness. Yum. Good job, Bryce (and this was all the day before he defended his dissertation!) Thanks family!

Caleb's Performance

Caleb had his first school music performance a couple of weeks ago! He did such a good job! He practiced and practiced when he was at home and really sang every word at the performance. He is a really good singer. I'm a little slow posting a video of him, but he's on the bottom in a white shirt singing away - so enjoy!!

Hokie Baseball

(Caleb is on the far right standing near the pitcher)
Caleb is playing baseball again this season and I am lucky enough to be his coach! We have so much fun and all the kids are learning so much. Our team got invited to meet some real Virginia Tech baseball players at their game last Tuesday. The team got to go down on the field with the players and shake their hands and talk to them. Then they got to run out onto the field with them and stood with them for the National Anthem. It was so cute seeing those little players standing next to those big, strong, baseball players! Being the head coach of the team, I was invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch of the game! It was so nerve racking being out there all by myself! But so cool. It was so fun! The kids had a great time and loved being at the game. I love baseball.

Crafty?

So I've never considered myself a super-crafty person, but I do try! I made this little ribbon pillow today for a friend who's having a baby and thought I should put it on here because I thought something I made actually turned out ok! Hope the baby likes the colors and textures of the ribbons. Caleb told me I'm a really good pillow maker and that I should make a bunch and sell them! (He's a little entrepreneur!)

Remembering April 16, 2007

Three years ago there was a shooting on Virginia Tech campus that took the lives of 32 innocent victims. It was a tragic event that was so close to us, it has left a lasting impact on our family and on our community. A tragedy of this magnitude can make or break a people. It was amazing to see the Blacksburg community pull together - and I think we are stronger for it.

To remember the day and to honor the victims and their families (and all those who were there and were effected by the event), our family decided to walk 3.2 miles with 6000 other hokies on Virginia Tech campus. It was emotional to see the 32 white balloons raise to the sky followed by a moment of silence. And then closely after, the symbolic thousands of maroon and orange balloons rising to the air as if to say, "We WILL Prevail."

The kids did really well - each taking their turn in the stroller. The morning was beautiful - a perfect day for a morning walk!

Let's go Hokies!

Indianapolis Spring Break

Bryce is getting down to the wire with his dissertation, so I decided to give him some serious working time by taking the kids and myself to visit friends in Indianapolis. We had such a good time! We went to parks (the weather was so perfect); hit some good ol' Indy yard sales - one of my favorite things! (I found 3 Harry Potter books for $5!); jumped on the trampoline; played kickball in the grass; roasted smore's, and stayed up late into the night just talking! It was so great! We also did a freezing cold egg hunt in the rain (it was the Saturday before Easter), but the kids didn't even mind the weather! They just wanted the candy! We had a great time - it was so hard to say goodbye!