Challah for Sonia

Mommy is interviewing a dear sweet woman, Sonia, who is a holocaust survivor of Madjanek, Treblinka, and Auschwitz. Mommy borrowed the Gutovitz family's recipe for challah from her high school friend, Debbie (whose grandparents were also holocaust survivors and know Sonia), and the kids helped to make it as a gift.  Hands off, Mr. Gryff!

Lorelei loves bread making. Gryffin doesn't understand why he can't eat this play-doh.

Lorelei actually learned how to braid challah!

Gryffin likes to squish his.

Mommy thought her challah, wrapped in a colorful butterfly cloth, was so beautiful and delicious, but Sonia, though very appreciative, was quick to point out that it was severely undercooked--in the old country, challah is crisp and brown.  Still, Sonia entertained Mommy from 7pm until just past 11pm with the most unimaginable, captivating stories--a truly remarkable 84 year old with such a history to tell.  A history that will not be forgotten.

Lorelei's Violin

Today Lorelei began her first violin lessons with Miss Ruth.  Her violin is a 1/10, so small it looks like it's made for a doll.

Lorelei in "rest" position.  She practices every day.  I'm very proud of her!

Water Sprouts

Tonight we went to the gym thinking their outdoor pool had finally opened, but as soon as we got there, we realized we'd made a mistake... it doesn't open until Saturday. So we decided to get good use out of our swimsuits, and opted for the fountains in Corporate Woods.

Gryffin John turns 2!

In December 2007, I opened a fortune cookie in the Denver airport that's still on our fridge today: When the flowers bloom, so will great joy in your life. That spring, our Gryffin John was born, a baby boy who brings us so much joy.  Today our boy turned two.  Happy Birthday, Mr. Gryff.  We love you Stinky Face!

Gryffin's attacking the Mickey Mouse cupcakes.  I made them out of bananas, because in one of our favorite books, I Love You, Stinky Face, the Mommy promises to make her monkey boy a birthday cake out of bananas, Gryffy's favorite!

We kept the party simple this year--family only, and one friend.  Here's Cousin Emmy, Will, Gryffin, Lorelei, and Nicholas.  Baby Kai came with his parents, too.

Singing Happy Birthday.

Great Grammy loves her Gryffin!

The Slip 'n Slide was a hit!  All the kids loved it.

Looks tempting...

I love my big boy!

Gryffin refused his Mickey ears, but Lorelei loved them!

Everyone with ears, say CHEERS tears :(

A Mickey Mouse cupcake stack, in honor of Gryffin's favorite TV show, and our upcoming trip to Walt Disney World!

How does our garden grow?

BEFORE: The day we planted our garden, 4/15/10.

AFTER: Today, 5/22/10 (Gryffy's bday), 5 weeks later

Baby Goslings

We spent a beautiful night with friends, the Blakes, at Deanna Rose (our neighborhood farmstead).  The kids enjoyed bounce houses, cows and goats, a wagon ride, and most of all, ogling at fluffy goslings.

Gryffin, Luke, Lorelei, Savannah

Family Pow-Wow

We had an impromptu Family Pow-Wow & Bear Hunt last night, in which Big Papa (Mark with sheepskin headdress) named his tribe: Little Tickly Belly (Lorelei), Little Tootin' Tushy (Gryffy), and Big Bubbly Bottom (yours truly).

This morning, guess who thought he was Big Papa Chief...

ABC's

Lorelei's penmanship is better than Daddy's!  And Gryffy not only knows his ABC's, but can also count to 20 and backwards from 10 to 1.  Smarty pants kids.

Preschool Graduation

Lorelei's singing her heart out at the preschool program. No lack of spirit here.

Lorelei with Mrs. Bergdall and her daughter, Kylie, who gave Lorelei the beautiful dress she's wearing.  Mrs. Bergdall was almost in tears when she saw Lorelei wearing her daughter's favorite dress.  She has been such an amazing preschool teacher and blessing in our lives.

Lorelei with her other teacher, Mrs. Kunze, who stepped in to the job midway through the year and has been so wonderful.

J.P. and Lorelei, friends since 2006.  Such love.

Belting out Jesus Loves Me.

Lorelei with Mrs. Pierce from Discovery Days, and Sara, her preschool BFF.

Lorelei and Mrs. McNally, her other Discovery Day (cooking/art) teacher. She loves Discovery Days and her teachers.

Teacher Gifts

The year is winding down and summer vacation fast approaching, and it's an appropriate time to thank teachers for the wonderful blessings they are in our children's lives. Every year, Lorelei and I make a very special gift for her preschool teachers. Lorelei paints a flower pot herself, I add the teacher's name with a paint marker, and together we plant a flower (marigold). Then to label our plant, we tape a laminated picture of Lorelei to a popsicle stick, with the message: "Thank you for helping me grow." It's extra special because the teachers know Lorelei made it, and it's so important to me that she understands how grateful we are for teachers' hard work, dedication, and love.

Mother's Day

It was such a treat to host Great Grammy and Mom this year on Mother's Day. We had a family dinner of pork chops with peach glaze, mashed potatoes, and strawberry spinach salad.  We feel so blessed to have Great Grammy living in Overland Park, and we can tell she's happy to be here.

On Saturday, Mark and the kids took me out to a sweet cafe for breakfast.  Then, they dropped me off to the Spa Tuscano in Parkville for the Tuscan Bliss experience--hot tubs, massages galore, seaweed wrap, stretching, my own private room... it was pure bliss!