March

Luke and Jess visited us! We wanted to take them to the coast, but it was raining there, so we headed to Horning's Hideout instead with them and Adam's family. 



 

Zach, David, and Mike supervising Nicholas with his fishing pole 

Nicholas was serious about catching a fish 

Zach gave it a try too



David didn't want to be left out!

 

Brooke was after the salamanders



Jess and Luke cheering on the kids



Salamanders everywhere!

Nicholas caught a fish!

A 2 1/2 pound trout!

He got to clean it too! (with some instruction from Adam)

 

Since this was the first time our kids have been fishing, Mike took over for the gutting.  I really wanted to give the trout away, but Nicholas was excited to eat it.  So I attempted to grill it and everyone had to take ONE bite.  Nicholas ate 3 bites.

This was Nicholas' 3rd year of playing basketball, but it appeared most of his teammates were playing their first year.  The coach relied on Nicholas to play point guard as well as most other positions. During some games, Nicholas was the only person on his team to score.  It was a pretty frustrating for Nicholas to keep losing each game.  But we talked a lot about not giving up and ways he could improve too.

Nicholas driving the ball.

Nicholas going for a shot at the buzzer.

A happy boy after their one and only win!

Nicholas #5 and his good friend, Joe is #11
 

Zach (#5) sprinting down the court

 

 

Zach getting an award from his coaches

 

Mike arranged for a few Intel employees to go to the elementary school and talk with the 4th-6th graders about engineering.  They talked about the things kids use everyday and how engineers were involved in making those things.  Then they had the kids make marshmallow catapults.

Mike talking to the kids.

Zach and his catapult

Nicholas with his group's catapults

Zach and some buddies: Riley and Oliver

Nicholas and friends

David and his buddy Kai.

 

David likes to "wrestle" with Gabe.

Cutie-patootie!

 

Nicholas playing the xylophone (blue tie) in a band concert

Mike and I had bought a night at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Seattle and a gift card to eat dinner at the Space Needle at a fundraiser auction, so we used it for our 16th anniversary. 
We left the kids with Ellen (except for the nursing baby).

We spent the afternoon at the Seattle Center and I pushed Gabe through this neat maze.

Mike and Gabe

 Gabe and me on the observation deck in the Space Needle.

Dinner at the Space Needle.

Mike started working nights for a few months and since the kids hate riding the bus to school, a couple days a week he walks them to school and then goes for a run.

David feeding Gabe.

I'm not sure how he did it, but Zach got Gabe to take a nap with him!

Brooke and David are really good buddies and like to play "Littlest Pet Shop" on her top bunk.

Gabey and Brooke

Brooke got glasses! She is near-sighted and has an astigmatism just like her mommy.

Gabe listening to Brooke practice the piano.

 Science Fair Project: A Hovercraft

Zach stapling a shower curtain to a 4-foot diameter board.

It has lift off!

Nicholas and Zach were able to work together on one project.  The hovercraft is powered by a leaf blower and takes them cruising down the driveway.

It can even lift dad!!

Four science projects done, 11 more to go!



Gabe and mom

 

Brooke and Sarya
During Spring Break we went roller skating and then swimming with the Podwys'. 

 

Beau, Nicholas and Zach

Nicholas, Mike and David

Zach's self-portrait tile that was added to the school mosaic.

Backyard buddies: Sarya, Brooke, and David

Nicholas teaching Gabe his first piano lesson

The end of Spring Break brought Easter with our traditional egg hunt and dinner at Ellen's house on Saturday.

David's easter goodies.
What perfect weather!

That's one way to use your bucket, Zach!

Zach finding Easter eggs.

Brooke finding candy.

Some were a little hard to reach!

I'm not sure why some of the kids are grumpy, maybe it's too much candy?