Mother's Day, Bismarck, and Friends

Ryan was supposed to be in the middle of a trial on Mother's Day, so we were keeping our plans to a minimum.  But then the trial was postponed, and we were all together on Sunday - a gift in itself!  I requested that we set up the trampoline!

The family treated me to my choice of lunch after church: sushi!

Gretchen had her last music class of the year, so we worked together to take treats for her friends.  And then I made more treats for the students in my two classes.  

Sesame Street Live came to base!   

Always with books . . . 

On any given afternoon, there is a good chance one of these two extra kiddos is in our house.  We have been so grateful for sweet friends who live on our street and enjoy playing with us in our home. It was rare to have them all together, holding still (thank you, Wild Kratts!).

The last homeschool art class for the year: a multi-stepped creation using four different art mediums 

We took part in a fire safety event where the kids were given some teaching about fire safety, and then allowed to go through an "obstacle course" trying out different equipment and testing their strength.

Our first lunch park picnic of the year =) 

Matching sisters!  Same same, but different.

Ryan took a day off work and we drove down to Bismarck for Franklin Graham's stop in North Dakota on his Decision America tour.  It was neat to stand with so many people on the steps of the state capitol, praying for our local leaders and our nation.  Rooke reminds us regularly that we need to make sure and vote!   We stayed in Bismarck for lunch at a local pizza place and then went to the zoo where we had the place to ourselves!  We saw almost all the animals before the storm blew in, so we had ice cream from the DQ drive-thru for dinner and drove home.

And the biggest news from the month is that we are actively preparing to move!  Ryan is being stationed in Maryland and we are excited to explore that side of the country starting in July!  But no matter how much we have to look forward to, goodbyes are always difficult.  Rooke and Gretchen both had special friends they had to say goodbye to this month.  It's a little easier because we are all moving about the same time, but my heart hurts watching my children say goodbye and miss their dear playmates.