Helping Daddy Mow the Lawn and more...

Andrew did so amazing helping Brad mow the lawn. He probably did about 3/4 of the yard with him. Brad said, he just kept going. When we all went outside, we weren't planning on Andrew helping Brad mow, so because he was wearing open toed sandals, his toes were green :-) Our cute little man.

Emma helped mow from time to time, but wasn't as determined as Andrew was.

Video of Andrew helping Brad mow the lawn.

The kids enjoyed our Malawi Spaghetti Fundraiser Dinner.
Our team raised close to $1,000 toward our Africa Mission Trip!

The bear was a big hit. They snuggled with him. They wrestled with him.
They tackled each other with him. Pretty funny.

Butterfly Farm on 5/17

Emma & Andrew both weren't too sure about the butterflies at first.
They liked looking at them, but didn't want to touch them or hold them.

After a while Emma warmed up and did end up touching a butterfly.

Andrew would rather just play with the rocks on the ground :-)

Lots to share in May

Emma is helping Mommy make Bran Muffins.

One of Daddy's favorite muffins recipes.

The chalk drawing went a little far as you can see.
Apparently the easel is larger than I realized.
(Hint: look at the screen closely)

Andrew's 1st preschool artwork.
He's been going to the preschool only on Fridays this month.

Well, Andrew continues to live up to one of his nicknames, "Bruiser".
We were on our way to Cici's for dinner, and while he's getting into the van, he slipped somehow and hit (obviously) the left side of his face by his eyebrow on the metal bar that moves the side door. It immediately turned into a big blue knot, but he really didn't cry long after it happened. I ran inside to get some ice, but of course he wouldn't let us put it on his face. He'd rather eat ice. He loves ice!

Below is what it looked like today. Looks worse as far as color, but it is healing. The knot looked better even just after dinner the night it happened. Now he has one of every color of the rainbow on his eyelid and brow :-) He looks like he's been in a boxing match.

Video of the kids singing (and dancing) to the song,
"Praise Ye the Lord"

What we've been up to

April 29-30th
Brad and I took a short getaway to Pilot Mountain. We stayed in a bed and breakfast, went hiking, visited Mt. Airy (the town the Andy Griffith show was based off of), and shared some nice meals together. It was a nice break from everyday life that both of us needed.

Below are some misc pictures:
Andrew shared some of Daddy's chocolate shake from Steak n Shake.

Barbie organized a Mother's Day slideshow presentation at church and this is the picture we used. Emma and Andrew, you are truly our gifts from God.

Emma loves spaghetti/pasta (or "sasta" as she calls it).
Need we say more. Yes, it was bath night that night.

PDSSN Spring Event

May 3rd was the PDSSN (our local Down Syndrome Network) Spring Event.
Emma LOVES the inflatables. She must have gone down this slide 30 times or more. Every time it was time to get off it (for the magic show and to go home) she cried. I was so proud of her how she climbed up the ladder and went down the slide all by herself. The adults at the top of the slide helping out weren't quite sure at first she could go down by herself, but I just waved my hand and said, "she's fine to go by herself," and down she went over and over and over again.

Andrew and I went down once together. I asked him if he wanted to go again, and he said, "no". Maybe next year he'll enjoy them more.

Emma went down both on her belly and her bum.

This was the second inflatable. The kind where you jump around inside it. Emma thought the entrance/exit was a mini slide.

What a cutie! Andrew enjoyed watching his sister jump around.

One of these days when we have a fenced in yard we'll have to get our kids a swing/slide play set in our backyard. They would probably never want to come inside. Our neighbors across the common area got a playset and Andrew can see it from a distance. He sometimes runs half way across the common area saying, "swing" or "slide".