JOSEPH'S FINAL DECISION

Joseph's final decision for college is the University of Minnesota.  I guess it isn't a big surprise, but he really liked the school and the Mechanical Engineering program at Illinois.  It came down to the fact that it would cost at least twice as much to attend there, being a non-resident.  And Joseph definitely doesn't want a lot of loans.  Minnesota is also a great school for mechanical engineering, and now we are looking forward with excitement to this new endeavor, scheduled to begin in late August 2013!!

Finally...Spring!

Today, April 25, 2013, I finally took down the wreath at the front door to put away for storage!  I am not one to leave decorations up late unless there is a good reason.  And until now, we have been continuing to have snowstorms in Minnesota leaving us with the beauty of a winter wonderland over and over again!  But I hear that the meltdown is finally here. Today it is 50 degrees, and it is supposed to be going up to 70 degrees this weekend.  So all should be melted except, I suppose, those big ugly piles of snow mixed with dirt where the plows dumped it.  Joseph and Daniel have been quite disappointed as they have played no games this season yet, and at least 14 games got cancelled.  I keep telling them that it has lessons to learn for life!  Be glad!

Put away for storage today...finally!

Winter in April

Here is what we see here today, April 19, after another snow storm last evening!

Can you see that I haven't taken down the Christmas wreath at the front door yet? Really!
 It has continued to be totally appropriate with the surroundings!

Pretty!

Truly, even in April, I never tire of its beauty!

Esther's Junior Recital--Wheaton, IL

 So, the whole day was about Esther....mostly!

Esther and me before the recital.

Esther and Rachel before the recital.

Esther during the recital...probably playing her
powerful Beethoven piece!

Esther with some of her friends.

Esther with her family that attended.

Esther with the boys.

Esther with Daniel.

Esther with John.

Esther with her parents!

Proud parents of Esther!

And then there was Joseph...Monday of that week we had gone to visit the UofM with Joseph, which was a great visit.  It looks like a very good school for Mechanical Engineering, and of course has lots of strong points, being close to home, cheaper, etc....Then Dad and Joseph headed out on Thursday for a visit to Uof Illinois at Urbana/Champaign (where David and Kelsea plan to be).  Here also is a great Mechanical Engineering program, and all in all, if cost was not a consideration, Joseph would choose Illinois, he said.  So....please keep us in your prayers as we pray and make this big decision in about 1 week!  

We all met up then Friday night at a hotel close to Wheaton to go to Esther's recital the next day.  The Lord is so good!!

Extra Pictures of Huntley's visit Feb-March

This picture is such a keeper!
John and Sam were so proud and happy
about "snow pants".

 Here are the great pictures of snow play when the boys got here from Africa at the end of February.  Little did we know that we would have snow to play in like this yet in April!

This fort is still standing!

King of the Hill!

 We had a get-together for family at our house. Adam and Ruth gave us a small and very interesting presentation of Central African Republic and their work there. Joan, Jenny, Amanda, Uncle Tom and Aunt Joan also came.

Carrot cake and Chocolate cake made by Mrs. Watson
were served because that is what Adam and Ruth had
for their wedding. 

We also had a Wednesday night "Heroes of Faith" where both the Huntleys and the Drinkalls presented.  It was very, very interesting and fun.  Enjoyed by all who could be there!

Rides on the blanket from Uncle Timo!

I thought they'd enjoy making the big
box into a car.  After a very short try
 for both John and Sam,
the box was completely demolished.
Not as exciting as I thought, I guess!

Peek-A-Boo!  Aren't Sam's blue eyes amazing?

Just having fun taking pictures of ourselves!

Easter Egg Coloring

On Good Friday afternoon, the Wagner and Alzen families came over to color Easther Eggs.

I am amazed at the great ideas they came up with!  It was fun!

Tessa patiently working away!

For his age, Jonas made some beautiful
eggs.  Some of the most brilliant colors!

This was the whole crew.

Denise and Jacob

Ellie and Laurelyn

We got some great face eggs! One of Jacob's.

Analise doing the marbling technique.

We even had hair to add.  Here's Timo with one of his masterpieces!

The big guys take it more seriously than you'd think!

Ellie made a "Brian and Ellie" egg set.
They got engaged the next day!

Tessa with one of her finished eggs.  You can't see
very well how great it was, but it was worth her
hard effort!

Another one of Jacob's great faces.

Here's a close up.

Now here are the two eggs that Joseph and Daniel worked
so long and seriously on:  the "James and Chloe" set.

Lastly, two more wonderful face eggs done by Timothy.  

I meant to get a picture of the whole basket of wonderful eggs together.  But I guess I forgot!

Some More Spring Photos

John and Joseph got home from Peru on March 19.  They looked a bit like hairy bears, and 

as soon as they got home they ate a lunch that went on and on about as much as 5 lunches.  They had been hungry virtually their whole trip!  But they had a tremendous time together!  We got to  see their pictures that night, which was great.  I think they posted a lot of them on facebook.

I got some nice pictures of me with John and Sam before they left for North Carolina.  Now I miss them terribly!!

For some reason John's expressions look like he was
trying to be silly.  But I think he was sincerely trying
to just smile for the picture!

And here are the pictures I took on the 2nd day of spring! (March 21st)  I took these especially for David and Kelsea in California. David, remember how rarely there was ever any snow for going sledding for your birthday parties when you were little?