Our Freezing Cold Trip to the Zoo

Our new baby

We got to visit our new baby niece (cousin) Olivia on Friday. She is beautiful. Lilly had been especially excited about going to visit Olivia and she told her playschool teachers on Thursday that we had a new baby. I had to clarify very quickly that she was Lilly's baby cousin. We really enjoyed getting to hold her and cuddle her.

Spring, Easter and a tulip

Here is a sweet picture of the girls on Easter Sunday, all dressed up in their pretty dresses. I think they looked so cute - but I am their mother.

I would like to add that it was no small task to dress three girls plus myself. Make Parker and Lilly's hair curly....straighten Chloe's hair...find just the right bows...put on all the lacey socks and fancy shoes.....sweaters....iron my shirt and skirt. All this while Ronnie was at choir practice. He got off easy this week.

Earlier last week we made a tomb and little puppets as part of the passion week tradition at our house. We use them all week long to act out the events from Palm Sunday to the resurrection. This year the Bustrums came over to help us. We had such a good time! Here are a few pictures

Easter has come and gone and now it is spring. Last year Ronnie and I went to Paris the week before Easter. On our way home we bought some tulip bulbs from Holland at the Amsterdam airport. The girls and I planted them last fall. There were about a dozen when we planted them, but this year only one decided to grow. It is very beautiful though and it smells nice. Chloe and Bria posed for me in front of it, but neither of them could keep their eyes open in the sunlight for a good picture - they were trying really hard, but both of them have light colored eyes and they just won't stay open in the sunshine very well. Some of you may have been wondering about the tulip part of my title - it had nothing to do with John Calvin.

A typical night at the Smith house

just in case you were wondering....Poor Ronnie - outnumbered by ballerinas.

Parker and the piano

Parker loves to play and practice the piano. She really does this without whining or complaining and most of the time she decides to practice on her own. Since starting in first grade, she has made good progress.



Also, did I mention that she is just like me - she really does not like to talk on video. I can't say I blame her AT ALL.

Chloe, Chloe, Chloe...

Here is Chloe's Spanish rendition of the days of the week. Did I mention that she is exactly like her daddy - in almost every way I can think of.

Lilly singing

Here is Lilly singing the ABC's. She certainly loves to sing!

A one year sabbatical

Since my last post (which was one of four total posts before I ran out of things to say) was almost exactly a year ago, I have decided to re-enter the blogging world. This time my purpose is different. I am just going to try to keep everyone informed about what is going on with the girls and life in general. Don't expect anything too deep or theological.