Isaiah and I started off Friday night with date night.

We went and checked out some art museums, and saw some of my students art.

Then had Mexican.

 Saturday morning, I hung out with a sick Quinn.  Seeing her cry, when she never cries is heart breaking!

 Then date afternoon with Denali, off to the consignment shop to buy new pants, as she is growing like a weed!  Then Fried Ice Cream.

 and some dance class thrown in for fun.

 Back to care for Quinn!  We did go to the doctor and he said it's just a sore throat!  

 Out to get some plants!  So fun!

 Back to see Buttercup is taking care of Quinn!

 Sunday morning Isaiah had another dance competition, and it went great.

The first few the boys got a 2nd place.  That is not bad, but then they don't get any of the fun awards. It's been good for them to see that they can not always win, and that they need to keep working.  There were tears and great learning opportunities.

Well they finally got all the fun awards this time.  They did great, and they walked home with 3 or 4 different awards, and hearts that were so excited.  So I'm glad Isaiah has had the opportunity to win, and the opportunity to not win during this season of dance.  Both are good experiences.

What a fun morning!

AWWWWW, Quinn is still fighting those allergies, and they wear out her body, and now she has a cold on top of the allergies.  Dad is also sick at home, thanks to the grandma's for stepping in and helping get things taken care of!  So off to the doctors today to get things going again!

 Isaiah had his cello concert last night, and he was amazing!

 We did some 3 generation pictures as we were waiting for the concert.  Dad and Quinn were both sick at home! :(

 An invitation for any of you that can come, or talk to me and I'll get you in here another time.

I have the 3-D version of Van Gogh's bedroom here at school and I'm giving you the chance to come and take pictures in the set.  It's so cool!  So I just want to share the fun!  Come take pictures!

Come Wednesday May 11th from 3 to 6, or talk to me and we will get something figured out!  It's very cool!

Here I am back in time in Vincent Van Gogh's bedroom drawing!  So very cool!

After a hard night of being awake due to allergies, Quinn fell asleep at school at 2:00,

rode the bus all the way home, and continued sleeping until almost 5!

 After a good nap, it was time to dance!  Both girls are so good and work so hard during dance class!

 So Thankful!

It was a great weekend.

The weather was nice, so we got to play.

I know I'm not going to get to play with my kids for ever,

at least on the playground, so we played.

 Buttercup got in on the action too.  

 We still do respite for foster care kids, and we did that this weekend.  It's so good for my kids to talk about their experiences and know that there are many kids out there that have had, or are having similar experiences.  So since they were boys, we had to go climb on dirt piles.

 Quinn's allergies were getting the best of her, so she wanted to stay in and rest and read.  She taught the two little boys we had a bunch this weekend, and I loved it, as they were leaving, they had to both go tell her good bye!  and just look at that hair.  She has great hair.  She has lot of allergies as well!  Darn Allergies!

The girls raised trout in their classroom, and got to go to the park and release them yesterday.

 Quinn has pictures because her nurse was nice enough to take some.

 They made fly fish,  it's the pink fuzzy thing on her chair.

 They saw geese.

 They learned lots.

So grateful for great days!

 Planting goji berry bushes, and enjoying spring.

 Being silly and loving each other.

Oh the small moments are such big moments! 

The girls started their Monday night dance class.

I met the bus and got the kids, and Quinn using her Tobii, said, Go go go.

She could not get to therapy fast enough.  She worked hard and was so excited to be there.

Then it was off to dance, on the way there, again she used her Tobii and said, ask me a yes or no question, so I said, are you excited for dance, her reply, YES!  Then as we turned in, she could not contain her giggles.

Denali is a volunteer at the class, and was equally excited, the two girls have been counting the days until Monday night dance starts again.  Last night could not get here fast enough.

After dance was over I asked the girls how it went, and this picture was the response I got!

Oh some days are so wonderful!  We have our frustrating moments as all of us do, but having these Monday nights are sure full of love and dance, and friendships.  We are blessed!

Isaiah had his second competition this last weekend.

 The boys improved and really looked so good.

 Grandma and Grandpa came to watch!

 It was a fun day, just hanging with Isaiah, the girls got a dad day.

The boys took home a 2nd place.

They were bummed, and there were tears, and frustrated boys.

Isaiah and I have talked a lot about this, and how as long as he does his best, 

that is the most important part.  

So we will see what happens, the next one is in two weeks!

The girls are excited, Quinn's dance class starts again tonight, and Denali is a volunteer again, and they have been talking about tonight for the last few weeks, they are so excited!

Blessings to you all!

Susan Otte

We just got this back from the Make a Wish party!  What a fun day that was.

Quinn is home sick today, allergies are so frustrating!  So Denali had to spend a little time loving her up and reading to her.  I say it all the time, but wow, I love my kids!