April started off with an Easter April Fool’s, the first in our lifetime. Interesting note: the last time Easter fell on April Fool’s Day was 1956. But we won’t have to wait too long for the next one, only until 2029.

Kieron, making gravy for Eggs a la Goldenrod, our traditional Easter breakfast.

The kids with Nana’s Easter baskets

We did the egg hunt in our backyard this year

The following day was Jonathan’s birthday

Nana watched the kids while we went for a 12 mile bike ride

Avery, the snake whisperer, with one of his little friends

Silas moved up to a bigger bike

Kieron blowing bubbles for Layla to pop. He is so patient with her!

It turned my head for a minute to take a phone call. Fortunately, the wet vac took it all out, but I did briefly freak out. I love the placement of the book beside it!

Avery broke his arm in mid-April playing soccer at recess. Another boy kicked the ball hard and it hit Avery in just the right spot. The school nurse called me while I was at a friend’s breakfast at the Country Club. She told me what happened and that I should “probably have it checked out.” When I got there, Avery was pale and holding his wrist, but he was stoic. He said it didn’t hurt as long as he didn’t move it, but if he did, it was excruciating. So off to urgent care we went (Layla was so good through all the sitting and waiting). His x-ray revealed a radial buckle fracture. We were told to return in a few days to see the orthopod and get fitted for a cast.

The following day we purchased a cute little 17′ Buccaneer. Here’s a pic from the Craigslist ad:

The boys were really excited when it showed up!

Here’s Avery getting his cast. The orthopod was really nice, and said Avery would only need it for 3 1/2 weeks.

Layla and me heading out for an early morning bike ride

It was still pretty cold, and she wouldn’t keep her gloves on, so it was a sad, loud ride home.

At a friend’s party raising money for cystic fibrosis

Impromptu iPhone photo session with my little gal.

I found a great website that sells (cheap) coordinating mother/daughter outfits. Here we are in the maxi dress.

Avery at a Boy Scout meeting

Our baby boy turned six this year! This has been such a big year for Silas, it’s hard to believe how much he’s grown. We moved, he started kindergarten and finally got to attend school with his brothers, he’s made new friends of his own and learned to swim. He’s also grown and stretched out a lot, and some of that baby fat is noticeably disappearing.

At six, Silas is pretty much the same sweet, happy-go-lucky guy he has always been. He gets along with pretty much everyone (with the exception of Kieron – sometimes they butt heads). This year Silas finally started expressing a little frustration and throwing some tantrums. On one memorable occasion he even gouged his nightstand with a pen because he was angry about being sent to his room! I think it’s partly age, and also due to the extra strain of having a younger sibling. Anyway, I felt like it was worth noting because until recently, nothing seemed to set this boy off! He is (still) pretty easy going!

Silas loves school and has a lot of friends. He was a bit frustrated when he didn’t learn to read overnight, but it is coming together! Silas is an eager student, and his favorite subjects are art and “free time”, which is basically more art mixed with engineering.

I’m having a hard time guessing what Silas will become when he’s grown up. Maybe a performer? I’d like to get him in theatre classes and see how he likes them. He talks a lot about building an elaborate tree fort with his friends and living in it with them when he’s older. Maybe he’ll be Peter Pan?

We celebrated Silas’ 6th birthday with a repeat pirate party. Fortunately, we still had all the old supplies from Avery’s party, so it was pretty easy to throw together! We learned that the basement gets pretty loud with a dozen young boys running amuck though!

Happy 6th Birthday, Silas Tristan. We love you!

A dream catcher to catch those persistent Zombie Nighmares!
   

I’m playing catch up on the blog again. Here is a huge photo dump from February!

Pancake breakfast

Notice Kieron’s drink umbrella. Our little foodie is all about presentation these days.

At Boundary

Mallard

Our Leitz St. house was used in a commercial for Premera Blue Cross. We saw it on TV while watching the Winter Olympics. This is our dining room turned into a nursery.

Snow!

At Old Town for breakfast

A few pics of Layla

Painting the living room

I drove all around town before discovering I’d been sporting this on the side of the van all day:

Caroline, Ethan & Clare came to visit for  a weekend

Another day on the trail

Layla loved Justin Timberlake’s half-time performance at the Superbowl

Silas in class

“Sometimes I get the feeling something is under my bed…”

Making Valentines — this pic pretty much sums up the experience. Avery & Silas got right to work, but it was torture for poor Kieron!

Our sweet neighbors put this swing down by the bus stop. The kids really appreciate it.

More painting. Jonathan left this on the wall one day between coats. He was using up the last of the paint on the brush and made some art

On a walk

Layla’s first time raiding my makeup drawer

Bubble bath for Avery & Layla. He’s so modest he even wears a swim shirt!

Don’t eat the bubbles!

Valentine’s lunch at Chuckanut brewery

Playing in the toy house

The big boys at some restaurant

I took the big boys to Snoqualmie for a weekend to visit with friends. While we were there, Avery and his friend, Hayden, competed in the Dynasty Fitness Ninja Obstacle Challenge. Here is Hayden:

And here are few pics of Avery on the course


 

Completion!

At Hayden’s

Kieron stayed with his friend, Louis, and celebrated his birthday

Another outfit put together by Layla

Avery widdling

Crossing over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts! So proud of Avery!

Layla’s 2nd makeup drawer raid. This time it was the lipstick.

Ambulance, by Silas