Wax Museum - Jane

In fourth grade, all the kids participate in a wax museum project. They all have a person they have to research, dress up as, and write and memorize a speech for. Then they have to stand still like a statue until someone presses their button so they can give their speech. Jane was the Marquis de Lafayette! We had a great time hearing her rock her speech, and then walking around seeing all her friends. 

Jane with her buddy Stonewall Jackson (Lilah).

Jane with her other buddy, another Marquis de Lafayette (Jackson).

Jane with several other buddies from her class, James Madison, Stonewall Jackson, Clara Barton, Dolly Madison, and a few I don't know.

Go Marquis!

She did such a great job!

(Eleanor as John Brown)

Jane's Chorus Concert - On Broadway

Jane's spring chorus concert this year was called "On Broadway." It was made up of some very fun songs! She also had a small speaking role and a solo! We are so proud of her!

The songs they performed were "On Broadway" from Better Nate Than Ever, "When I Grow Up" from Matilda, "Seize the Day!" from Newsies, "You're Never Fully Dressed" from Annie, "Defying Gravity" from Wicked, and "Brand New Day" from The Wiz.

April wrap-up

April was quite cold to start and we finally got some warmer weather around Easter. We were out of town for a week for the kids' spring break, lacrosse is well underway, and Jane has been doing a little bit of soccer on the side. We've enjoyed a bit more down time with Eleanor now that her play is over, and have also spent much time cleaning off pollen and doing yard work!

Ben and Rosie made flowers at school (Ben's left, Rosie's right). Apparently they were told to color their flowers and Ben asked if it had to be a "non-fiction" flower or could he make a "fiction" flower. They teacher apparently told him he could color the flower however he wanted and this is what he came up with.

Jane at a soccer game:

Chris and Jane ran the DOG St 5k as a culmination of her run club. Jane PRed at 28:20 and while she finished 7th place in her age group, she came in 1st place for 9 year olds.

Ben has been loving giving himself mohawks after his showers in the evenings.

Apparently it's snake season. I found this guy when I almost stepped over him. You better believe I went another way.

Chris and I went up to bed one night and found this note hanging from our ceiling. We could not stop laughing at the surprise and creativity. It was so sweet!

Rosie and Eleanor playing out in the yard together:

Eleanor's school project - she had to re-imagine seats of government. 

Rosie in a crown made for her by some friends:

The kids found a snake at the bus stop one morning and all the boys were fascinated. Guess it's truly snake season.

Rosie and Ben found a turtle and tried to keep him as an outdoor pet for a hot second.

I took Eleanor to Tabb to see them perform the full version of Something Rotten. I was shocked to see the play with no tap dancing! It really makes the show and now I'm even more impressed with what the middle schoolers did!

Several of our neighbors all went to a local concert - a Tom Petty cover band. It was a fun evening!

There have been lots of beautiful evenings where the kids have played outside until dark.

We got a whole small group picture this month! With everyone's travel, jobs, sports schedules, etc. this may be the only time we've all been together all year!

April has been such a great month. Except for the pollen, the weather has been amazing - not too hot yet and great for evenings outside. The kids have played baseball and volleyball outside until late into the evenings and we've enjoyed time away from work and school. On to the last full month of school this school year...

Easter

Happy Easter! Holy Week started with Palm Sunday the week before. 

On Saturday our neighborhood did an egg hunt. The kids love doing this with their neighborhood friends.

On Easter, Eleanor and I biked over to church for the sunrise service.

Then it was time to head home so the kids could attempt to find their baskets.

Jane's was found first, then Rosie's. Ben needed a hint, and Eleanor needed lots of hints!

We dyed Easter eggs.

We made tombs:

And then we headed to church! Eleanor and I were volunteering at this service because we had already been that morning.

After church we had a potluck in the driveway with our neighbors. We have been doing this since we moved in!

The kids played volleyball in the front yard, ran around and played with chalk, and then eventually, we did an egg hunt.

Now that we have so much family in town, we were able to spend Easter with family! We went over to my mom's for dinner and met up with Eric and Lauren and family. Grandma organized a little hunt for the kids to find an egg and a shirt each. They loved it! Then they kept hiding the eggs over and over for each other in the yard. 

The girls split a raspberry cordial, a la Anne of Green Gables.

Unfortunately Rosie didn't end up feeling well very weirdly for a short portion of the evening. It came out of nowhere. She was fine all day, fine for the hunt, then complained, threw up, fell asleep for 15 minutes, and then was back to normal. It was very bizarre.

Happy Easter!