Hi everyone,
We've been very busy lately finishing school, practicing music, and playing in our backyard. Here are a few pictures from our recent happenings.

First, our kids had several end-of-year concerts. First N, C, and the rest of the 5th grade band played a few songs including the Carnival of Venice. He plays the coronet and she plays the clarinet.  Then their music class and A's music class had a piano concert at the Mesa Arts center.  It was very well done and we were very proud of them.  The climactic (in my opinion) piece was "Linus and Lucy" by Vince Geraldi. The kids dressed up as the title characters, which was very funny.  A's favorite song he played was "The Entertainer" by Joplin. He worked so hard, and was very happy with his performance with a group of peers (a couple of whom are pictured here with him). For some reason, the pic we took with the big group of kiddos posing together with friends and cousin is missing.

Our little one just had her 2nd b-day! We had a very simple and short party, but it was perfect for her! She is such a character, and is a wonderful child to finish off a family--just clever, demanding, cuddly, eager to follow her siblings and loving enough to wrap us all around her tiny pinkie.

  This is little D hanging out at the park with four of his best friends (quadruplet sisters) in his preschool class. He is now graduating from two-and-a-half years of preschool with a group of teachers, aides and therapists that he got to know very well (and vice versa). "You tell me" is a quote for which he will be well remembered for there. He has progressed a great deal, and is begging to now go to kindergarten.  We looking at all of our options, hoping to find the best fit for him.

I (Man of the House) also finally got a chance to build a pergola, which I've been planning to do for a very long time.  It wasn't as easy as I anticipated. I had it framed and 90% complete one Tuesday night, with plans to put up the final braces and bury the foundation piers the next day after work. Well at 4:30 pm the next day, a huge dust storm rolled in, blew down the pergola, and scared my kids who valiantly scrambled to rescue bikes, balls, and tools from the sudden rain. I felt like we'd been visited by the big bad wolf.  Anyway, I took the pergola's remains apart and found that only the metal connectors were bent - the wood was still in good shape.  I started over by redigging the holes for the piers, leveling everything, building the structure again, and this time not waiting to put the corner braces on!  Only time will tell if it lasts this time, but it sure is nice to have a solid shade structure in the yard for the kids to play under.  It's made of redwood and bamboo. It was fun to show our kids what good things can come from a little work.

Saturday morning pancakes!

Have a great Memorial Day! We're celebrating 13 years since our family began! :)