The Richardsons

If you have kids in school, you know May and June are NUTS...this weekend we had field day at Abegail's school (see picture above), 3 ballet performances, 3 soccer games, a birthday party for our neighbor, and church. Here's a snapshot of Friday and Saturday. Annie's ballet class after their performance to Love Me Tender Annie and Jane, best buds See Mommy, this is how we started Abegail's tap performance Waiting to go on Abegail's class between the tap and ballet performances Y Soccer Saturday Morning Catch me if you can The best part, snack Oh good someone gave E-man a racket These are the two Saints (Cindy and Jenni) who watched my kids at 3:30 in the morning and made it possible for me to continue to work the past 3 months while Scott started his new job. The birthday girl, what are those on my highchair? Supper time with the Backyardigans Quotes From Emmanuel: (At the recital)"Mommy they spin a lot." M: Yes they do. Quotes From Abegail : (Sat. in th...

The Spronks came back Monday night before heading home to NY. I love visits like this. I told Suzanne I knew them but we just hadn't met yet. Here are their four children, Emma, Andre', Saylah , and Pascal. It is so much fun to meet the families who adopted children we met two years ago. I love hearing about their journey. The Spronks spent two periods of time in Gabon, West Africa the past few years while Wayne was working at one of the hospitals there. They are such a special family. Saylah with her parents, Suzanne and Wayne Saylah's new best friends, Annie and Jane The Sisters are tight in this family too This picture has nothing to do with the Spronks , I just thought it was amusing how the kids wore their helmets to dinner. I guess it can be dangerous. Quotes from Abegail : Mommy: If you eat a good dinner you can have candy afterwards. E-man: What kind of candy? Mommy: Jellybeans Abegail : Oh, you want to get rid of them? Mommy: How come you are so smart ...

I've been a busy blogger lately. It seems like everyday there is something at least partially blogworthy. The standard for being blogworthy is graded on a curve, see the end of this post and you will be saying well there's 30 seconds of my life I'll never get back. We spent part of the weekend in Stillwater , MN and watched my friend, Julie run the Stillwater Marathon. Julie helped me train for the Twin Cities Marathon and without her I would not have made it to the starting line. So we went up to Stillwater Saturday enjoyed a holiday BBQ and swimming in a lake and then went to the race Sunday. In between cheering stops we went to a very cool park called Teddy Bear Park. It is all fenced in and different than the traditional park with lots of things to climb on slide down and pose in front of. The kids then got to run the last quarter mile with Julie and steal the drinks and chips supposedly only for the runners. This is what happens when I attempt to get on the...

Abegail and her friend Ellen performed a Taylor Swift (country for those of you not up on it) song with choreographed movements in their 2 nd grade Talent Show Friday, here's a sneak peak with pictures.

After 8+ years in Minnesota, we're moving....to Washington, DC to join Daddy where he found a new job. We're leaving Minnesota June 15th and plan to live in Springfield, VA.

Remember this little girl??? 4 years old at the AFAA house. She now looks like this. Saylah and her family, who live in Plattsburgh, NY, came to see us last night on their way to a family reunion in Southwestern Minnesota. I was sure she wouldn't remember me, but she seemed to remember the kids (it didn't take long to remember E-man)and when I tried to jog her memory doing a little ring around the rosie, she seemed to react. She now is taller than E-man and has no accent. She does have those energetic, occasionally speaking in a voice that can be heard in Mexico when you are in Minnesota, Liberian traits, so I knew it was her! We'll take more photos and show you her three siblings and parents when they swing back through on Memorial day.

Last night Abegail received special recognition at the Bloomington Art Center for a piece of art she created. 15 students were selected from each Bloomington Elementary School to be recognized . Above is the piece she was selected for. Abegail goes on stage to receive her certificate Abegail's wonderful Art teacher, Mrs. Lutz Annie's preschool put on a program today of some of the songs they learned throughout the year. It was very fun and everyone did an awesome job. Here they are being cars A special hat song E-man gives Annie a rare good job hug, just before he stole her cookie at refreshment time. But it was a nice moment for a nano second Annie's preschool teacher Gaye Lynn, I think E-man likes her just as much as Annie Quotes from Annie: Eman : Mommy, I'm done. Annie: Hi Done.

There are only three more days of preschool left. Annie says, "So I won't see Gaye Lynn (her teacher) any more?" I said no. She says, "but I can still remember her." Since there will not be school on Annie's birthday (July 1), they celebrated today and she got to wear a crown in class and as you can see at the dinner table.

You may know it as Mother's Day but in our house it's national no whining, no hitting, no fighting, no crying, no big mads , no little mads , no hanging on me, no stealing my food, no walking in on me in the bathroom, no yelling, no begging...you get the picture...day. We actually accomplished some of this for a few minutes this morning and right now we are achieving the harmonious balance since I am inside and they are outside. Emmanuel wanted to look sharp today so he insisted that he had his pants ironed. (like father like son) I got one of the sweetest presents from Abegail . She had to write the Top 10 Reasons Why I love my Mom in class. Let me say Abegail is absolutely thriving. She has been so helpful (please knock on wood while you read this) and so understanding lately. She is excelling in all sorts of areas. She was even picked by her art teacher to have her work displayed at city hall (this is how you know we share no DNA since artwork to me is having everyt...

Abegail had her First Communion today and it was a gorgeous day here. 62 degrees by the time we were going to church. Here are some of the highlights. All dressed up and ready to go! The guest of honor making sure Annie is perfect! Cousin Martu is there for Abegail's big day Our favorite pose! E-man looking sharp too Say Target ( Abegail and Grandma Marian's favorite store) Really Mom, a picture with the azalea bush, isn't this going a little far? The Whole Gang A rare moment of sibling bonding as Annie and E-man go to Sunday School Father Steve Gets all 22 kids at the 10:30 mass together for a photo op Our favorite priest, Father Steve and Abegail . He had such a glow giving the kids their First Communion, so gifted with young people It's official Now for the important stuff, cake time!