Wedding Joys

 Last weekend, we celebrated with Uncle Bryce and Auntie Kayla as they wed in Parker, SD. It was a gorgeous day and an event that pointed to Jesus. We were thankful to join in the party. Aliya was honored to be the flower girl and was confident and joyous most the day.

 She made a new friend, Alisha (one of the bridesmaids) and loved spending time with her throughout the day and evening.

 Of course, as any 4-year old would, she had her moments of hurt feelings, "ouies" and fatigue..mom and dad to the rescue.

 Ring pops to follow the ceremony were a hit! And full of sas!

 Following the festivities, we were able to spend time with the Kracht cousins and grandma and grandpa Kracht. Madison was able to meet her 4-H pigs and help clean their pen. Uncle Lucas tried to convince her to dig in with the pitchfork, but mom and dad persuaded her to let Uncle Lucas use the skid loader.

 It was such a joy to see 3-generations in the pig pen maneuvering the herd and learning about their diet.

 With such a big weekend, came much fatigue and much "sucking" by our favorite little girls, coupled with moments of silly deliriousness.

 Back at home, Aliya caught her first fish in the backyard pond. Daddy had to about drag her out there, but her mood quickly changed as he coined her the fish slayer!

 In Derrick's words, Madi and Aliya were having fun catching fish all night and along comes Breanne and tells them how to do it. That's our Beaver!

Celebrate!

 This week we celebrated a year of preschool accomplished! Aliya thought she should get the celebrate plate. Mom thought the teacher should get the plate. It is amazing to look back and realize how much Aliya has learned this year: many, many memory verses, letters & sounds, rhyming, opposites, days of the week, months of the year, seasons, science experiments, writing, Bible truths and some great friends at CBS just to name a few. At CBS, we have been blessed to have women of faith coming alongside mom and dad, teaching Aliya the same truths we teach at home. Her class got to sing for us one of the last weeks of the "year" and I got pictures of her and favorite friends, Esther and Julia.

 Ms. Mary & Ms. Maren were a huge blessing to Aliya this past year! Just ask Aliya to sing one of her memory verses for you. Mom's favorite is to the tune of "Jesus Loves Me": "Christ lives in me. Galatians 3:20."

 Our closing class activity (besides celebrating with strawberry shakes with sisters & daddy) was coloring hot rocks. Way fun! And the teacher got a paper weight besides.

Spring has finally arrived. On the first nice weekend, the McGrails arrived from Montana to laugh at our girls sporting tank tops and shorts in 60 degree weather. You don't remember how warm 60 feels after a really long winter! The garden is in, and we're wondering if it'll get it's first rain shower any moment now. 

Mom is ready for preschool to be over. I don't know how teachers do it! We have had fun learning an assortment of safety lessons. Police Officer safety ended up with an adorable craft. 

Yesterday, we happened upon an ECFE event where children 5 and under got to climb up on firetrucks, dump trucks, police cars, buses and more. Aliya loved it! We'll try our best to persevere and finish up preschool with a family outing to a 3D IMAX movie on the 20th hopefully.

 Our visit from the McGrails was a blessing for all of us! Even the big girls, though there weren't kids their age to play with) loved having them visit. Sarah and I got to paint pottery and go out for Thai. Derrick & Doug had the first campfire of the year while the moms were out and got to enjoy a Twins game on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon.

 Madi is completing her guitar lessons. It's tricky to learn a new instrument. You can pray for perseverance for her (especially since we'd rather be playing outside). She was excited to start playing chords at last night's lesson.

Breanne had a successful first piano recital. I got to accompany her on her two pieces. Even I had butterflies. The recital ended with cake and punch. Not sure how the cake ended up as a mustache, but take pictures first, ask questions later!

Party like it's nineteen-ninety....NINE!

Nine years ago, our lives were changed forever by the most compassionate young lady I've ever seen. We had an excellent day celebrating and were blessed with lots of family to share the day and dance party!

The Kracht cousin sleepover! Always lots of fun.

"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"

The trio of little girls "God Girls."

The boys won the dance competition, but the we think it may have been rigged since all the judges were males...

Cozy girls' night

Just a cozy night at home with the girls...started watching youtube videos. Loved this one.

And this one, with tears down my face, the girls hugged and kissed their momma.

Breanne's Poetry Cafe

Blond hair, smart
Reading to Mom
Energetic
Aliya and Madison are my sisters

Never lies to friends

Not just nice super nice

Exciting

                                                                     Ice Cream                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              I love

                                                    ice cream                               

                                                                                          when it
                                                                                              drips on your chin!
                                                                                           It is 

                                                                                                       as cold
                                                                                                           as ice.
                                                                                                                     I love

                                                                                                                           Ice cream!                                                       

                    

Podge

 A podge of emotions as we spent Easter with the Sechler family yesterday. Truly a blessing to be close enough just to hang out and enjoy watching cousins be cousins, conversation and just "being."

The big girls were hardly seen, playing games, doing make-up and hair and hanging out in Rebekah's room. However, still one is missing! We miss you Micah. I bawled, reading Traci's post on Caring Bridge, "See you in the morning, Micah!"
Daniel continues to hold a very dear place in Aliya's heart and I was fortunate to snag this shot of some Daniel cuddles for Aliya. And Derrick would gladly report that he beat both his nephews (and Mike) in a Mario Kart (not to mention Madden against Daniel). So proud of our daddy!

Aliya doing dishes last week with her "hair net" on.