Piano Recital

Just 3 days later, Emma had her piano recital. She was really nervous this time. 

Here is a video of her playing Ode to Joy.

I also have a video of her playing "Let It Go", but the file is too large.

Concert

Tonight was the end of the year concert for 6th Grade Orchestra. We had a great view of Emma sitting with the other viola players.

Video playing Bloosy-Woosy

Video playing Home by Phillip Phillips (you will recognize the chorus).

Flowers

This year I am not doing a vegetable garden. I am tired of dealing with the snakes. Instead, I am focusing on flowers. I started with some herbs in pots to keep outside the kitchen door for easy access. The flowers we planted in the hanging wall planter are doing well.

I still have some irises that come up from the bulbs I planted when we first moved in.

I love hydrangeas but have not been able to plant any due to our deer problems. I finally realized that I could put them in pots up on the deck. Ta da! So happy.

I finally ripped out grass around our mailbox and added some flowers. I hung up the baskets we bought just before Mother's Day.

C.A.R. Picnic

We had our final C.A.R. meeting for the year. Emma conducted the meeting as Vice President. We had a pot luck on our deck. For business we inducted our new member, showed off our new flag, handed out awards, and installed our new officers. Emma is now serving as President and Rebekah as Corresponding Secretary.

Camping

This year we went up to Pine Grove Furnace State Park for our annual camping trip. We invited the Michaux family to join us. Rebekah started the evening by climbing up the bear pole.

The park gets it's name from this old furnace used to make iron. The other bonus is that the one and only Appalachian Trail Museum is right there. Clay was very excited to visit the museum and we all hiked on the trail for a bit. The final perk was this nice lake that the girls could go swimming in. I enjoyed my time in the shade reading a book and putting my feet up. 

 

We are a little goofy

The girls thought it would be funny to all get on the scale and see how much we weighed together.

Right before spring break Clay & I joined a friendly Biggest Loser competition with 4 other couples. We have been weighing in every Saturday morning.  The girls have been asking us how we are doing and very excited to know who is in the lead each week. The competition lasts 10 weeks. 

Springtime plantings

Spring is in the air! We went out to my favorite nursery to buy flowers and hanging baskets. They always have a beautiful display before Mother's Day. Rebekah loved this giant Adirondack chair.

 Emma got a hanging wall planter from Grandad & Kris for Christmas. It was just like the one they worked on together last summer. We worked on it together. Then I realized that I did not buy enough plants for the top of the hanging. Emma had a packet of wild flower seeds, so we added those on top.