Friends

What I awoke to find one morning, Olivia reading to her sister.

The girls have either been getting along like best friends or at each other's throats.  I try and savor the moments they are in love with each other.  The new thing that started over spring break, was Olivia sleeping with Mia in her bed.  Neither Andy or I quite know how or why it started, but it went on for almost each night.  Andy informed them once school resumed it would stop.  So they each slept in their own beds the night before school started back up.  We went into check on them that night and found Mia, this time in Olivia's bed.  I told Andy to just let it go.  They're both sleeping and not ending up in our bed in the middle of the night anymore so we should be celebrating.  We'll let Olivia deal with Mia in the middle of the night instead.

Violette, Mia, Noelle, Max with Zane on top, and Olivia

We also were able to have some terrific friends the Roehrigs visit us for an afternoon during spring break.  They are a wonderful family that live a little too far from us.  The children are all close in age so they always get along so well when they get the chance to play together.  Natalie and I enjoyed time chatting with each other, while Andy and Tom enjoyed discussing whatever it is, that men like to talk about.  A walk to Jimi Jo's for ice cream culminated the visit.  We have been to Jimi Jo's way too many times since they reopened!  It was great to see the Roehrigs again and we hope we can do it again soon.  Actually a baby blanket was left at our house, so I think that means we have to drive to Adrian for a visit soon to return it!

Olivia and Taner battling it out with the "force."

Olivia continues to be a social butterfly making friends wherever she goes.  Taner is one of her new friends this year who only lives a block away.  They spend a lot of time hanging out together.  

If a Tree Falls in the Woods....

We arrived in Alpena while making excellent time.  We even stopped briefly at the outlet mall and I scored some jeans from the Gap for under $7.  I couldn't pass them up.  After checking in the hotel, we decided to drive out to the property to make sure the barn was still standing and there was no vandalism.  We were fortunate to find no evidence of vandalism, and even more fortunate to find that when a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, that it just misses the newly constructed barn.


It was a little close for comfort, but we are soooooo thankful there was no damage. 

We didn't spend much time at the property this trip up.  It was rather cold and we didn't have much we officially wanted to get done.  Although, Andy did manage to get most of the floor on the second level.  We were content to just be able to get away for a few days as a family and do things we wouldn't normally do.  The first morning we woke up to meet my dad's cousin Scott and his family at Big Boy for breakfast.  John and Esther were gracious enough to get us a gift card to Big Boy for Easter since they knew we'd be heading there since it's Mia's favorite.  It came in handy as we ate a delicious breakfast and had great company to visit with.

We did our usual trip to the shipwreck museum as well as getting ice cream at our favorite place up north, since they sent Mia a coupon for a free cone for her birthday.
 

Something we've never done and I haven't done since I was probably Olivia's age is a visit to the Besser Museum.  They have all kinds of art and historical artifacts from the area.  The museum does a great job to add some children's interactive areas and scavenger hunts.  I can remember as a child thinking it was very boring, so it was nice to see them trying to cater to the youth a bit more.  They also have a planetarium, but they only have shows on Saturdays.
 

Olivia standing next to a totem pole learning about Native American beadwork and trying some patterns out.

Mia just had fun cooking up a storm in the kitchen.
 

Strutting her stuff in front of a peacock, is Miss Mia.
 

Posing by some of the sculptures outside of the museum.  It was super windy so hard to keep the hair out of their faces.
 

Now one in front of the eagle.

We also made a stop at the Stoney Acres Winery and let Olivia buy some of their sugar free Shipwreck Soda.  It's a great little small town winery for anyone ever in the area.

 

One trip to Big Boy was not enough. 

We had dinner at the Courtyard one evening, which was delicious, but Mia was apparently tired by the time we left.  Our last dinner out was at Big Boy too.  They even seated us at the booth right next to the window so we could stare at the Big Boy statue while we ate.  We were saddened to learn that the other Big Boy in Alpena closed down.  Now they are down to one Big Boy in Alpena.  Hopefully a great new restaurant opens in the old restaurant because it's a great location on the river.
 

Another view of the tree.

We enjoyed a lot of time at the hotel too.  Numerous trips were made to the pool and hot tub.  I would recommend Days Inn Alpena to anyone looking for a place to stay up there.  We had a great trip and can't wait to go up again, we're just hoping for warmer weather next time!

Easter

Easter morning brought with it a search for the girls' baskets filled with goodies from the Easter Bunny. 


Mia found hers behind the green chair in the living room filled with goodies she loves, and a special book for her birthday from the Easter Bunny.

 

Olivia finally found her basket on the third attempt of looking in the playroom closet.  She was thrilled to find a new pair of Keen sandals and a Nancy Clancy chapter book.
 

Since it was also Mia's birthday, Andy had to give her the annual birthday spankings.
 

The birthday girl all dressed up for church to rejoice in this special day.  It's hard to see in this picture, but she has a ribbon on that says "Birthday Girl!"
 

Both my beauties ready to go.  I even did their hair.  That happens on rare occasions. 

 

Digging into their baskets from Aunt Jen at Nana and Papa's house after eating too much food at the auditorium. 
 

Mia, Olivia, Jennifer, all piled atop of poor Robert.
 

Olivia posing with some goodies from Nana and Papa.
 

Mia showing her eggs she found on her egg hunt.  It was another blessed day with family, but we left sooner than usual so we could hit the road and make it to Alpena at a decent hour.  We had a great Easter and were able to realize all we've been blessed with.  We hope the same was true for all of you.