Today was the day... Braces!

She was an excited girl this morning... had school all day and then we headed to the orthodontist.

She was excited and nervous and non stop talking all the way about what she heard from other people and what she thought it would be like.  Here we are first set on the bottom in...

Of course picking out the colors of the bands was the highlight of the day... she decided on teal and purple her new fav colors.

And here we are all done... and the first big smile after she checked it all out in the mirror.

She got stars on the top two front teeth...

We are still working on how to use them... smiling... eating... brushing... taking a drink from a cup etc.  I can't believe how big our almost 11 year old is looking... love her so!

Kiddos at the annual egg hunt... this was Ainsley's last one since the cut off age is 11.

This year they picked their spot and scouted out the area for hole divots... as you remember from last year Walker fell hard shortly after the horn blew and then just about missed out on all the eggs that were disappearing.

Well this year they had a plan...

Walker decided he would go for the blue basket and then grab eggs and Ainsley would go for the green basket and then grab eggs.

After it was all planned out they then had to wait 30 more minutes... they started to overhear other kids saying how they were going to get "their baskets".  They stuck to their plan though and Walker said, "If I get that basket it will be the BEST day of my entire LIFE!"

The horn blew and off they went in full sprint... Walker slid into the blue basket and then started grabbing his knee... Ainsley ran for the green basket and then from the back of the pack a fast runner passed her and they bonked heads... brutal this egg hunt stuff is!

They recovered and grabbed up 20 or so eggs each.  After 2 minutes all 14,000 eggs were gone and we checked out the damage...

But check out that smile...

Stewart's new office space is just about done... need to put in the new blinds and move up his office equipment. But off to work he'll go in the new area tomorrow... it will be a good change for him and great to have a dose of sunshine on Mr. Mole.

Here's the before of the area...

and the new after...

Stay tuned for project #2 ..which will be built-in cabinets along the wall... and the flooring will continue down the hallway.

We've been working on the new project... Stewart's upstairs office space and were about to use this board when a face appeared... we both thought the same thing but what can you see??

Did you see this...

Maybe we are just delirious from too many projects... but it totally looked like the Grinch to us!

The picture of the day today... Pals for a moment.

And yep that would be snow on the ground once again... ugh.

This past weekend we had a surprise visit...

What's makes this so funny is that I had just read Stewart and My horoscope for the day and it said, "You will have a surprise visitor today!"  Then about 30 minutes later the phone rings and Jeanne and Dan were in town and wanted to stop on by... how fun!

The rest of the week has been filled with getting two reports ready.  First up was the Science Fair Project...

Ainsley's project was "How storage temperature affects microwave popcorn"  she did a great job.. we were down to the wire last night working on the poster but it was a good first science project.  Currently she's typing the next report... a one paged typed report about what she learned in the DARE Program.  She's currently rolling her eyes about it being a full one page typed report and asking... "How can I make this look longer than it really is?"

The past few days we have been consumed with piano and more piano.  First up was the kiddos spring recital...

Then in between Basketball games it was on to Festival on Saturday...

Ainsley worked out some nervous energy by running through her pieces one more time...

She did fantastic and earned her second superior...

Walker played in a different room..

Oh my is it intense being the parent... I was more nervous than he... held my breath and paced while he played... he did just as well and earned his very first superior!..

Their Piano Teacher suggested that they try out for the Jr. Music Club Lesson Scholarship Audition since they were so well prepared with their songs.  That was yesterday and it consisted of 21 students all trying to win one of the 7 money awards.  Much to our joy and amazement they EACH won a $25 award that goes towards their piano lessons!!!

So very proud are us parents!!

We've been waiting for a good kid friendly show to come to the movie theater... Friday we went and saw this...

It was good... not beyond amazing but good.  Thinking we will have to watch the original Wizard of Oz soon.  Love nights when it's popcorn and red vines for dinner!!  Cutest kiddos ever..

Last week in scouts Walker earned his Bear patch and officially graduated to the next chapter... Webelos.  His last time wearing the blue bear hat, neckerchief and slide.

The tradition is when you graduate to the next level not only do you earn a patch (which this Mama Bear still has to sew on) but a parent also gets "pinned" as well... I guess it was mine turn this time..

He also did the flag ceremony... nice and loud for all to hear... love that!

We will be switching to another troop in the fall as his current one is rechartering and I'd like him to be involved with a more "active" pack.  How cool is the next neckerchief... love the plaid!!

The past few days Willow Dog actually found a dry place to lay and soak up the sunshine... finally spring has arrived!!

And then this happened... more snow!  I just love her expression... seriously???

And yes we still have one more child in the family... poor thing has had her nose to the grind...

with improper fractions, adverbs and state capitals.  We just signed her up for Volleyball so that will now be fulfilling our Saturdays as well.  All good... busy and crazy and hectic at times... but good none the less.

Come on spring... the dog has a horrible case of cabin fever... along with the rest of us!  Poor thing isn't loving being cooped up all day as well and is so looking forward to summer when we are all at home and she can lay outside stretched out on the grass and soaking up the sun... instead of trying to find a non snow covered area to sit.

A few days ago I let her outside in between jobs and looked out to find her chewing on something...

Yep that would be a rock!  Seriously how does one find joy in ruining all her teeth??