A bit about April

Amazing how busy you can be when you are retired. As soon as we were back James had to see his dentist. A molar had to be taken out. 

Our washing machine decided to give up on us and it was the week of sprint break here. We were having our three boys here on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday starting about 8 am. 

The first day the weather was so lovely that we decided to go to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Daffodils, Tulips and other spring flowers and trees were in full bloom.

 

 

When we came to this pond we met a garden employee who was observing a "resident". See the stone right of the middle on the far side of the water in front of the green tall grass?

The boys of course loved it and asked the gentleman a lot of questions he was happy to answer. I is a "good" snake which keeps the "bad" snakes away.

There is always a lot to see at LGBG but at no visit can we miss spending some time at this tree. It is so perfect for climbing. 

On the way home we all needed some "refreshments". Luckily we knew where the DQ was.

The next day we had to start off with this! Needless to say that it is a favorite.

It is conviniently very close to our church. We could combine that outing with doing a very good weeding job in front of the church buildings.

After lunch Papa needed a walk around the neighborhood. 

Lots of things were blooming even on the above field. Who has decided that dandelion is a weed?

Friday the boys wanted very much to visit the science museum. I know it was going to be full with visitors since it was spring break but we have season tickets and it doesn't really matter. We can go whenever we want and for long (or short) we want. 

This is what they call the "hamster wheel" and was the first on the list they wanted to do. 

Another favortie is the cage where they can measure how fast the throw the balls.

And yes, all three had to climb into the small space capsule.

Omi didn't feel like cooking lunch. It was more fun to be on the round table with the lazy susan in the Peking Restaurant. Of course we had to tell them about our trip to Xian to see the clay warriors just like the immitation in the corner.

We had been so lucky with the weather. Those three are too lively to be shut in by rain. But the rain the following week washed away some (only some) of the pollen. It had been especially bad this year and extra long. Yellow, yellow everywhere. 

Did I mention that our washing machine decided it wanted to be replaced? Decision, decision!

Arranging the delivery almost drove us crazy. It seems in today's world you are not able to talk to a real person but only robots. Finally it was done but the closet had to be rearranged because we decided on a toploader instead of the frontloader.

Saturday the 12th we had the three for the night. The parents had a adults-only dinner party at their house.

Look at them. They wanted to try out our glasses.

We did do some egg decorating though. Hard-boiled ones and also some blown-out to hang up on my Easter branches in a week. 

Holy week is always special. James and I try not to miss any service. Easter they joined us for the service...

... and joined us afterwards for a simple lunch. You know what the dessert was going to be, even without Helen and William which could not be with us this year. I put the ingredients on the table though and everybody made their own "rabbit".

Helen and William were still in the middle of moving. It is not easy when you do it one trunkful after the other. Helen hurried to get WiFi in the new place and the most neccessary things so she could do her work and teach from there and also spend the nights there. The word from Nashville is that they are both very, very happy in the new place. To hear that makes us parents very happy indeed.