More Smiles

Too cute not to post. We're starting to see lots of these each day. We love it!

Welcome, Levi James Burch!

This morning at 11:41 am Alexis and Matt welcomed their 2nd child, Levi James Burch. He was happy and healthy at 5 lb 14.6 oz and 19 1/4 in. We're thrilled about our new nephew and wanted to give him his first shout out on our blog. We can't wait to meet you on Skype!

Congrats, Sister, Matt, and Holley - we love you!

Hoppy Easter!

The Easter Bunny was very good to the girls and we had a lovely Deschane Easter in Stoughton. Natalie had fun hunting eggs and Audrey was adorable in her portrayal of an egg.

(We took a nice family picture but on a different camera so that'll be forthcoming when I get a copy.)

Spring, Or Something Like It

What do you do in Wisconsin when April rolls around, the mercury climbs above 50, and the sun comes out? You get outside!

You help your Auntie Rochelle plant flowers.

You pack up your sister and take off for the park.

And you enjoy the heck out of the closest thing you've seen so far that resembles springtime!

Now our fingers are crossed that spring actually decides to stay around for a while! (Today is in the low 40s and raining so so far it's still just wishful thinking.)

Reunited

Yesterday the Deschanes and Taylors were reunited once again after much too long apart! Our dear dear friends visited us from Virginia while on a trip home to the Midwest. It made us happier than we can say to see them. (There are friends, and there are FRIENDS, you know?) We miss them terribly and the precious 24ish hours they were here were wonderful!

Michelle and the newest additions to each clan

The 4 kids - Not the greatest picture but getting them to sit in one place was like herding cats!

Mikey and Audrey relaxing

Bubbles! The Taylors gave Natalie a bubble gun for her birthday.

Yes, Mom, I know that blowing bubbles inside is a no-no. And (gasp!) I still would've taken Natalie to the park if it wasn't snowing!

Learning to Smile

Audrey has learned that cameras come out often around here so she's been busy practicing her cheese! Natalie did so in her 2nd month as well (see here) - do they look alike?

Caption Contest

Can someone please tell me what to say about these? I can't stop laughing!

Baptism Blessings

Audrey was baptized last Saturday, April 2. We were blessed to have so many of our wonderful family and friends share the day with us. Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate this special and important day as Audrey was welcomed into God's Kingdom.

The beautiful dress Audrey wore is an Anderson family heirloom. Linda and each of her 4 sister wore it for their baptisms, I believe each of their daughters wore it, Natalie wore it, and now Audrey.

The Godparents - Alexis and Matt Burch and Samantha Deschane

The Grands and Greats - (from left to right) Papa Don and Lolo, Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma Anderson, and Ama and Bapa

The Holley Clan, direct from TX

Not (We Repeat NOT) Photoshopped

There are 2 inescapable truths in the world, right? Death and taxes. Wrong! There's a 3rd - Don Holley does NOT do snow. This is about as core to his being as Jack and Coke. So what could bring Don Holley to WI during winter, even if it is the end of winter with soaring temps in the 40s? A new granddaugther. Some day when she's older she'll understand just how powerful she is (though as you can see it still might've taken a beverage or two).

Audrey was baptized last weekend and to our great delight, the entire Holley clan came from TX for the event. In March - with snow!

Some of them seemed to enjoy it more than others.

So now that what I knew to be firm and true has shifted, surely our "it's ok not to file" pass from the IRS is right around the corner!