THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS

This was the title of Avery & Ella's Drama Kids performance, acted out this past Saturday afternoon at a local college auditorium. Avery had the "lead" role of a grasshopper and Ella was an ant. This is a "before" picture without Avery's grasshopper gear :) The story gave a good lesson about working hard and knowing the right time for play. This year the girls have learned a lot about staging, projecting your voice, and acting. They loved spending Friday afternoons with their teacher, Miss Danielle, and their fellow actresses. Drama Kids is an international organization.

A VISIT WITH GRANDPA & GRANDMA

Mom & Dad T. visited with us last week. We had a great time doing many activities around town. One of our favorites was a walk in Highland Park. The girls found a great new place to go on a hot day -- named by them as "Triple Tree". As you can see from the pictures, the tree's name is based on it's three trunks. It is a shady, fun spot and we can't wait to go back for a picnic with Eric!

I took this picture at the Public Market. A nice vendor gave Avery and Ella a gerber daisy and I bought them each a lollypop -- we wish Grandpa & Grandma could go with us every week!

Follow this link to see more pictures of our day with Grandpa & Grandma

EARLY SUMMER FUN

Okay, it's not officially summer, but school is out! On Thursday, Ella enjoyed a swim party at her good friend Faithann's house.

Above are Ella and her friends: Anna, Melanie & Faithann.

The next day Avery & Ella had a great time with Maria and Tori doing water play in the backyard. When it's 90 degrees we call it summer!

KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION

Our baby (aka Ella) graduated from Kindergarten yesterday. As usual, NBCS put on a special and wonderful program. Mrs. Rene recognized each child by using a word or phrase that she thought best suited them. She said that Ella is a "natural born leader". Mr. Stuart went on to quip that often the teachers would take the morning off and leave Ella in charge of the class :)

Ella did the introduction to one of their songs, "I Wanna Do What's Right". She read a little paragraph about choosing to do the right thing. Our favorite phrase was a very expressive "there are a million ways we can please Jesus . . ."

They closed the program by singing "First Grade, First Grade" to the tune of "New York, New York" -- so cute!

As Avery put it, "Yesterday you had a Kindergartner and 2nd grader. Today you have a 1st grader and 2nd grader. Tomorrow you will have a 1st grader and 3rd grader!" Last day of school today for Avery too -- Hello Summer! More on that in a later blog . . .

NEW YORK TO JORDAN

We had a blast early this week visiting our good friends, Josh & Nannette, home on a visit from Jordan. Kim, Gary, Eric and I drove from NY to Findlay, OH to spend a few days laughing, talking and encouraging each other. We stayed at a great bed & breakfast/horse farm. The entire guest house was ours! Memorable moments included competitive games of Catch Phrase (girls won the championship round!), late nights (for the New Yorkers) and time around the campfire. We love you, Josh & Nannette!

SPRING FLING 2008

This was a special day. My friend, Liz, decorated a beautiful table and I had the privilege to speak for North Baptist Church's annual Spring Fling. Eric was the technical guy -- in charge of all movies and visuals. Kristy, Mom W., and our friends, Andrea, Rachelle, Wendy and Alecia sat with us. We all enjoyed a wonderful event! The theme was Generations: Leaving a Legacy and we were challenged to think about what kind of legacy we are leaving.

I want to leave a legacy that matters in eternal ways -- one that brings glory to God and demonstrates His love to others. I praise God for answered prayers and for blessing us this morning!

2nd GRADE BUTTERFLIES

The other day I was walking from the school back to my office and I heard Avery calling my name. The 2nd grade was outside, setting their butterflies free. They have been studying butterflies and have watched their life cycle -- catterpiller to chrysalis to butterfly. I ran to get the camera and shot these adorable photos of the second grade kids and their butterflies.

SEABREEZE PARK -- THE BIG RIDES!

Ella on "The Spring"

Eric & Avery on "The Screaming Eagle". I refuse to go on this one and if you look at the picture below you'll understand why! Eric would not go on a second time -- where are the big cousins when we need them?!?

"The Tilt-A-Whirl" is definitely more my speed :)

Avery and Ella received season passes to Seabreeze for their birthdays (thanks grandparents!) and this past Saturday we went for the first time this year. Avery is FINALLY tall enough to get an "adult" pass and ride the big rides. She has been waiting for so long (at least for her)! Both Dad and Mom felt a little queasy after a few rides -- anyone want to volunteer to ride all day with her? The bigger ones in our family enjoyed the new "Music Express" ride -- Mom's favorite since it never leaves the ground! Ella rode "The Spring repeatedly, after she initially told me that she wasn't going to ride it until next year :) We are thankful for to have such a fun place in our hometown!

OLDEST TO YOUNGEST

Today we celebrated Grandpa White's 97th birthday. He is the sweetest man -- a kind and gentle person that we are blessed to have in our family. We enjoyed time with many of our Connor & White relatives, including the youngest member of our family, Chase Connor, 12 weeks old.

FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS

Avery spent a good part of her weekend making special "friendship bracelets" for every teacher and staff person at NBCS. She labeled envelopes for each person and delivered them at school today. Avery is so thoughtful and kind -- I am proud of the sweet girl that she is!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

We enjoyed a fun mother's day with our little family and Mom W. After a nice lunch, we went for a walk at North Ponds Park. The girls loved the Fit Trail stops (geared for seniors :) Most of our pictures were wind-blown, but here is a cute one of Eric and his mom.

RACE FOR EDUCATION

Today was the "Race for Education" at Avery & Ella's school. Preschool and Kindergarten raced first -- round and round the 1/4 mile track for one hour! Ella was able to complete 2.25 miles!

Avery's class (2nd grade) raced with the 3rd grade next. Avery ran/walked 2.5 miles!

To see more photos of this fun morning, click on the "Race for Education" link above and you will connect to our Kodak Gallery. Thank you to our generous friends and family for supporting the girls and their school!

SAD GOODBYE

Our dear friends moved to New Hampshire this week. Susanna and I have been close friends since they moved to Rochester 6 years ago. Our kids have grown up together and we have shared many special times as families. We went to see them off in their moving truck, early Monday morning. We were sad all day. Dan, Susanna, Calvin, Abigail & Easton -- WE MISS YOU!

AVERY IS 8!

Avery turned 8 years old on April 30. She has been saving some money since Christmas, and we added to it to get her "Julie", the 1970's American Girl doll. She was so excited! Even cuter were the little "dolls" in the box after we removed Julie :)

BRING YOUR DAUGHTER TO WORK DAY

The day finally arrived . . . Avery has been waiting for YEARS to go to work with her dad! The rule is that kids have to be 8 years old. At just a week shy of her 8th birthday, Avery was thrilled to be able to go to work with Dad today. She met two new friends and got to participate in many science experiments that involve things like ethanol, hydrogen and liquid nitrogen. She even got to ride in a fuel cell car! Avery and her dad had lunch at Eric's favorite pizza place, followed by ice cream on the walk back to work. She brought home a "keepsake" folder of all of her day's activities. She is already excitedly looking forward to this day next year. Ella is counting down the days until her turn . . . just two more years :)

BIRTHDAY TREE

One of our favorite things about our home is the special tree in our backyard. When we moved in (December 1999) the tree looked dead and especially un-lovely to a pregnant wife who had just left perpetually green Atlanta. I decided that if it remained that ugly in the spring we would cut it down. Early in April the tree began to bud. At 36 weeks pregnant, I declared that the baby would be born on the day that the tree bloomed. Sure enough, on April 30 we saw our beautiful tree bloom for the first time. That same day, Avery Elizabeth made her way into the world, 5 days early. From that day forward, we have dubbed it "Avery's birthday tree" and we look forward to this time every year!

SPA PARTY

Avery and her friend, Serena, are turning 8 this month! To celebrate their birthdays, we had a spa party on Saturday. Nine little girls enjoyed painting their nails and doing their doll's hair. Avery's big-girl cousins, Sam and Erin came to help do the girls' hair while the grown-ups gave the girls "facials" and pedicures. Avery declared it "the best birthday party ever!"

Serena's mom, Bonnie, made adorable flip-flop cakes! To see more pictures of our memorable spa party, click on the title link above.

SPLASH WEEK

Avery and Ella had a ball with the free swim lessons offered through the YMCA this week. As we expected, Avery was right in the water, swimming like a fish and loving it. Ella, however, had been very hesitant last summer -- often not leaving the side of the pool without Mom or Dad. It was so fun to see how she has grown! She was jumping off the side with no one catching her, "bobbing" underwater and floating on her back with her head in the water. Big strides!

H.O.R.S.E

This week we put up a fun new basketball hoop (thank you, cousins Sammie & Ty!). Today Avery told me, "I didn't know that I loved basketball this much! Of course we had to purchase a PINK basketball!

The rule is that Daddy has to squat while he shoots, just to make it fair. Their favorite game is H.O.R.S.E. (or D.A.D. if it's getting close to dinner or bedtime).

When Ella shoots she not-so-quietly coaches herself to "push" as she sends the ball up in the air. We are loving this warm weather and the promise of summer ahead!

MOMMY-DAUGHTER DATE

Avery and Mom went on a date on Sunday afternoon. It seems that Avery is outgrowing the Strong Museum -- she chose to go there for our date but we could never quite find a good place to settle in and play. Finally she said, "Can we just leave and go get an ice cream?" I don't even feel sad to see her growing up -- she just gets more precious every day!

LIVING INSIDE OUT IN AN UPSIDE DOWN WORLD

Last Friday night Avery and Ella enjoyed a highlight of their school year -- the NBCS school play! This was Ella's debut and she shone brightly as she read scripture and accompanied her class with special readings. Avery performed in the front row of the choir and lit up the stage with her contagious smile and expressive singing.

An excerpt from one of Ella's readings: "Have you ever seen a city on a hill? The lights can be seen for miles and miles around. Jesus said we should be the same way for Him. We have the light of the Holy Spirit living right inside of us, and naturally, His light is going to leak out, pour out. In every little space of every little minute of your life you can be a humble servant so that Jesus can shine through."

MEET SLIMEY, SLIMER & EARTHY!

Slimer, Slimey & Earthy are worms, dug fresh from the backyard. Avery & Anaja did most of the digging, as you can see from their hands! The worms all have a common last name: Connor-Martinez, in honor of the little girls who found them. Tonight the worms are sleeping comfortably in a old Cool-Whip container with lots of dirt and leaves (outside, of course!). I wonder . . . what other creatures will this Spring bring?