Just remembering back when times were rough...

http://labs.wanokoto.jp/olds (You may need to know some basic internet Japanese..).

In March, my grandmother turned 101 years old. She is a beautiful person, and I love and admire her so much. I was lucky enough to go to Arkansas during the week of her birthday. At her birthday bash, she recognized very few people, and yet she was as gracious as can be to every person who embraced her or congratulated her on her 101 years. I think that everyone who spoke to her thought that they were the most important person in the room to Grandma. Even though she gets very confused about where she is, who is around her, and what is going on, she hides it by exuding such thoughtfulness and genuine concern for all around her.

A youth group from church threw the party for her and the residents at her assisted living center. The kids decorated, sang, and chatted it up with the folks in the home. One of my favorite moments was when this kid sporting a dyed-black mohawk and a t-shirt that said something about embracing evil (?) came over to Grandma to wish her a happy birthday and give her a little hug. He was so very sweet to Grandma, and she treated him as kindly and politely as she would have Ronald Reagan (her politics) or her own child.

Happy 101 YEARS to Grandma Katherine!

Ava and PJ partying hard with Grandddad...

And the cousins chowing on birthday cake (Alana and Ava), which occupied them for pretty much the entire party:

While we were in Arkansas, we also had time for the park--

Bed-jumping with Alana--

Snuggling with Grandma--

Reading books in bed--

And spending quality time with cool Cousin Bryce (That would be quality time for ME, too! Thanks, Bryce, for adopting PJ for a day!).

The girls never lose an opportunity to contemplate their gratitude for the basic necessities that they have never had to live without (This is at Heifer International's learning center in Arkansas. If you don't know about Heifer, check out their site. It's really an amazing organization. I will give them lots of money when I win the lottery. Shoot. I have to play the lottery to win it, huh?).

1. Squirt a generous stream of dish soap into large bowl of water.
2. Place bowl on patio/deck/rooftop with children arranged in a loose circle around bowl.
3. Dash back inside and enjoy the solitude/serenity/carelessness of a woman of leisure (Bigger bowl of bubbles=More leisurely lady).
4. Have towel handy.
5. Prepare to accept your children's joyful suggestions that you are the Best Parent Ever (Or, conversely, prepare your favorite time-out lecture about the Golden Rule, as it relates to dumping water on siblings).

• I have bangs! This is me contemplating my existence as a woman with bangs. Despite the moroseness of my expression, I am quite pleased with my new cut:
  

• I have a new nephew! My brother Eric and his family returned a couple of weeks ago from China, where they adopted their new son Emmett (or Qi Fu). All seems to be going well, and we are sooo excited to meet the little guy. For all the details, you can check out their blog, which is full of sweet and funny and heartwarming experiences. Here he is at Wal-Mart in China:

• We have lots of candy! Easter was delicious for all. Here are the girls at an egg hunt. They are both looking a little wary in these next 2 shots: Penelope, of the terrifying Easter bunny; and Ava, of the hordes of kids.

One eye on the bunny and one eye on the eggs...

A goat is much less menacing than a grown man in a rabbit costume, it appears: