The Whitelaws

Each child froze in place until someone came by to push a button and activate them to tell about themselves.
Serious pose! Here's a better picture at home - it was kind of tight quarters at school.


Interesting fact: Did you know that John Hancock's name was the only signature on the Declaration of Independence for nearly a month before there were other signatures?

We dyed eggs on Friday afternoon, after piano lessons. This worked out perfectly. Kellen and I boiled the eggs while Jenna was in school. Then we had plenty of time after piano and before dinner to dye.
We all had a great time and it felt a lot less stressful this year. They're getting to be more independent!
Saturday morning was the annual Easter Egg hunt at church. While Jenna ran for the eggs . . .
Easter morning - Jenna in her cute new dress and shoes. Kellen in his best red shirt!

Another Easter Egg hunt after lunch - this time, Kellen had the hang of things. Maybe he just needed a challenge.
It was a beautiful and unusually warm day. Nicest weather for Easter that I remember in Colorado.

In addition to the big 70th birthday festivities, we did some other spring breaking. Starting Thursday night, March 23rd - Jenna, Kellen, Mima, Heather, Madilyn & I went to Disney on Ice. (Meanwhile, Dad & Mom arrived at our house.) It was a really great show (better than previous years) and somehow, we were there on military appreciation night so everyone received free parking and free food and drinks! We woke up to a blizzard and a snow day! Fun to start Spring Break off with an extra day!

Monday, March 27th after our family left, we did some laundry and re-grouping. Then we treated ourselves to the Beauty and the Beast movie.

Tuesday, Jenna had a playdate with a friend, we got new tires on one car, I worked a short shift at work. And, after Kevin picked Jenna up from her playdate, the garage door wouldn't open. He and the kids were locked out of the house, and I was still at work. So, they had an impromptu dinner out. He finally got the garage door to open just a foot, then Jenna crawled under and opened the front door.
Wednesday, March 29th - we got new springs to repair the garage door, had a playdate with some other friends. We also played some family games and there was some wrestling.
Thursday, March 30th - I drove the kids to Greeley, Colorado to join Kevin and some of the band students for All State Band. We checked in and went straight to the pool for an hour or so of swimming before dinner. Another band director's wife and two kids came along as well, so the kids were happy to have playmates and I was happy to have a mom-friend.
We joined Kevin and the band for a Chinese food dinner. The kids had fun pretending to be eaten by this statue!
Then we met Kevin for lunch at JB's Drive In. It was raining so we went inside to eat instead of the outside sonic-like drive in. There were phones at each booth that we used to order our food.
It was a pretty nostalgic place. One wall was covered in carpet and I though this carved free wi-fi sign was interesting.
After lunch, we went with our friends and another band family to the Colorado Model Railroad Museum. The miniature detail was so intricate.
So many trains and things to look at! They had a scavenger hunt for the kids to complete and win a little prize.



After the museum, we went to the university book store. Kellen got a new notebook. Before we left, Kevin and the kids finished watching the last Lord of the Rings movie. Kellen was disappointed that there would be no more movies. So, he decided to write the next Lord of the Rings books. Look out Tolkien! We enjoyed a Mexican food dinner with the band and then MORE swimming.
Saturday, April 1 - Despite a late night, the kids were up early. We had time to eat breakfast and then swim for an hour before packing up and checking out of the hotel.
Each year at All State Band, the directors form their own band and perform a concert. So, we enjoyed watching Kevin perform for a change (on french horn instead of trumpet). It was a fun concert. We had lunch hosted by the university. Then, the kids played hide and seek while we waited for the 4:00pm All State Band Concert.
The spring breaking finally caught up with Kellen and he slept through the first half of the concert! We were glad that the predicted snow fall at home was not so much and that we were able to make it home that night - arriving around 9:00pm. Sunday, we went to church and re-grouped for Monday - back to school.