Appendix

No, no one had surgery.  This appendix is those last few days when everything is over in school, but there's still a couple days before summer actually starts.  It seems like a totally unnecessary part of the school year, but a lot actually happened in the "appendix" this year, so it needed its own post.

First, I have to say, I find the twins like this all the time, eating their food with Halle touching Kierste in a comforting, nurturing way.  She has ALWAYS watched out for her, since the day they were put in the NICU together.



We've started eating outside.  The kids love it, until real bug season starts.  Then they can't bear to let the flies & bees have any of their food.  Or land on them.  Or be outside with them at all.



After we had played at a cool park on Memorial weekend Saturday,





Derek started exploring.



And found the little creek running through the park.



Pretty soon, everyone started dipping their toes in,



Even the twins got brave enough.



Pretty soon, everyone was just all in.



Even Chloe.  When Miranda waded across to the other side, Chloe was so distraught, she couldn't stand it any more, and swam across.  It was so cold and she was so shocked, I didn't know that she would really make it.  But we made her try, so she would be a stronger dog for it.  =)



The next day the girls were purple at church.



Jeff took the kids on Memorial Day to visit extended relatives and family graves.





On Tuesday during school, Jeff took the littler kids to the zoo.



Our favorite part is the bird show.



And we ended up seeing Talon there with his school group!



The rolling water stone is one of the best parts, too.



Then the kids donned their backpacks again, for their last day of school.  See how it's just an appendix?  What are they doing those last couple days of school?  Cleaning the classrooms... slave labor, I call it.  =)