Mark and Grace spotted this chipmunk this morning raiding our birdfeeder. They scared him, and he ran into his hole directly outside our sliding back door. Mark noticed him just peeking out of his hole, so I snapped the first picture. I think it took at least five minutes for him to move between each step you see in the pictures, but then, all of a sudden, he took off running, lickety split!
I let the little kids stay up past their bedtime for her special arrive, and they weren't disappointed. After hugging and yelling and general chaos, she presented gifts for one and all!
We had fun with one of our stand-by craft/snack/boredom buster activities this afternoon, peanut butter playdough.
Of course, the best thing about craft time with this mixture is
the eating it! 
but a better title for this would be April's glorious sunshine with the promise of new leaves on the trees.
Matthew, Becky, and Danny clean-up pretty well!
Matt and Alexis
The senior class of Holy Cross Academy.
Kimberly Irene
It also was easy to sleep in because this little warm body was still sleeping in her cozy spot in the middle of our bed.
8:15- I got up and woke up Kimberly. By this time 3 big kids had left for school and 2 bigger kids had left for work. I dressed, changed, and fed Kimberly while 3 little kids watched Zoboomafoo on tv.
8:45- check the computer
9:00- get Luke dressed (the other kids are changed and ready for the day)
9:05- I work with Mark on his CCD homework-he has class this afternoon. We do some studying in his Catechism for his First Communion. We read a chapter in the book- King of the Golden City (Grace is included in this)
One of Luke's favorite things to do during the day is to play with his trains.
Kimberly enjoys these little Lauri puzzles. Basically, the two youngest kids hang out and do whatever they are directed to do for a very short amount of time. Usually, they are hang out and spent time with us.
10:33- all progress stops in math when there is a knock on the door and the UPS man dropped off this
This is what it looks like when we are doing math. We do tend to have "help" with whatever schoolwork we are doing.
10:55- math is finished and we open are package and are very happy to find a set of handbells
At this time everyone has music time. Mom starts to question the sanity of purchasing a set of handbells.
11:15-Mark and Grace play this math game
While Mark is at class, we take a walk across the street from the church in the village cemetary. We look for signs of spring and are not disappointed when we find this pretty little flowers. 
Luke is very happy to be out of the house. It is 55 degrees today and the sun was shining. Yesterday the high was about 30 degrees, so this was a real treat.
We spotted these pretty flowers. I didn't take a picture, but there was still snow in the shadowy areas of the cemetary.
3:00 Daddy surprises us and shows up for the end of our walk.
3:05 Mark class is over and we drive around looking for wildlife.
4:00 We get home. Becky is home from work and she will make dinner for the twelve of us while I post this. (She is a wonderful girl) Becky,Danny,Matt,and Laura are going to a musical at the local high school at 6:00
4:15 Pat Jr. gets home from work--
I will probably do some more read alouds with the younger kids tonight-and then we love to go to bed early- at least momma does.
I also notice that we didn't do any writing today, but that is something we usually do- but of course, there can never be a "typical" day, can there?
Health and music
Amy headed off to Florida this morning with her aunt, uncle, and cousin. Here she is in the pool at her hotel with her cousin Dillion. 
We stopped after Sue's birthday party today and took this photo of the St. Lawrence River. Usually you can see some open water but right now it looks totally iced over. 
I stole this picture for my brother and his wife's blog. From Our Front Porch Looking In
Here are some of the bouys waiting for the ice to break up so they can be placed out in the river. Daniel is 6ft2inches tall, so these are really, really big.
I also had to stop and take pictures of these cute haybale characters.
Two of these must be Easter bunny bales. 
