Easter Photos, oh boy.

You would think I could capture my boys in a better picture for Easter, but under the circumstances, this was honestly the best we could do.  Winfield wet his pants (at Marriott's) and ended up in size 2 pants that looked like tight knickers on him, plus Jane's underpants (which he called "paneez").  Charles wanted nothing to do with his cute hat my mom gave them when he normally wears it around the house. But wait, the pictures get worse...

Jack holding the newest of his cousins, Madelynn, who is almost three months old.  He is going to be a wonderful big brother to our baby girl.

Nana with the boys.  Again, the best we could do.  This was the only one that they weren't doing fighting/star wars faces.  I guess that is what you get when you holler, "say Darth Vader!"

With the Marriott girls.  We are going to miss them!!!

The Recital

My viola recital was quite an event - for me.  I worked for months to be ready and I really did feel ready.  Admittedly, it wasn't my most impressive program, nor my most advanced playing, but it was the best I could do at 8 months pregnant and I felt very satisfied.  The audience was larger than I dared to imagine and so supportive with flowers and tears!  I think my mom cried the hardest, though.  Although it was only 45 minutes, I was completely spent by the end and grateful to have made it all the way through the Bach Suite.  My dad thought I was going to faint from exhaustion!  

Thank heavens for Megan and Jeremiah who drove up from Evanston to join me in the recital.  Megan was a dream accompanist and Jeremiah made the duet so much fun - for me as well as the audience.  

A serious expression, but kind of funny to think of a pregnant woman playing the viola!

Mom and me after the recital - whew! - in front of the conservatory.  It was such a beautiful hall, inside and outside.  It used to be a residence and then was turned into the music conservatory.

I could not have made it through the concert without my parents.  While I waltzed off to warm up, they cut flowers, arranged desserts, and got everything set up with Christian's help.  It meant so much to have them there supporting me and felt almost like the old days...give or take a few decades.  Adam and Laura picked up David and Abby from the airport and made it to the recital just in time, so I really did have a huge showing from my family alone.  I am one lucky woman!

A Green Day

Charles found the tops of the green cupcakes the only part worth eating.  He got through three before I found him, guilty with chocolate all over his face.  

Thanks to our Paddy, the kids had a ball with the motorized bubble machine, running all around the driveway.  It was a warm-ish day, amazingly, and everyone relished those few hours of sunshine.

Jane and Audrey sporting Leprechaun hats.  Audrey wouldn't take hers off, she loved it so much.

Our three Irish Mitchell boys

What fun are bubbles if you can't add a light saber to them?

I love this action shot of Jack catching the bubbles in his hat.

  It's great to have Irish heritage on both sides of the family.  Raise your hat to St. Paddy!