Erik Harrison Szopa as William Henry Harrison

Erik had his biography today in his third grade class. He had to read about and research a famous person in history. His obvious choice was someone who shared his name, President William Henry Harrison. It was a cute presentation and you can't see it, but the placard in front of him is an actual reproduction of Harrison's campaign poster. Erik and I found a copy on the Internet and made the campaign poster. He has had a great time studying and preparing for this report.

We have been taking great advantage of the weather for the last month. Every night after dinner we either go for a one or two mile walk or go to the park and skate or play handball. One night when Chris and I didn't have the kids, we walked to the store, bought groceries and walked home. We felt very San Fransisco. We are going again for our weekend bike rides at the beach. I can't wait, that is my favorite! It has been very nice to leave immediately after eating and get out of the house. We have picked up some of our old hobbies and have been enjoying that as well.

We are in the middle of parent teacher conferences at school this week. So far, the kids are all doing very well. It is nice to always got to the conferences and not have issues or areas that need help. We are truly blessed and we know it. We do not take it for granted that is for sure! We work very hard as parents and we are grateful to have such wonderful kids. At least that is what we think :)

Next week is the last week before Spring Break AND Passover. In a way it is easier to have them both at the same time, and in another it is harder because we cannot plan a trip. We are thinking about going camping for a weekend before Passover but I am still working on that and cannot decide where to go and what days. Before you know it, summer will be here. But before that is the crunch time that comes with end of school. After Spring Break all the projects, reports and tests are crammed into 2 1/2 months. It is really a hard time and then when summer comes.....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Relax.....................for awhile.

Well that is all for now. I have to get ready for a check up appt with my Doctor. Hopefully, I will be home before the kids get out early and Chris won't have to come home at lunch to pick them up!

Good weather blessings to you all!

Love,

April

Ships, Bikes, Fevers & Puppies

We were at the beach riding our bikes along the bike path in Long Beach with Dad and Sandy. Erik looked out into the water and asked "What kind of ship is that really large one Grammy?" to which Grammy answered "it is a container ship Erik." "Oh" said Erik, "I always wondered where Tupperware came from!"

Need less to day, we were all in stitches. The blessed minds of children, how they make us laugh!

I am addicted to biking at the beach. I jones for it. I wait for every weekend so we can go to the beach and bike along the ocean, watching the waves crash, hearing the spray of the ocean breaking and feeling the warm rays of the sun beat down on our tender winter skin. Aaahhhhh.... I am longing for it again. I can't get enough. We have been going on the weekends when everyone is well, and that has been few so far. This weekend we are going on Sunday, if it wasn't Rachel's birthday this Saturday, we would go twice. One weekend we went twice. I can't get enough of it. The weather is supposed to be 77 on Monday and Tuesday. I'm thinking about sneaking off while the kids are in school on those days and going to the beach to bike. Aaaaaawwww........ take me away!!!!!!!!

It has been a hard winter here. Since January we have had to deal with many deaths. We have lost 2 friends/neighbors, 1 cousin and 1 Aunt. That is a tremendous amount in such a short time. I didn't expect 3 of them so they were surprises. Sad though. We are still dealing with it here. It really brings back to the forefront how fragile life is and how we really don't have as much time as we think we do. Also, makes me really antsy to put things in order and make sure we are protected as much as possible and prepared in case of an emergency. SO that is on my agenda right now. Preparedness. Chris and I both have task lists that we are working diligently on to ease our minds a little.

Speaking of a hard winter.....I don't know about the rest of you but our area has been hit hard with viruses!! We have all been sick simultaneously and repeatedly. Fevers, chills, body aches, upset tummies, upper respiratory infections, cold, sinus infections! It has all been too much. Even Chris who never gets sick was out of commission and stayed home from work. I have been stuck in the house for the past 6 weeks taking care of sick people or being taken care of while being sick. Hence, why the beach is so important to me right now. Gratefully, we are all well right now and all our friends are well now. They have been dealing with the same stuff we have. The whole school has.

Even while being sick, we have started walking after dinner each night to get fresh air and to get out of the house. We put a leash on Little Lou and head out the door to walk a mile around our neighborhood. Tonight we are upping it to 2 miles. I can't wait. I hope the kids and Lou can hold out. We will be walking down the hill toward Walgreen's and the pet store. It will be a nice stop over to go into the pet store and buy a leash for the new puppy.

We have a new addition to our family. His name is Baby Jack Valentine. We call him Jack. He is another Chihuahua. But this time he is smaller than Lou. We got him as a family Valentine present. He is now 3 months old and weighs just 2.5 pounds. He is so tiny! Lou loves him so much, they play, cuddle and fight just like siblings! The kids are in love as well. They come home from school, say hi Mom and then run into the house, dropping all belongings along the way and pick up the puppies and start loving and cooing to them. On the weekends we will come downstairs to find the puppies being held by the boys while the boys are watching cartoons. They will not put the puppies down. We have such an active little house right now and we are enjoying it. It's a lot of work but as with children, the rewards far surpass the work.

Well, I will get photos posted hopefully this weekend of the puppies, but it will be a busy weekend so I might not get to update until Monday. I hope all of you have a great weekend!!
Love,
April