May Moments

1. Elena swinging herself to sleep.

2. The girls spending hours and hours outside.

3.  Mothers' Day.  I had to work.  Mike and the girls surprised me by showing up at work with flowers, cards, cheese cake, and chocolate for the whole staff.  They were all dolled up since they were on their way home from church and couldn't have looked more adorable.  One of the doctors, upon seeing them all dressed up, asked Raquel why they looked so fancy.  She explained that they had gone to church and without missing a beat asked,

Do you go to church? 

Lucky for the doctor she said yes because Raquel was ready to tell her all about it. (Or maybe not so lucky).  I wish I still had that no-fear attitude about sharing the gospel. 

4.  Speaking of Lucky...and Raquel. 

We take Lucky outside in his cage almost daily so that he can get some fresh air.  Last week, after we had done this, Gracie wondered out there, opened the cage, put her finger out for him, he hopped on, she brought her finger out, and yup...Lucky was gone.  This completely devastated Raquel.  She spend the rest of the day looking and calling out for him.  There was crying, sobbing, praying, weeping, and complete despair from Raquel's part.  I told Mike it would have been better if she had found Lucky dead because at least that way she would have known what happened to him.  But having him fly away like that only tormented her.  She was worried he wouldn't have food/water, or worse--that the neighborhood cats, dogs, or owls would get to him.  She is doing better now, but she had a couple rough days.  There was really nothing I could do to make it better, and that, I hated.

5. Grandma's Birthday.  My girls love this lady. I am so glad for this past year and the opportunity that they've had to get to know her.  There is a definite and unique friendship that they will forever share.  That. I love.

More May moments to come given Mike's graduation tomorrow.  Post and pictures to follow. 

If you are bored and have nothing better to do Thursday morning at 9:30am you can watch commencement ceremonies live here.  

Lucky

I was informed after one of Mike's Saturday yard sale pursuits

that we were getting a bird.

The girls have been begging for a pet since...forever.

And after his steal-of-a-find on a cage, we settled on a parakeet.

Meet Lucky.

This was the lucky bird,
from all the other parakeets at the pet store,
that got picked.

He was so named by the girls because, as Elena put it,
He is lucky to have us!

Since his arrival he has been sprayed by water, poked, shook,
tipped over, and had his little plume wardrobe compromised.

They say that parakeets are social birds that require daily attention and interaction.
But by the way he hastily retreats from the little chubby hands that reach out for him
(one little chubby hand in particular), I'm sure he would be all about some solitude.

And though he be Lucky, all I have to say is poor bird.