Swimin' what?

We were hoping that the security clearance for Randy's new job at Aberdeen Proving Grounds would be through by now. But the HR department that processes the forms before the security clearance can be processed has been SLOW. Randy finally received the security clearance forms on Wednesday morning. He spent the whole day filling them out and sent them in first thing yesterday morning. They tell us it usually takes about two weeks before people are cleared with a working clearance - which would put us hearing back from them a few days before the end of the month. (Dare we hope for a quick return? I'm not holding my breath.) However, our lease is up this month. So we are moving forward and have finally set a moving date for the last Wednesday of this month. We have had that calm assurance that everything will work out in the end. So even though it sounds a little crazy that we might be moving to Maryland before knowing that the job is a go, it doesn't feel crazy to us.

Here are few pictures of the girls having fun in the boxes we have been collecting.

And no post would be complete these days without a picture of the newbie:

As requested

More pictures:

And just to clarify, yes, we blessed her at 3 days old--before our parents had to leave. Randy gave a really nice blessing!

A musician??

Oh, the sisterly love!

Lucy at 1 week

Anne and Ruby have done really well with the adjustments. It's not pure bliss or anything, but all-in-all, not bad at all! This is the tea party I found in the kitchen after feeding the baby. I love it.

And last but not least, here she is in her Sunday duds! It's so fun to dress her up!

I feel so blessed! Heavenly Father knew just what I needed right now. I was worried (and so was Randy) that things would be too crazy right now. Randy has been really busy finishing things up with school, so it has been such a relief to have such an easy baby. We've got some really busy weeks ahead of us too. To be continued...

The Arrival

Here are the pictures. No order. Self explanatory.

Things have happened...

Grandma and Grandpa arrived so we showed them the willows. But here's a picture of us.

Grandpa read books and books.

Grandma brought sticker earrings for the girls!!

We waited for Grandma and Grandpa Tovey to arrive to celebrate.

Happy Birthday to Ruby!

She is glad to be able to tell you she's two. (It's a piggy cake.)

Bocce and Art

Every year on Memorial Day the Elder's Quorum of the Ames 1st Ward has a get together where where we bring snacks and have a Bocce Challenge. Yes, bocce ball. I had never heard of bocce ball before arriving in Ames, but it's pretty big in this ward. Last year I was too busy with the girls to compete, but this year I was the runner up (by one point). Since the winner had recently moved to North Carolina (his sister was getting married and he was visiting), I am now the holder of the trophy which is prominently displayed in my entry way as outlined under the Rules of Engagement of the Bylaws Governing Award of the Russell Trophy. Yes, it's a serious matter here.

Anne and Megan were drawing pictures of each other a few days ago. Anne's picture has a description as she described to Megan after finishing. (I think she captured Megan's belly well, don't you?) Then she asked Megan to draw a picture.

Too bad Ruby got a few marks on Megan's head with the crayon when no body was looking.

The Birthday Ball

Anne is 4!

She loves to fill her days

coloring and drawing pictures for friends and family

playing with her sister

and her dolls

(and even, sometimes, both together)

riding her bike

(we just took off the training wheels tonight!)

digging with sticks in the mud

and

watching Dora the Explorer

Yesterday was a good day and Anne was sad to see it end.

She kept asking if today was still her birthday.

Here are some highlights from the day:

First thing birthday morning she donned the birthday hat.

The guests arrived for the Ball. Don't they look fancy??

Anne requested a strawberry birthday cake this year. So we made half cake and half cake balls. Yum!

Birthday present time!! Finally!!

My favorite gift, if not hers :) So funny!

The Dutch & the Poo, Happy Mother's Day to You

I (Randy) only had braces for 2 years... and a retainer for 6 years prior so they could get braces on.

Anne still can't wait to play the violin. This violin is a baby toy guitar and the bow is a wooden screw driver.

What an angel.

We went to the 75th annual Tulip Time Festival in Pella, IA. It's a small town that was founded by Dutch immigrants and they have a week of parades and all things Dutch. I'm not sure if spring hit a little early this year, but we did make sure to get a picture by one of the last tulip flower beds that still had flowers with petals on them.

It was sweet to see a parade where one of the main attractions was a bunch of parents pushing their kids in strollers (many with wooden shoes, of course).

We weren't quite sure what this float had to do Holland, but then we saw the shoes...

Our favorite part of the parade.

Anne's and Ruby's favorite part of the day -- the shuttle ride into the city -- in a REAL (old) yellow school bus!

Ruby has been getting into EVERYTHING lately. The highlight of our week was when Ruby showed us that a travel size tube full of

+

+

=

poop on the floor

(I'm talking a log)

The most amazing part was that she never took her diaper off...

Happy Mother's Day!!!