Tulip poplars are actually orange-ish. They grow tall (around 80 feet) quickly, which means they aren't terribly strong - which also means it was a bad idea for us to buy one and plant it between our sidewalk and the street. Good thing ours died (due to lack of water - lazy mother nature!) otherwise it might have fallen into our house during one of St. Louis famous spring or January wind storms.
By the way, we woke up to snow this morning! It melted by the afternoon, but still it's nearly April!
Only the yellow and orange and some red tulip varieties are up - there are still a couple of weeks likely until the tulips are peaked. The daffodils will probably peak out this week which is why we intend to make a trip out to the Shaw Nature Reserve - they have fields and fields of daffodils.
I have to confess that during this whole dress-up process, Mike expressed concern several times for damage I might being doing to Joseph. I'm not sure what he meant. Clearly, Olivia has come with her own sense of style that we have done little to disuade - see above photo or just come by our house any time. Lately, it has been a pair of white paton (how do you spell that?) leather shoes that apparently go with everything - and I have swallowed my Southern upbringing and allowed her to wear them to church before Easter. 
Anyone know what song the post title is from...if you care to admit you listen(ed) to him???
This picture is dark, but I had to post it. Harkins is a hugger - sounds like a Seinfeld episode - The Hugger.
P.S. Mike and I drafted up an email letter describing how we made our decision to move to San Diego. We sent it to a lot of people, but some emails got sent back to me. We would love to forward it on to anyone who wants to keep abreast on our journey from here. We are currently working on another letter to give more details about Harbor (the church we are going to) and the when's, how's, whatnot's, and whathaveyou's of our move. We would love to pass that along to anyone interested as well. Feel free to email me or comment here. mandymcbride@sbcglobal.net
Happy Birthday, again, Toots! (P.S. I won't tell you how old she is, but I guarantee you wouldn't guess it. My mother either, who just turned...well I said I wouldn't tell you.) 
But that's really not the point of this post either. The point is that children's bible we are reading. It is The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Loyd-Jones. It is great. Over the past couple of years I have had the opportunity to teach and be a part of multiple bible studies and small groups - even above these things, this little bible is reviving my heart for the story of redemption. I would recommend for daily reading - even if you are an adult.
Spring has sprung here. This is our last spring to enjoy the MO Botanical Garden. Come and visit us! You won't regret it.I'm really sorry for the bad sound in this first video - the band was having some feedback issues. I posted a second video so you can hear that the band was actually really good. And you can see the progression in Olivia's moves. In the first video (which was taken later in the evening) she was much looser. We call Joseph's dance the poop jig. That is the stance he takes when he is filling his diaper. The camera is unsteady because I couldn't stop laughing. I just couldn't believe with such naturals as parents, he doesn't look any smoother. Clearly I am kidding, though Mike and I have been known to cut a rug...and Mike can break dance. Ask him.
This is what it looks like for a 6'4" dad to dance with his 3-year-old. Olivia had been asking about the dancing all weekend. In fact, after every part of the ceremony passed she would ask, "Are we going to dance now?" I think she was wanting to try out some of the new moves she had been working on in front of the oven door.
Teaching Joseph the moves.
Breakin' it down with her cousin, Kurt.
We had a great time. Elizabeth and Damon really threw a party. I know the candy table was probably for the children, but I think it was my favorite. 
There are a few things blooming at the Garden - I think I have some pictures of that to post. But, here is a tree I've always wanted to take a picture of. It is easy to get into a routine in how you walk around the Garden. We used to always come in and go to the left - that is probably because Spring was the first season we encountered when we moved here and most of the spring blooming plants are to the left, so is this tree. But as the kids have grown older we started going to the right because that is the direction of the ducks and fish and sheep statues and children's garden and fountains. And, usually everyone is too tired to make it all the way around - and so I had forgotten about this tree. That limb just rests right there on the ground!
Remember what I said about everyone being too tired to make it around the whole garden? Here they are fighting over whether or not the wagon seats should be up. We just stood there, took their picture and let 'em duke it out.
I guess he lost.
Then we went here - because we just can't stay away. (Sorry, Samantha - I'll try not to cut your face off next time.
Interesting animal fact: What do you call the cats in that first picture? The sign by the cage says Puma. But did you know they are the same thing as a mountain lion, panther, another I can't remember and another I couldn't pronounce (which also means I don't remember it). I thought those were all different kinds of cats - apparently not.
No, the dog is not supposed to be off the leash in the park.
This is Audrey. She has a head full of dark hair, though you can't see it here.
I think this was Samantha again. You can check the Pollack's blog for all the stats and far better pictures - though it may take them a while to get them up there. If it takes them too long, I'll just steal the pictures from the email announcement - you will want to see those. They do have more things to do than update their blog right now I suppose.
I do have a really beautiful picture of Karen and Samantha, but I doubt she wants it plastered all over our blog. You'll just have to imagine - it is very sweet.
