Piano Recital

Rachel had her piano recital at the end of May. She played one of her festival pieces by memory and another piece using her music. The performance was terrific! (That is coming from the music teacher side of me - not the mother side!) She worked very hard all year and we are very proud of her (that is the mother side comment). She also earned 5 points at her festival which is the highest rating a student can receive per year. She has participated in the festival 2 years and has a total of 10 points. If she earns 5 points next year, she will receive a gold cup. She really wants that gold cup (especially when she saw the trophy another piano student received.) Rachel has also started to play piano for the offering during church! I love to hear her play. Great job Rachel! We plan to start Sarah on piano in the fall. I don't think she is too excited about it yet. We will see what happens!

Look at that hand position!
Rachel with her piano teacher - No I don't teach her!

Lost Tooth

Sarah lost two of her teeth within a week. The first one was lost on her school field trip and was never found. Her teacher and I think she swallowed it! We wrote a note to the tooth fairy asking her to pick it up in Thief River Falls but to leave the money at home ;) She pulled out her second tooth on her own while sleeping over at Auntie Deb's house. The tooth fairy left money there too. Two more teeth are loose so we will have to see where the the tooth fairy will have to fly next!

Spring Programs

Mom came up for a visit and we were able to attend the Mother-Daughter Banquet at church. The meal was great and the entertainment very funny! Too bad little Jordan was sick and had to miss the festivities.
Sarah was a farmer for her Spring Music Program. They sang a variety of "farm" songs including "Worms," "Garden Hoedown" and "Oats, Peas, Beans." It was probably the one and only show I will get to be an audience member instead of the director!

Rachel was a weed for her program "How Does Your Garden Grow." This picture was taken after the weeds were "hoed" down and the kids had to take off their costumes.

Here is Rachel singing her best!

Rachel and her weed buddies giving their best "rapper-style" pose.

Happy Easter!

The Wieland Family celebrated a wonderful Easter together. Christ is Risen! He has risen indeed. Alleluia! We attended the Sunrise Service at 7:00AM with the extended Wieland side of the family. Good thing the Easter Bunny arrives during the night - it makes it a lot easier for the girls to wake up early. Todd's sisters took the girls with them after church and breakfast while Todd and I stayed for the 10:30 service (I had to play and he had to sing in the choir.)

The entire Wieland clan descended on the farm at 12:30 where we hosted Easter Dinner. I wish we would have taken a picture of all of us! We had 24 people enjoying a feast in our house. If you know our house, it is pretty small! We were even able to have an egg hunt outside for the kids! After feasting, celebrating and going on a sugar overload (you should see the girls' candy haul), I am very thankful there is no school tomorrow! Back to the diet - ASAP!

Easter Eggs and Art Project

We started the Easter Holiday Weekend with coloring Easter eggs. We used food coloring instead of the kits you can buy at the store (the kind that 90% of what you pay for is stickers and paper.) The colors turned out really nice and the girls had fun! Although "The Bear" managed to spill a large amount on her shirt and proceeded to splash all over a 2nd shirt. Our poor, messy Bear :)

We also made a cute art project I found in a magazine. The girls made Rabbit Gift Bag for each of their "younger" cousins for Easter. I am not an arts/crafts person at all but I think they look very adorable!

Basketball

The Girls enjoyed playing basketball this past winter. They attended Saturday morning practices and showed off their skills at the High School Basketball Game Halftimes. Sarah going around the knees!
Nice form, Rachel!

Even Jordan can play basketball!

Birthdays

Jordan celebrated her 4th Birthday and Rachel celebrated her 9th Birthday in January. Wow - how time flies!! The girls each enjoyed family presents and cupcakes on their actual birthday. We had a joint "family" party at the end of the month with the Wieland side and Grandma T. Once again, Todd was the master cake decorater with his Butterfly creation. He said he will make cakes until they are five. I think he should continue for a little while longer.

Here are a few pics from the family party.