The Picker Family: April Update

Ummm....we're half way through April!?!? How did that happen?

Here's what we've been up to:

Luke celebrated a belated birthday party (April 1) with a couple buddies from school with a sleepover. He knew he wanted to wait until we were in the new house to have them over because he wanted them to know where he lives and because he thought they could take over the basement for all things boy (Xbox, nerf guns, sleeping bags on the floor, etc). They are all great boys and had a great time together:) Luke's sleepover was also the kick off to his spring break. He spent three and a half days at the Blue Papa and Gma's house with Piper and Nora and had a full day home with Daddy and Nora on Friday. The week was low key, but he did get to spend an afternoon at Chuck E Cheese with Gma, had a belated Easter egg hunt with the Beckmann cousins, and took a little road trip for lunch one day.

Monkey bread for breakfast (Luke's pick) after the birthday sleepover

Nora had her preschool screening (April 4) with the Stewartville School District. She was very excited from what we told her: "a teacher will measure you and ask you questions about your letters and numbers". She did great when we first got there, which included checking in and being weighed and measured. Once the actual screening started, she was supposed to go to another room without us. That is where the tears started. The teacher told Brent he could come and he just sat in the back of the room while Nora went through all of the steps of the screening. We had an exit interview at the end and learned Nora is right on track, has no vision or hearing troubles, and is currently slightly taller than average and slightly lighter than average (she stretched out this winter). We also learned what we already knew, she has trouble separating. Oh, this is a burden on my heart! I am really focusing on getting her into classes and situations where she needs to be a "brave and big girl" and go by herself. Say a little prayer for me!

Coloring while she waited before
her preschool screening

Last weekend we had our first overnight guests at our new place. Greg, Cally, Mekhi, and Annalise came on Saturday for a "sleepover". Our kids were psyched! Nora had Annalise sleep in her room in the trundle bed, Mekhi slept with Luke in his full-sized bed, and Greg and Cally had the unfinished guest room downstairs to themselves (they get a queen bed and four walls, just no dry wall or carpet:)). Saturday morning most of us met for Nora's favorite story time at ABC & Toy Zone, then the bigger kids met Ethan for rock climbing at Prairie Walls. Saturday night, the adults (neighbors included) played Small World while the kids played and watched a movie. Sunday, we had all of the Pickers over for lunch and hung out. It was a full and fun weekend:)

Three families of kiddos snuggled on the sectional to watch a movie

They segregated boys and girls themselves:)

A few other random tidbits:

Brent and I finished shopping for kitchen chairs and bar stools and are very happy with how it all came together. Our table came from Hom, the chairs came from IKEA, and the stools came from Wayfair.

Ice cream treat after our IKEA shopping trip

All of our seating!

The chairs have padded seats.
We bought four stools, but only use three on a daily basis,
hence the stool in the corner.

Last week, Luke realized he had more money in his wallet than he thought. He proceeded to tell me "I'd like to buy Nora a shirt with my money. I know she's growing a lot and I'd like to pick one out for her." As you can imagine, my heart melted! A few days later, I was at Target with the kids. I asked Luke if he wanted to pick something out for Nora, but he said he wanted to do it when she wasn't around. We have yet to get to the store without her to make the purchase, but I was so blessed by his generous desire:)

This week we're finally getting weather in the 60s and 70s without rain! Last night we learned that the Dairy Queen in Stewartville is an easy walk from our house so we took a family walk for some ice cream. This could be a dangerous convenience this summer;)

Some other random pics from April so far: