Spring is here!

HAPPY SPRING!

Dear Family and Friends,
Today is such a beautiful day here in Stonington; the sun is shining, the birds are singing and it is currently 66 degrees! Spring took its time this year. We had unusually cold temperatures during March, and it's only now beginning to warm up. We are so ready for Spring! Clara is excited to spend more time outside, and Joey and I are enjoying getting back to our post-dinner family walks in the Borough. We spent the morning at an Easter egg hunt, and we are looking forward to tomorrow, when we will celebrate both Easter and Clara's 3rd birthday! The weather is predicted to be beautiful again tomorrow, so it should be a wonderful day.

CLARA LOVES LUCY!

March had its ups and downs. In the middle of March, I came down with some of the worst stomach flu I have experienced in a long time. I got sick during a very busy week for Joey. He had to miss practicing for several recitals he was preparing for in order to take care of Clara while I was trying to recover. He gave two recitals at the end of the week without being able to practice on the instruments ahead of time, thanks to my lovely stomach bug. Fortunately, Clara and Joey managed to avoid getting sick themselves and, as usual, Joey performed really well. Clara and I were able to join Joey for his recital in Norwalk, CT the following week.

BRINGING OUT THE SUNGLASSES!

SPRING CHICKS!

On the more positive side, we enjoyed a nice visit from my aunt and uncle and parents during the middle of March. My mom and dad were able to come out during my mom's Spring Break, and my aunt and uncle joined us for St. Patrick's Day weekend. We celebrated with some delicious smoked corned beef from our favorite BBQ restaurant Chester's, as well as cabbage, Irish soda bread, and cupcakes.

Recently Joey and members of the Calvary organ installation committee traveled to Ooltewah, TN to see the shop of the Richards, Fowkes organ builders company. They also spent time in Chattanooga, TN touring several churches, with Joey demonstrating on the organs. It was a quick trip, but it was good for the committee to see the shop where the new Calvary instrument will be built and to learn about the process.

Clara is doing really great. She continues to enjoy her ballet class once a week, and is looking forward to playing the part of a bluebell flower in the upcoming Spring Showcase at the end of May. We are so proud of her, because she is now potty trained. We were nervous about getting started, and we thought it was going to take forever to teach her how to use the potty, but the process was actually very easy, and she caught onto it really quickly. She is getting to be such a big girl. She is becoming more and more affectionate as she gets older. There are no other words more precious to us than "I love you daddy" or "I love you momma". Clara loves to sing, and we have been learning a lot of new songs. Today she learned how to sing "You are my Sunshine". She is definitely our Sunshine!

GETTING OUR GARDEN STARTED!

Clara is excited about turning three, and she is going to have a "Spring" birthday party this Saturday, which might include an Egg Hunt if the weather is ok. We have enjoyed Holy Week at Calvary Church. I was able to attend a few of the services during the week with Clara, and we are looking forward to going to the 9:00 AM service tomorrow morning. As usual, Holy Week at Calvary has been very busy for Joey, but he really enjoys the various services and really doesn't get stressed out about it. Clara was born during Holy Week on the Wednesday before Easter in 2011. Of all the times we could have had a baby, we had to have her during one of the busiest church holidays! It's hard to believe that was almost three years ago. Where does the time go?

EASTER EGGS!

We hope you have a wonderful Spring with beautiful, warm weather, and we wish you a very Happy Easter!
Until next post,
Joey, Erin and Clara

OUR FRIEND "SKIPPY SQUIRREL" EATING ON THE DECK.