New Dress

Kayla made a new dress for Rapunzel yesterday.  She made a little pattern, cut it out, and sewed it with almost no help from me.  I'm impressed.  Might I have a budding designer?  seamstress?
In the car yesterday, she said to me, "Mom, that wedding (royal) was plain compared to what heaven will be like."
Now there's something to think about.

We Watched

Oh yes.
We did.
Get up at 5:00 this morning to watch the royal wedding.
Mom and I came down first, then I got Kayla about 5:40.
I loved the formality, the history, the loveliness of it all.
I love thinking about all that goes on behind the scenes for something like this.
How many people did it take to keep everyone on time and in step?
I also love wondering what is going through everyone's mind- the bride and groom, the queen, the bride's family...

Some sweet thoughts to take through our day.
Hope yours is a good one

A Few Things

My mom and dad are visiting for a few days.  All I heard yesterday was "When are Mimi and Papa getting here?"
"How much longer?"
"Where are they?"
SO glad when they pulled into the driveway!  The kids have such a good time with them.
It was a stormy night.  Nothing like what's going on further south but still lots of lightening and driving rain.  It does make for a cool morning.  Sammy and Lucy are enjoying listening to the birds singing.

Can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon.

Chocolate Elbows

We made a chocolate pie for one of our Easter desserts.  I ask you, what is better than licking the bowl when you're done?  Even your elbow for that matter!

Easter

Easter Sunday turned out to be such a nice day.  The weather was beautiful.  We had friends and family over for lunch after church.  I really enjoyed everyone's company.  The food wasn't bad either.  I did not make it all by the way.

Granny and Grandpa chose the kids table.  I think everyone got the good end of that deal.

The rest of us ate outside.  I'd love to tell you stories about each of these people but I guess that's for another time.

Sammy mostly cared about getting to eat his chocolate bunny.  All day Saturday he kept asking when he could just go to bed.

One more sleep=Easter morning!

Lucy perked up between doses of Tylenol.  Sammy helped her find eggs.

I didn't get my traditional pictures of all the kids dressed up so, I'll make them put their nice clothes back on sometime this week and we'll try again.

Waiting for more Easter treats.  There were plenty of those to go around.

Hallelujah!

Lucy and I are home this morning.  She's running a fever again, even while on her antibiotics.  Not sure what's going on with this little one.  As much as I would like to be at church worshipping with God's people, I am enjoying putzing around here, getting ready for Easter lunch with family and friends.  It is truly a beautiful Easter morning.
My soul sings this morning with joy at the risen Christ.
Hallelujah indeed!
Happy Easter to you and yours!

Another Bird-Lover?

I wonder if we are growing a family of bird watchers.  Lucy likes to watch out the window for a "bir" (bird).  You know when she's seen one because you'll hear, "Chir! chir!" (chirp!)
One of the things I enjoy most about children is how excited they get over things that we adults tend to look over.  Simple things bring them such joy.

Looking for birds.

I'm her mama, right?  So I can say how beautiful I think she is.

Having some pre-breakfast cereal while she waits.

Working on a Garden

I am always looking for ways to make this house run a little more smoothly.  I don't often come up with anything but I have a new laundry plan so maybe that will at least put a dent?  Somebody laughed at my plan but that's alright.  I can take it.
It seems like we've had every bug under the sun the last two weeks.  Stomach bugs, colds, fevers, and today, strep.  Lucy.  Poor baby.  She's a trooper though.  Sweet even when she's sick.
It was such a nice evening to be out.  We're really enjoying some warm, not-stormy weather.  This year we're planning a garden- so excited about that!  Brian (with some help from the kids) built two raised beds. Now we're just waiting to plant.

The guys at work.  I have to say, in my mind, Sammy and hammers probably should not mix.

Not sure what's going on here.

LOVE the sunglasses.  She reminds me of my cousin at that age.

Of course Lucy was right there in the thick of it.

Going to get some dirt from a neighbor.  

Any day you get to ride in Daddy's truck is a good day.

Remembering

For some reason, I remember the officer standing in front of his car.  Lights flashing.  I don't remember if he saluted or removed his hat.  But he stopped traffic so that we might pass by.
Family.
Friends.
I remember feeling like the world should just stop.  Even for a few moments.
Because our hurt was so great.  Our grief so real.
Papa had passed away.
Two years ago today.
I guess in a way, that officer helped at least the busyness of the road to a stop for a while.
There are other things I remember.
The food.  There was so much!  I don't know if it is tradition everywhere or not but as the news spread, the food came.  I think Papa would have gotten a kick out of it all.
People stopped by.
Flowers were delivered.
There were the men in uniform.
The flag.
I remember our tears. 
Still, I have tears sometimes when I think about my Papa.  He was so special I could not do him justice here.   Those of us who were blessed to know him-- we know.
I find myself thankful for the tears, though.  Because it means I had a Papa to love and remember.

Lucy and Dinnertime

You should have been here.

Dinnertime and still in her jammies,

feet on the table,

and finding something terribly funny!

Some Sunshine for Your Day

I don't know about you but I am needing a little sunshine coming my way- literally and figuratively.  This is about as close as I can come to holding my own ray of sunshine- well, one of them at least!

Reading her favorite book- "Wheels on the Bus"

I told her Daddy's home...

...and there she goes, most everyday, to see for herself and give daddy a big smile and a big hug.

Some days she looks at me with her little hands in the air and says, "Daddy?  Daddy?"

Wondering where that guy has been all day.

Just plain sweet.

Last Weekend

Last weekend we got to help celebrate Brian's granddad's 88th birthday.   His grandkids and great-grandkids mostly call him Big Daddy.  I like this man.  He's full of tongue-twisters, stories, loves to hand out money to the kids, and welcomed me in from the start.  I'm always so thankful that the children know at least some of their great-grandparents.  I wonder what memories they'll keep.

Big Daddy was a great sport- wearing a party hat with the kids.

Schooling Highlights

I have a pretty strong tendency to get overwhelmed by this whole homeschooling business.  That got the best of me today.  It came out of no where and I found myself thinking that this was the bigest mistake ever.  I could write a book about my insecurities with this but instead, I will share a couple of things that encouraged me and helped me decide not to throw in the towel (not that I would have done that but...)

Jack and I were taking a little extra math practice at the same time Sammy wanted to work on his new school book.  I told him I would help him soon but you know, Kayla quietly walked over to him and said "Why don't I help you Sam?"  So she helped him make a "k" and he was so proud.  So was I.

I printed out a little science test for Jack- just to see how we were doing in this area.  I confess it is a weak one for me.  I thought it would show me everything he hasn't learned but he was answering every question.  I asked him rhetorically "How do you know this stuff?"
He came back with, "Well, Mom.  I read a lot, you know, and I learn stuff in books."
I thanked God for that.
By the way, I'm not advocating not directing your kids in their learning or "unschooling" but teach a kid to read well and man, they can learn a lot.

I guess the last thing is just what we've enjoyed this week.  It's National Poetry Month so we've been reading lots of poetry.  Jack and Kayla pick a few favorites and share them with us all at meal times.  That's been lots of fun.  Look for some poems later this month!
We've also been reading A Wrinkle in Time together in the mornings.  None of us can wait for the next chapter.  I remember my mom reading this to me in the third grade.  Sweet memory.

So, all that to say, we will get up and do this all again tomorrow, believing His mercies are new every morning.

I don't remember a crazier spring!  The storms last night were something else.  It seemed like the wind would carry the house away.  The day was so warm then this morning there was sleet and snow.  What can I say??  Makes me think of Winnie the Pooh's Blustery Day and The Wizard of Oz.


The kids and I have been memorizing Isaiah 41:10 to the tune of Zippity Doo Da.  Kind of catchy.  It helps us all learn verses so quickly to put them to song.  I'm thankful for the truth in this verse today.  I'm praying it for a good friend in particular.  So much easier to pray and claim God's word during the day when we know it in our hearts.

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."