Dying Easter eggs

Last Friday we went to a friend's house to decorate eggs and cupcakes together then ended our time with a casual BBQ when the dad's got off work. Fun times!

Growing up...

This afternoon as the kids and I ventured to the park I realized just how much they have changed since last spring. Emelyn can now pump her legs and swing super high on her own:

Isaiah is Mr. Speedy, riding his scooter or bike to the park now. He has pretty good balance - at least better than Emelyn  (or maybe he's just more confident and daring than she?) Either way, I have a feeling he'll be off training wheels before Emelyn:

And sweet Ruth now tells me what she wants to do (which switches quickly between the slide and swing:)

Taking a break on the porch swing:

Easter cookies

Last Sunday during naps, Emelyn and I decided to make some yummy sugar cookies while everyone else slept… look at my cute helper!!

And last night we made our Easter Resurrection cookies which started off hilarious but ended quite somber. We started by beating the pecans (as Jake read the verses about Jesus being flogged and beaten)… this was the funny part…

The kids sure enjoyed crushing the pecans, even Ruth!

After that we tasted salt (salty tears) and smelled vinegar (the sour wine Jesus drank) and talked about all that Jesus went through leading to his death. Thankfully we also added some sugar and egg whites to remind us of the sweet part of the story. After sealing the oven, we woke to hollow cookies today!

Weekend Away

The first weekend of April, Jake and I went to Family Life’s “Weekend to Remember” Marriage Retreat. It was a wonderful, wonderful weekend filled with great speakers and good talks between Jake and I. My mom and sister, Valerie, graciously came here for the weekend to keep the kids to make our getaway possible and I just downloaded pictures from their time…. I can’t help but laugh at the pictures. I think Grandparents should host a cousin camp every year to create memories like these!!!

Playing in the fort:

Bedtime!! All 5 kids are in this picture… Isaiah doesn’t have blonde hair nor is Samuel swatting a fly…

Grandma reading the first of many books:

Ruth’s first braids compliments of Aunt Valerie!

Emelyn getting an Elsa braid:

Dirt makes for happy kids…

Our monkey on the monkey bars…

This looks like the beginning of nothing good…

The boys at the princess table looking in a purse…

Happy Easter!!!

The progression of an attempted family picture:

Watching these 4 walk to church (including Ms. Sassy Pants that insisted on walking!) made me smile

All 5 of us after church:

Silver Dollar City

Saturday morning we decided to take advantage of the mid-70's weather and drive to Branson for the day to go to SDC. 

The girls waiting while Jake and Isaiah rode the swings:

Look at those sweet chunky legs!!

The girls riding the butterflies:

What could be better than a 4 story play house full of foam balls and guns to shoot the balls with?!? At this stage of life, we forego roller coasters at SDC in exchange for hours in this play zone :)

Looking down at Jake and Ruth from the 2nd story:

Body surfing on balls: