"But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15d

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Mr. Fashion and a Little Girl

Seth's Easter basket had something he has been wanting for a long time.  A Fedora Hat.  Really???!!??
What is that about?
Not sure but he was thrilled

Mr. Fashion was dressed to go to ballet on Tuesday.  Garrett could not believe he had on a collared shirt to go to ballet.  Seth was determined to wear the hat so a collared shirt it was.

He was fussing at his brother but the face was cute

Ahh!  I could just squeeze him.  He is so loving and sweet.  His hugs are the best. 

Ella decided to get up early today.  She snuggled with "Georgie"  Georgie, the brown monkey, tucks safely under Ella's arm each night for bedtime.  Georgie and Blankie have comforted Ella since she was 2.  Both are Ella's sidekick.

Beautiful Days

We have been having some incredible weather.  This week's temperatures make it hard to stay inside for school.  Ella couldn't wait until the sprinkler could be put under the trampoline.  We have done this several times this week.   

I love the action shot

Seth would just belly flop

Seth

Ella resting to give Seth a turn

While sitting on the bench by the trampoline, I could see Garrett's tree.  We planted this when he started in Kindergarten.  We could see over the top of it when we planted it.  Now here we are 6 years later.

This is what the big brother does while the little ones jump.  The hammock came out this week as well.  We spend many hours enjoying the cool breeze. 

Everyone is entertained so mom can sit to soak up some sun.  I am also working very hard to read The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo.  This book was recommended by one of the moms at ballet.  Well the novel is becoming very good.  I can't put it down.
It is the first of three in the series.  I think I have my reading planned for the summer.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Happy Easter!

HaPPy EAsTeR!!
What a wonderful day.  Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is Risen today.
He is Lord
He is Lord
He is risen from the dead
and
He is Lord
Every knee shall bow
Every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord


The day began at 5:15am for Jeff and me.  The kids woke up at 6:00am.  Guess who was excited Garrett?  He was the one to wake up everyone else.  Go figure - a 12 year old

Easter baskets full of goodies

Everyone always get a chocolate Easter bunny

Our family's Easter picture

Easter egg hunting at the Lake.  Thanks meme and Lori for having sooooo many eggs.  I think 4 kids hunted for about 200 eggs.
Seth is busy

Run - I see more back here.  Seth, Ella and Cooper

Ella bending to find more eggs

Cooper and Ella

Seth is checking out all of his goodies in his basket.  By the way, he ended up with a laundry basket of eggs.

Each of us enjoyed our Lent sacrifices yesterday.  40 days of fasting from different things.  What an accomplishment. I am so proud of my boys. 

Happy Easter 2011

Friday, April 22, 2011

Happy Earth Day


As the children woke up this morning, the kitchen table greeted them.  Happy Earth Day. 
Used newspaper was our placemats
Rocks were our placecards
Gummie worms were on the table
Water bottles for the day
Oatmeal (dirt) was in their bowls

 We made a Love EARTH banner yesterday from "clean trash" we had around the house


We had "dirt cups" for dessert and blue ocean jello for lunch

One thing that is different for us on Earth Day.  Instead of planting trees, we decided to cut some down.

The trees in the front of the house had gotten taller than the house.  They were supposed to be shrubs.  (I will add a before picture once I post about what we plant in the place)

Worker Weddine's

After

Days off

I had to add this picture.  We are headed out the door to Taekwondo.  I couldn't get over how big she looks.  We are tyring to persuade her to wear headbands.  AHHH!!  I never knew it would be such a huge task.  Another big first for this spring/summer, flip flops.  She will finally wear flip flops. 


Our days off have consisted of not much.  Yesterday I had several crafts in mind that I wanted them to do.  First, was Is. 53:5.  Everytime I hear "By His Wounds", I just get really still and listen to the words.  I think we take the pain and suffering that Jesus took on our behalf for granted.  We make a mistake and just think or may say "I'm Sorry" or "Oops"  "I didn't mean to do that".  It is so much more than a few little words.

The kids wrote Is 53:5 on their cut out crosses.  Then one by one they rolled a mable in a pan that had red paint.  As we rolled the marble across each cross we listened to "By His Wounds, We are Healed".  It was pretty powerful.  I incluced Garrett's picture since I am so blessed that my 12 year old son will still participate in his mom's crafts. 


Each of their crosses.  It really looks like stripes.

Then onto making the Jelly Bean Prayer bags to give to 2 other people.
There was such team work with Garrett helping Ella.  By this time, Jeff had come home for lunch.  Jeff was amazed with how Garrett so tenderly and carefully taught his sister and helped her.

 The Jerasalem Dinner
I set up the table in the den with pillows to sit.  We had grape juice, crackers, cheese, fruit, dates, and nuts.  I place the white and red candles at the end of the table to represent Jesus on the cross with the two theives beside him. 

The kids were amazed when they came to dinner.  They didn't know what was going on with supper tonight.  We wanted to remember The Last Supper that Jesus had with his disciples on Maundy Thursday.


It was a special night.  After cleaning up supper, we all lined up on the couch together.  Jeff came and washed our feet as we sat still and quiet.  It was a touching moment to see their dad kneeled and so carefully washing our "stinky" feet.

"It was just before the Passover Feast.  Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.  Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love."  John 13:1

Love isn't optional for Christians.  They are to be people who love.  When they love each other in the self-sacrificing way that Jesus loves, non-Christians see how real Jesus is by the difference he makes in their lives.
  I pray that this family is a reflection of that Love.  Oh! Let our light shine.