Easter 2015

We had a lovely Easter!  This year, General Conference fell on Easter weekend, which allowed us the opportunity to spend a quiet, joyful day together.

Because Ben was sick, we asked the boys to ignore their baskets as much as they possibly could when they woke up until he was awake.  I don't know if they surveyed the baskets thoroughly with their eyes before Ben was up, but they hadn't touched, which, considering Tommy's candyholic condition, is pretty impressive!  Fortunately for them, Ben didn't sleep in too late (he never does!).

I think every family of Christian faith struggles with how to mingle the bunny/candy part of Easter with the true purpose of the holiday.  Our solution has been to read the account of the true reason for our Easter celebration, the story of Jesus' last week on earth: his atonement, crucifixion and resurrection, before baskets (which may be the worst kind of torture for little boys, but it makes us feel like we are ultimately getting the right message to them, and the older they get, the more they seem to enjoy it, so there you go), and then they get to dig in.  This year, the baskets each had a tee, a tie, abundant candy and one other small gift.  Happy boys!

Then it was time for the egg hunt.  Growing up, my family always hid/hunted for the dyed eggs on Easter morning, the candy-filled eggs were already in the Easter baskets.  We never really talked about it, but somehow Adam and I ended up carrying this tradition on in our own family.  The eighteen eggs, which we dyed the day before, were hidden...and only 8 were found.  Huh?!  We both knew that the Easter Bunny had hidden them just before the story and baskets, it had only been maybe 30 minutes before the boys went out to look for their eggs, so we were bewildered as to what happened to them.  Adam said fox.  I said bird.  But we were both suspicious of Ruby, she looked a little guilty...and a little like how I feel after Thanksgiving dinner.  We just couldn't understand how all the shells were gone if it was her.  So I laid some bait, one of the leftover eggs.  Lo and behold!  RUBY!  Shells and all.  I checked the internet to make sure she hadn't poisoned herself, which she hadn't, but she certainly overindulged and had a bit of a squirrelly tummy for the next couple of days.  Serves that poor egg snatcher right!  And dog parent lesson learned...don't put the dog and the eggs out at the same time.  Sorry, dear pup!

The rest of the day was spent enjoying General Conference; playing board games; having Adam turn up the volume over our board game noise; quieting back down so we all could hear; taking a beautiful sunny day walk; eating egg salad sandwiches (made with only 7 eggs), candy and more candy and even more candy, followed by a delicious Easter dinner; and spending time together as a family.  Together as a family.  My family: the reason I am most grateful for all that Christ did for us in his final days, especially that wonderful Easter morning when he was not found in the garden tomb, but had risen to perfection; so I can be with these whom I hold most dear forever and always.

Turning Eggs into Easter Eggs

This is one of our very favorite family traditions, so we had to make sure it happened when everyone was home, which is no easy feat in the springtime.  So, on the Saturday before Easter, between 5 soccer games (Tommy had two), Run 2 Pieces, General Conference and errand running, we dyed our beautiful eggs beautifully.  It's getting less messy and there are fewer days-long stained fingers as the years go by, which is nice, but also kind of sad because it is further evidence that my babies are growing up in spite of my efforts to freeze time.  When once upon a time it was "how many eggs can we get to look nasty greenish-brown by mixing all the colors," the current trend for how the boys like to color is "how bright can my egg get if I leave it in long enough."  Which is a nice improvement. 

The Bits: April 1st through April 9th

The first of April's Bits!

Ben loves April Fool's Day!  He got me three times with the kitchen sink sprayer...even though I KNOW to look for it.  Argh!  But the trick he was most excited about this year was his "pudding in the mayo jar" gag.  He made some vanilla pudding, filled an empty mayonnaise squeeze bottle and fooled his friends all day long eating "mayo" straight from the jar.  Grody goodness!

It's been a long time since I took a run with the jogger, but Tommy and I dusted off our old friend last week to go for a little run together.  Partway through the run I pulled the canopy out to help keep the sun out of his eyes, and we discovered that I had missed a part in the quick wipe down I did before we left.  Ewww!  A lot of little webs!  We closed that right back up, tucked it away, and ran a little faster home.

One last April fool before bed!  When I went to get in bed at the end of the day, I discovered a host of bugs in my bed, compliments of Luke!  He had been telling me all day he wanted to put bugs in Josh's and Ben's beds, but really he was plotting to put them in mine, the little sneaker!  Such a crack-up!  I also discovered a sweet little token of Tommy's love, two little dandelions on my nightstand.  I am so grateful that he never lets me forget that he loves me so!

We've had a lot of summery days, but scattered among them are some really cold ones.  I loved this adorable huddle of little girls on the playground, trying to keep warm on a chilly and windy day.

Packet received in the mail!  We were ready to remotely run the Run 2 Pieces!  This charity event is a labor of love for my dear friend Jen, who wanted to give back to the University of Washington's Autism Center for the powerful difference the early intervention services provided through their program has made in the life of Jen's son Max, as well as thousands of other kids who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder every year and advocated for through UW's program.  It has been like witnessing a miracle watching Max bloom.  We were so happy we could be a part of it, even from a distance!

Soccer Saturday!

We love General Conference!  It fills our spiritual buckets to overflowing.  On Saturday, we had to nourish our souls a bit here and a bit there among all the soccer games and other Saturday bustle.  But Sunday we could just rest and take it all in.  Ahhhhhhhhhhh....

Josh: kicking booty and taking names at center defense!

We had to do our Run 2 Pieces remote run in the afternoon of our packed-schedule Satruday but we did it!  The kids thought it was alternately funny and cool to have race bibs on as the six of us (Zac was at a soccer game in Denver) did a circuit around our neighborhood.

The three older boys received their Pride Futsal Champions tees this weekend!  It was so exciting to have all three boys' teams as victors in their various age-level tournaments.  Also, Zac earned the Silver Boot in his age group for most assists!  Yeah!  Bravo, boys!!

During Ben's early morning soccer game on Saturday we noticed that Ben was dragging, and if you know Ben, he rarely drags.  By Saturday evening it was clear that he was sick.  Fever.  Darn it!  If there was a silver lining to this illness, he was pretty glad to have a little extra time to work on his speed rubik's cube that arrived in the mail on Saturday.  His current record is 1 minute, 13 seconds, but he's working on taking that down.  I can't even solve one side, so I am completely impressed!

Josh's imagery makes oil beautiful!

The boys' recent Amazon search.

Luke has been on a golden streak!  I am so proud of the choices he's making, the maturity he is gaining and the zen he's finding for himself as he gets closer to eight.  And he's pretty great at making Lego dragons too.  Proud mama! 

Six days of fever, headache, super lethargic and a tight chest that Ben just thought was a sore throat...diagnosis: bronchiolitis; treatment: antibiotics and Albuterol that aren't working fast enough...really, really, really bored.  Not even having his speed rubik's cube is fun anymore.

The fevered giraffe sleeps.  I hate germs.

The Bits: March 20th Through March 31st

Bits before, during, and after Spring Break.

Thank you, Steve Spangler Science, for the fun, funny science ideas!

Date night with Adam and Mr. Ed.  Hey, three's a crowd, Horse Boy.

While we are on the subject of equestrians....  H.O.R.S.E. on a perfect spring day!  These warm, sunny spring days are what make the cold, snowy spring days no big deal.

I love the sound of the boys laughing, chatting, giggling, plotting and playing together into the late twilight.  There are few sounds that bring me more joy and contentment!  Sometimes, when the boys are magically in sync and happiness is reigning, bedtime just has to wait.

Z: lookin' good and freshly showered for the youth dance!

Spring is finally happening here...slowly but surely!  I don't know if I truly appreciated the spring season while living in eternally, beautifully green Washington.  Living in Colorado, where spring creeps in so slowly and so late, seeing tiny signs of green spring peeking out among the sleeping winter brown feels to me like I'm taking a delicious, long, lazy good-morning stretch.

I love when our food is colorful!

Aaaaaaand just like that: winter.  The bipolar weather makes getting dressed in the morning very confusing for the kids.

One little, two little, three little haircuts, all in a haircut row.

Superhero day at soccer practice.  LOVE!

Sunset.

Tommy's first ever soccer game!!!  He touched the ball three times, lifted his shirt over his head 11 times and waved to us 18 times.  It was a great game! 

One day snow storm, next day sprinklers.  Springtime in the Rockies!

Zac's non-tournament season opener found us in Timnath, Colorado.  Where is Timnath, you ask?  Well, I've now been there and I still don't think I could tell you where I was.  It was far, far away is all I can say.  By Fort Collins?  Maybe?  Ha!  But the boys won, so the forever drive was made easier.

Brotherhood.

I came out from putting the little boys to bed, and the laundry had magically been folded!  What great boys I have! (Probably gently nudged into this thoughtful act by their great dad).

Congratulations to our sweet Joshie on earning his Webelos Badge and his Religious Knot!  He worked hard to finish up some final requirements over break so he could earn his badges at this week's pack meeting.  He's on a roll and excited to be working towards his Arrow of Light! 

Since Josh had earned his Webelos Badge, it was probably time to sew on his Bear Badge (oops!) as well as all the arrow points he earned as a Wolf and Bear which I had been ignoring...and his two new badges.... {sigh}  If sewing on badges isn't a labor of love, I don't know what is.  My fingers are poked, tender and bleeding, and it took nearly 3 hours, but those badges are ON!