Easter

Easter arrived on Sunday.  The girls had, as I said, done a number of egg hunts, but we had also been talking about the real reason we celebrate Easter.  It must be totally incomprehensible to kids why someone died because they loved us – and then what it means that He rose from the dead.  I hardly understand it myself because it is so irrational to our human minds.  All I know is that I am grateful to know a God that loved me so much that he gave his only Son.  I am also glad the story doesn’t end with the death, but that we end with a victory over death and hope for tomorrow.  God is good.

Church was incredible.  The worship coordinators, musicians, and all those involved made it powerful and meaningful.  Madison was coloring during the service today.  As she listened to the message and to children’s story, she must have been taking it in.  At one point, she showed me the cross with Jesus on it that she drew (see left).  It is the first cross that I have ever seen her draw and for sure the first representation of this image.  It was funny because as she tapped my arm to tell me, I started to say, “Madison, Mommy is trying to worship and listen to the music.”  because at that moment there was a beautiful song being sung (“All Rise”).  I am so glad that I didn’t shut her off because I realized that she was worshipping, too, just in a different way. 

We went to my parents’ house first for Easter lunch.  We held the kids off from changing so we could get a few pictures.  It was not an easy task, and the fact that it was one of the most beautiful days we have had, was not helping!  We managed to get them together for a picture or two.  Next year, we need to arrange them a little more carefully so that all their faces are seen better.  You get what you get, right?  And none of them were throwing a fit!  Here are a few from my camera….

           

We tried to get a few of our small family as well.  The best one on my camera is not one of me looking at the camera, but that’s okay.  The girls were never quite together in their picture moment, but I think it was cute anyway.

   

Then, there was the egg hunt.  The first wave of littles had buddies.  I don’t know that they really need buddies anymore, but the older girls are sweet to do it.  The second wave was for the older ones.  They had to actually hunt for the eggs.  I didn’t hear a final verdict, but I think we found them all this year.

   

The kids played, the adults looked at pictures, talked, and played basketball.  We had dessert – angel food cake and chocolate lasagna (new pinterest find).  Then, those that had another destination headed out, while the others stayed to play more. 

We headed to Mooreland to David and Marianne’s to catch the tail-end of the Easter gathering.  It was good to see people and catch up here too.  There was “duck hunting,” egg hunting, eating, and playing here. 

       

Greg and his girlfriend, Maggie, did an exceptional job entertaining the girls.  At one point, Ellie came over to me at the table and said, “Me being brave with big Greg.”  It was pretty cute.  (For the record, “big Greg” is not a really big guy.  It is just that we found his doppelganger in the form of a Ken doll who has become known as little Greg; hence, big Greg for Greg.)  We stayed until about 8pm.  The girls came home tired, but happy.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Geocaching

On Saturday, it was so beautiful, and we had no plans.  I was trying to think of something fun to do with the girls after naps.  I thought I bike ride would be nice, but then I remembered that I had no bike … or I had to be the one to pull the trailer of kids.  It wasn’t quite warm enough for the sand box, and we had been in the yard a lot that day anyway.  Jeremy suggested we see if there were any geocaches around.  (If you don’t know what geocaching is, click here.)I am pretty sure that we hadn’t geocached since Colorado (like 4 years ago!).  He went online and found a few in this area.  So, we took off for one near MCC Connections.  Madison on her trike, Ellie in her stroller.  We discovered it just as the clue said on the light pole.  The girls picked their first “treasures” from the container – a paintbrush for Madison and a plastic shark for Ellie.  We thought we would try to find a second on in the park, but Jeremy’s battery died on his phone before we located it.  And Ellie was really antsy to slide!  So, we will have to try for that one another day.

I am thinking this could be a family hobby. The girls are (almost) old enough – Madison was really excited and stuck with it; Ellie was excited for the first one and then lost interest.  I think there are quite a few close, so I’ll keep you updated. 

Happy Birthday, to me!

I celebrated my birthday this week – really, the whole week was birthday week, which I am not going to complain about!  On Tuesday, my parents took us out to eat at Ming Hing for the lunch buffet.  I don’t know if I have ever been there.  It was a decent buffet for a decent lunch price.  Then, on Wednesday, the Yohs took the girls for the day.  I picked up Steph for a girls day out.  We went shopping for our kids, mostly, but did hit up a store to find a dress for me for Easter.  Surprisingly, we found one at the one store we stopped at (Thanks, Sears!) at a 50% off price (Thanks, again, Sears!).  We had lunch at Ruby Tuesday.  Not only did we enjoy tasty food, but very good conversation.  It is not often I spend one-on-one time with my sisters-in-law.  I should do it more often, or more intentionally.  I think it would be good for us, and it would be a good break from mothering duties.  I made it home by about 3:30.  Jeremy had been out getting angel food cake, strawberries, and ice cream in honor of my birthday.  We ordered pizza (so I didn’t have to cook!) and invited his parents to stay and join us for the party.  The girls were all concerned my party wasn’t extravagant enough – where is your happy birthday banner?  where are all the people?  where are your presents? I assured them that I was happy with things just as they were.  Madison helped me blow out my candles and put the birthday tiara on me, so I, too, could be a birthday princess. 

    

I received some replacement cups, new “pizza pans” for the girls to bake in (Ellie broke the other one she used), beautiful cards well decorated, birthday cash, and nice words in a card from Jeremy.  I have one more birthday date with just Jeremy and me.  And one more angel food cake – with spoon dip this time – to eat.  Then, my week is officially over.  If you ask me how old I am, I will probably have to do some math in my head.  I never really remember.  And honestly, I don’t know if it is a sign of age, or that I really don’t care.  I figure I am just thankful for the years God has given me, and while each year is different than the last, they all work together to make me, me.  So, I am as old as I am.

Easter Egg Hunting

Last Saturday, our community held their Easter Egg Hunt.  I didn’t go last year because my dad was in the hospital.  So, although Jeremy and the girls were veterans, I was unfamiliar with the layout.  It was a lot of fun.  They had an area in the grass for the 1-3 year olds to just walk around and spot eggs for their baskets.  The 4-6 year olds had to look a little harder in and around the playground.  Then the 7-10 year olds had to search among the trees.  That way all the kids could hunt at the same time, but the older ones weren’t taking the easy ones from the little kids.  My mom came along for the search, too.  So, she and Ellie hunted, and Jeremy and Madison hunted, and I ran back and forth trying to take a few pictures.  It was a quick event, but there were enough eggs for everyone to get what they could find.  Afterwards, there was even pizza and some chips and drinks.  We had just eaten lunch though, so we went home without indulging.  The Easter Bunny was there, too.  Madison loved it; Ellie wanted nothing to do with it.  In the middle picture, I just want to note that the girl walking with my family is not me although I do know her.

      

Today we went to a birthday party for all three kids of friends at church.  Their kids were 3, 6, and 8, but Madison and Ellie had been over to play, and they had so much fun, they included them in the party.  I guess the youngest one kinda fit in with the Madison and Ellie age-wise.  At any rate, they girls were very excited about going.  It was a beautiful day for being outside and playing.  The kids had an Easter egg hunt as their party game.  They both had fun trying to find the eggs hidden in the yard.  Following this, the kids opened their gifts en masse. It was so cute because Sam sat beside Ellie; she was very excited to be beside her “Sam buddy” as she calls him (see top right picture).  We had pizza and veggies for lunch.  Then, everyone played more on the trampoline, the slide, and in the sand.  We ended with an ice cream cake and or dirt pudding.  It was enjoyable.

         

Oklahoma!

My Grandpa’s 90th birthday was this March.  My mom and her sister, along with some help from their brother, planned a 90th birthday party for him.  All the original 13 cousins were invited back to celebrate.  When I say original 13, I mean no spouses and no kids.  I know it seems strange, right?  I am sure he would have loved to see them, too – especially the great-grandkids.  But the thing is, it was pretty special to just have time – adult time – with my cousins, my aunts and uncles, and my grandpa.  It takes you back to when I was little and the family gatherings were so amazing.  (Don’t get me wrong, the kids are awesome and the spouses, too; we did that for his 85th – and I loved it!)  Grandpa is 90 though, and the liveliness of 27 great-grandkids (I think I counted right) and 13 spouses may have been too much for it to really be enjoyable.  As it was, I think we claimed the prize for the loudest adults in one house.  It was great!

But let me back up a little…. Since it was the “originals” that meant that my brothers and I carpooled together.  We left early (4am) on Friday morning, so we could arrive by 4pm in Kansas City – just like the good ole days.  Kristin (my cousin) agreed to host everyone at her house.  So, we were able to see her family (minus her husband who was out of town on business, and greatly missed); Mark and Jennie and their new little guy, Ethan; and Jenny, who trekked there from Utah.  We shared sloppy joes, pasta salad, and some angel food cake in celebration of Nate’s birthday that was that day!  We woke up early – again – 5am to head to Oklahoma and arrive by 12pm for lunch.  We made it despite a few questionable decisions made by the drivers of our caravan.  We greeted Grandpa who had been standing, waiting for us to arrive since we had called about 15 minutes out.  He was so excited. 

We said hello to him, to Sherry and Bruce, my parents, Randy, and Gary and Darlene.  Mandy and Sarah arrived shortly after, as did Jess and Jodi.  And then, everyone was there… almost.  Jason had to work this day, so he only made it on Sunday.  We had a perfect meal of deli meat sandwiches, relishes, chips, and cookies/rice krispie treats.  The tables were filled with talking and laughing and eating. 

       

After the meal, we converged in the formal dining room.  Grandpa was put on the hot seat while being interviewed by my mom.  She asked him how he met grandma, what his favorite things to do with his brothers and sisters were, and a little about the family history (how we immigrated over here).  He shared stories I had never heard before, and my only regret is that we didn’t record his answers.  He also told his low points in his life, and when Mandy asked, he shared his high points as well.  It was so amazing to hear about life 90 years ago and realize what all he has seen, heard, and experienced over that span of time. 

At some point before supper (or maybe it was after?), we took pictures.  Here is one of the grandkids oldest to youngest (just like in the old days… but we don’t really fit in front of the hearth anymore).

And another one of us in height order (I am sure Mark, the tallest, and Mandy, the shortest, love their designated posts)

And a normal one with Grandpa. (Sorry, Mark, but everyone else looked good in this one…)

Here is Grandpa with my aunts and uncles.  (Same goes to you, Bruce.  Like father, like son!)

And my family with him.

After this, some people went out to the farm to see the new equipment in the barn, and others stayed to look at old photo albums and reminisce.  We gathered again at supper time for fried chicken, party potatoes, baked beans, and pies.  (If lunch was “’light,” this was the opposite!)  The conversation, the memories, the catching up, and the bonding continued.  Many of the men gravitated toward the family room to watch March Madness.  The women huddled around the small table sharing stories of childbirth, peeing your pants, and the antics of kids.  I don’t think that I have laughed that hard – to the point of my stomach hurting – in a long time.  It was magical and perfect. 

The next day, we journeyed across the field to church with Grandpa.  I think we doubled the size of the congregation :)  We shared in communion as a family and shared in worship to our Lord.  After the service, we fellowshipped around the table one last time – funeral burgers, chips, fruit, and birthday cake with ice cream.  This time spouses and kids of the “locals” came and joined the party.  It was good.  You could tell Grandpa was wearing out, but also that he was just soaking it in.  I hope this time keeps his spirits high and adds to the memories as one of his high points in life.

 

We said our good-byes, and my family (just the six of us) carpooled back to Ohio.  We were able to stop in Joplin, Missouri, to see where Nate had taken the youth for rebuilding after the tornado.  The damage to that town is still evident; what a reminder of the power of nature!  We ate at Braum’s (if you ever pass one, stop; it is well worth your money and time).  We stayed at a hotel after driving about 6-7 hours that day.  We left the next morning around 8:00 and arrived home around 7pm. 

The time in the car with my siblings was valuable.  When was the last time you were able to talk with your family without the interruption (the good ones and the bad ones) of children?  If you haven’t done it for awhile, you have probably forgotten how good it is.  I am thankful that riding in the car with my brothers is something I look forward to, not dread.  They are blessings in my life, and ones I don’t take for granted.  This trip was as good for Grandpa as it was for me.  So, Grandpa, I am looking forward to your 95th party – it should be a blast!

Swimming Lessons

The girls enrolled in swimming lessons starting in February and just ending two weeks ago.  I have pictures of Ellie and me (yep, I have to get in, too…) from when Jeremy came, but I need to get pics from Madison’s lessons from Gloria who remembered her camera and I forgot mine :(  Ellie was very hesitant at first, but she has really grown to enjoy them.  She still hesitates when asked to jump off into my arms, but she will slide in the water.  She still doesn’t’ like the back work because water gets in her ears. 

BUT she gets in readily where before she was screaming. 

She can swim through the hula hoop by holding my one hand and reaching for the other hand. 

She also holds onto the kickboard instead of me now.  In fact, I can even let go of her completely now!  AND she can finally blow bubbles.  Before, she would lick the water with her tongue (like a dog lapping water) and make a noise as if she were blowing bubbles. 

And she walks around the kiddie pool without ever holding my hand!

   

Madison was much more interested in the lessons to start with.  She was braver than I was, I think.  For the three year olds, the parents sit outside the pool area and watch through a window.  It was hard trusting the teacher and the one lifeguard to protect her.  (There are at least four or five other swim classes going on at the same time!)  But she just marched herself right to the edge of the pool, let them put her swim belt on and slid right in when asked.  She has jumped off the side without objection.  She can swim the whole length of the pool with just a noodle and a kickboard!  She can blow bubbles.  And she jumped in and got her whole face wet – this was, based on her reaction, her biggest accomplishment! 

They are signed up for one more round before summer.  It will be interesting to see what Madison learns at the next level.  (Yep, she got her first “report card” and was passed to the next level.)  I wonder if Ellie and I will be doing the same thing, but she will just get braver/more confident?

The Circus

I am majorly playing catch up, so this actually happened back in March.  My mom works with a guy who won tickets on the radio to the Shriner Circus.  He only needed two tickets and asked mom if she could use them.  It worked well for us because 5 and under were free, which meant we could go to the circus for free!  The only circus I vaguely remember going to was the Barnum and Bailey circus when I was in elementary school.  It is huge and over the top.  Jeremy remembered going to this one when he was young with his family. 

On Saturday, we arrived early for the show. 

   

It was first come seating, and you could ride the elephant before the show.  We had great seats, and there was no line for the elephant.  Madison choose (was encouraged to choose?) the elephant ride over face painting, inflatable slide, and pony rides, all of which she has done before.  Although it cost $10 to ride the elephant, and it was the fastest ride on the planet (two quick laps in a tiny circle), I think it was worth it.

Besides that, we saw a number of aerialists (I think that is what they are called).  It was neat to watch how they hook their feet into the ribbons and then maneuver their bodies in mid-air; I don’t think that sport is in my future! 

We also saw tigers.   Madison enjoyed watching the clowns; Ellie had mixed feelings about those.  These clowns doused each other with water; the second set covered each other in “paint” (shaving cream stuff). 

We watched a juggler and some balancing acts. 

Jeremy’s favorite was the wheel of death – a wheel that looked a little like a pendulum that a man ran in and around and did tricks on as it rotated around in circles.  I was impressed by the motorcycle on a tight rope.  It had special wheels and wouldn’t fall off, although the people could have.  It went directly over our heads – had I stood up, I may have been able to touch one of the performers hands. 

Although it was a good show, I don’t know if it would have been worth the price of adult tickets.  But for free?  Of course!