Dance Weekend

 Dance recital weekend is always fun and full of family time! 

Dress rehearsal night means I get to see her dances for the first time. I get very excited to see them after hearing all about each dance for the months leading up to recital. 

Jaxx was her favorite dance. This year it was to "Thunderstruck" and ended the recital program. 

Tap was to a country song call "Arkansas". They bought cowboy boots and put taps on them. As soon as Anna got home she took the taps off and now she has cowboy boots!

9 years of watching Anna dance. I now know how fast it goes. I'll savor each of these high school years. 

The boys stayed home with Ronan so that he didn't have to sit still during recital. 

It was a perfect evening to spend outside. Ronan wanted to play cornhole. Later we all sat in the living room and watching him play. That made me nostalgic. We spent so many evening watching, especially Aliza of our children, play like that. 

 

 

Easter Things

 It's turning out that, at this point in my life, I'm pretty good at taking someone's idea and making it happen. This time it was an Easter party for the children at church. Last year at this time we had 5 children on Sunday mornings. This year we have 17 children! 

The moms all pitched in and we had chicken tacos for supper. The children made resurrection gardens...

...and were reminded of the meaning of Easter in a short Bible time. 

And then...FINALLY...it was time for the Easter egg hunt! The children were SO excited. There were 680 eggs. Anna, Cheryl and I hid those eggs all over the building. The children were dumping their buckets and going back for more eggs. I'm so glad we did this. Cheryl is already working on eggs for next year! I told her she should probably plan on 30 children next year!!

At home we had a (much smaller) egg hunt for our big kids. 

Nothing fancy. Just candy. 

And fun...

And trading candy. 

Before our egg hunt, I had spent the afternoon in the kitchen. I made shoo fly cake, Pioneer woman mashed potatoes, pineapple casserole, cinnamon streusel muffins and blueberry muffins. 

Easter morning we had breakfast at church. Our friend, Caleb, is a fan of molasses and approved of the dominant molasses flavor of the shoo fly cake. Church was after breakfast and was a great service. 

By afternoon the sun gave way to a thunderstorm deluge of rain! The Sheats cousins had an inside Easter egg hunt. There were ALOT of big kids looking for eggs in Grandma and Grandad's living room! 

Before the rain, the girls decided to take some pictures together. Their friendship is so special. 

There is room in their friendship for the girlfriends that are regularly joining our family gatherings. So thankful!

 

Joy Dare::March

 13,155. Church
13,156. Nap
13,157. Hearing about everyone's evening
13,158. Anna's motivation
13,159. Isaiah proud that he finished a piano book
13,160. Long to-do list crossed off
13,161. Celebrating Aliza
13,162. A special family dinner
13,163. Our children being so grateful
13,164. Windows open
13,165. School on the porch
13,166. New family at church this morning
13,167. Friend time during PE
13,168. ESL class was better than I was expecting
13,169. Watching some really old family videos
13,170. Celebrating music accomplishments for Isaiah
13,171. Aliza making cookies for Grandpa
13,172. Supper conversations
13,173. Josiah and Isaiah were the best workers
13,174. So much yard cleanup progress
13,175. Aliza in the middle of a Mom and Dad hug
13,176. Baptisms, testimonies, and potluck
13,177. Jeremy able to be with his brothers
13,178. Calling my mom when I want to be distracted
13,179. Daffodil blooms

13,180. Supper on the porch
13,181. Celebrating Jeremy
13,182. The hope of seasons changing
13,183. Grace for myself
13,184. Taking my afternoon work outside
13,185. The feeling of "extra time"
13,186. Staying home with Isaiah
13,187. Happy that Aliza had an afternoon with friends
13,188. Weather aventure 70 degrees in the morning, snow on the ground by supper
13,189, Car talk with Anna
13,190. Sitting in the intermediate ESL class
13,191. Sending Josiah off on an adventure
13,192. Talking to Amanda
13,193. A hotel evening by myself
13,194. A few interesting conversations
13,195. Home for supper
13,196. Hearing about Josiah's day
13,197. Figuring out something new
13,198. Catching up with Mom
13,199. Isaiah growing up
13,200. Homemade pizza
13,201. Candle burning on a stormy day
13,202. Watching Pride and Prejudice with Aliza
13,203. When all I have to offer is prayer and it doesn't seem like enough
13,204. Making a supper everyone likes
13,205. Visiting Maria
13,206. Bright stars tonight
13,207. Having a conversation in English with Diego
13,208. Watching Josiah serve in a capacity I hadn't seen
13,209. Audrey and Henry day
13,210. ESL class went really well
13,211. Clean kitchen when I got home
13,212. Heart melted
 

13,213. Dance pictures
13,214. Isaiah reading out loud tonight since I have a cold
13,215. A beautiful Saturday to clean up flowerbeds
13,216, Finding all the sprouting plants
13,217. Everyone home for supper on a Saturday
13,218. So many children at church
13,219. Bible study on the porch
13,220. Outside evening
13,221. Trying to give myself grace on a day when I don't feel great
13,222. Jeremy home in time to eat with us
13,223. Being still and quiet
13,224. Power washed house
13,225. Aliza took Anna to dance
13,226. Grandma sent a big box of chips
13,227. Earl Gray tea
13,228. Visiting with Mom
13,229. Planning an Easter party
13,230. Anna looking out for me
13,231. Reading on the porch
13,232. Conversation night in our ESL class
13,233. Fun bowling outing

13,234. Listening to Aliza think
13,235. Everyone appreciated supper
13,236. Sabbathing
13,237. Our very random daffodils
13,238. Bonding Sunday School time
13,239. Isaiah really enjoying his part in the church service
13,240. Aliza graciously helping me
13,241. Nice walking mornings
13,242. Van and Karen feeling a little better
13,243. Josiah was able to take a nap
13,244. Aliza was feeling better when she got home
13,245. Elizabeth