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 

Joy Dare::February

 13,069. Adult conversations with out children
13,070. Bible study
13,071. Talking to Christie
13,072. Isaiah had a really good piano lesson
13,073. Jeremy is feeling better
13,074. This season of family life
13,075. Temperatures above freezing...
13,076. ...which means Josiah played disc golf
13,077. Car time with Anna
13,078. Being very consistent with math
13,079. Nerf night fun
13,080. Prayer
13,081. Friend time during homeschool gym
13,082. Anna had a really good day
13,083. Unexpected confirmations
13,084. Having the teacher side of school caught up
13,085. A much better option offered
13,086. Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony with Aliza
13,087. Planning a party
13,088. Staying home on a cold and windy day
13,089. Picking up groceries
13,090. Anna excited about Olympics
13,091. Superbowl evening
13,092. My multi tasking plan worked
13,093. Coming to my own conclusions
13,094. Hearing Laura's voice
13,095. Blue sky
13,096. Meeting Baby Will 

13,097. Playing with Maggie
13,098. Plane tickets purchased!
13,099. Waffles
13,100. Lovely 
13,101. Good math days
13,102. Morning sun
13,103. Good ESL class
13,104. Staying up to connect with Aliza
13,105. Overheard Isaiah to Josiah and Anna: "I just love spending time with ya'll."
13,106. Jeremy and the boys spent the evening together
13,107. Aliza hosted the sweetest Galentines party
13,108. Some time with Janell and Mom
13,109. Valentine's = ramen and movie with the family
13,110. Finishing the puzzle with Aliza
13,111. Gramma's banana split dishes for ice cream
13,112. Hanging out with children during church
13,113. Sunday afternoon quiet
13,114. Leftover Valentine desserts
13,115. Got Isaiah through the morning
13,116. A favorite for supper
13,117. Aliza came home happy
13,118. Speed talking with Maria
13,119. Clean sheets
13,120. Lunch with a new friend
13,121. Poke bowls are yummy!
13,122. Allie with us for the day
13,123. Catch up conversation
13,124. Going out without a coat
13,125. A really small ESL class was fun
13,126. Talking to Laura
13,127. Just being there while Aliza studied
13,128. Olympics over lunch
13,129. Sun breaking through the clouds
13,130. Mom stopped by
13,131. A moment that the sun felt warm
13,132. One more quiet Saturday
13,133. Making Anna happy with some online shopping
13,134. Huge snowflakes
13,135. Josiah and Anna could go to youth group
13,136. Electric staying on until very early morning
13,137. Water pressure lasted longer than I expected
13,138. We have lots of blankets

13,139. A hot drink while the house warms up again
13,140. Aliza home for another day
13,141. More snow play
13,142. Hanging out with John, Laura and Sean
13,143. Friends that don't mind just living life with you
13,144. Will was able to rescue Aliza's car
13,145. Watching David movie with church family
13,146. Bluebird on the birdhouse when I opened the curtain
13,147. Eating Chick Fil A free on opening night
13,148. Anna hanging out with us a PE
13,149. An incredible gift of our yard being cleaned up
13,150. Going to a special little girl's dance show

1

 13,151. Staying up really late just talking
13,152. Pokemon playing on a beautiful day
13,153. Celebrating Josiah 
13,154. Listening to grown boys playing games

Celebrating Aliza

 20?! Really??!   

To celebrate Aliza's birthday, we went to Tokyo Steakhouse for supper. Aliza has wanted to go to this hibachi restaurant where they cook in front of you for a long time. We are (finally) at the point where all six of us would enjoy the food. And so, for the first time, we went to a "fancy" restaurant as a family. 

It was so fun! Aliza LOVED the experience and the sushi and steak. 

Josiah and Isaiah rode home in the car with me. They went on and on about how the steak was THE BEST that they've ever had. All of the children are old enough to appreciate when we have an experience that is a splurge and they are quick to express their gratitude. 

Our friend from Hondorus brought a Latin American birthday cake for Aliza. It was so pretty and a little something extra special for Aliza. 

 

Celebrating Josiah

 

Josiah had a beautiful day for his birthday that allowed him to do all the things that he enjoys. In all those fun things, not a single picture was taken until 11pm when he opened his gifts. 

Anna did take this picture while we were playing Pokemon at SU. It was a global Pokemon event and it was so nice to be able to walk around SU for the morning. Lunch was at Cookout. 

Then Josiah, Jeremy and Josiah's friends (Siah, Austin, Ben and Ian) played disc golf. After that they came back to house to play games, eat supper and ice cream cake and more games. These grown up boys sat around the table for hours playing Saving Hitler, Camel Up and another one I that I can't remember! 

It was really fun to be in the background, listening and observing. Josiah did not want to open presents in front of anyone. He actually told his friends not to bring presents. And so, when everyone left at 11pm Josiah opened his presents. He kept us entertained while he opened a bunch of small computer components that most of us had no idea what it was. 

Just like that my second child is a legal adult.  

Little Bits of Fun

 We've been watching a Chick Fil A being built 10 minutes away from our house. When Aliza found out that the grand opening was on a day when we were all home and I found out that if you "dressed up" as a cow your entree was free, it was decided that we HAD to go! I've seen lines at Chick Fil A. I've waited in lines at Chick Fil A. I thought maybe it was the craziest thing we had ever decided to do--to try to eat at Chick Fil A on grand opening day. Then again, I know how much it costs for our family to eat a meal at Chick Fil A and decided any line was worth a free meal!

We put white cow spot stickers on black shirts and--just like that--we were dressed up as cows. The drive through line was long, but, inside, we only had 2 groups in front of us. All of the tables were full, but one opened up pretty quickly. And we paid $0.37...for extra sauce.  

 

Friday night, Aliza, Anna and I got to attend Maggie's first dance show. (This was the same day that Maggie's Dad had sent his crew to clean up our front yard. ) We had so much fun cheering her on! Aliza knew a few other girls in the show too. 

 

 The whole auditorium was decorated and pictures of my girls never get old. lol.

Of course, we had to have a picture with a--very tired--Maggie. 

By the time we got home that night, the festivities for Josiah's birthday were getting started!