Easter Celebration

 It was a perfect Easter Sunday. The weather was wonderful and we were with family and able to meet together in church. That's all we needed this year! Mom had so many varieties of daffodils to decorate the table.

 

After the adults stretched out dessert as long as possible, the men hid Easter eggs in the back yard while the children waited on the front porch. And an aunt (me) made the cousins take a picture together. Look at these big kids!

I missed getting a picture of Anna hunting eggs, but I did get one of her in her Easter dress. She could hardly wait to wear this dress.

I think all of us realize that every holiday with Grandad is a gift that we no longer take for grated. He sat on the deck and enjoyed watching the children look for eggs.

Isaiah and Ezra sorted their candy by type and then did some serious trading. Actually all of the children were making trading deals. Grandma had asked each of them for their favorite candy, all of which were found in the eggs. Naturally, then, everyone was trying to trade for their favorite. It was fun and it continued into the next day at our house!

Before church we got a family picture. The colors were not planned! lol.

Isaiah was upset that he didn't have his best funny face ready for the goofy picture...so he got his own silly picture.

Since we have church in the evening, our Easter Sunday was topped off with church. Easter music is just the best. Aliza, Renee and Anna have been working on a worship dance that they prepared for Easter. They did such a nice job and I was proud of them for being willing to try something new and outside of their comfort zone. Dad preached, probably, his most memorable Easter sermon where he dresses up and tells the Easter story in first person from the point of view of Peter. No Bible, no notes--it's all from memory--and really draws the audience into the story as if they were sitting and listening to an eyewitness account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Communion finished off the service.

 It was a big day and I came home with a heart full of gratitude for the sacrifice that Jesus made by coming to earth as a man and laying down his life as a sacrifice for my sin so that I can have a relationship with God and spend eternity in heaven.

Joy Dare::March

 7917. Lego building

7918. Sounds of intense playing

7919. A very sunny morning

7920. Reading with Anna

7921. Celebrating Aliza

7922. Chick Fil A for the youth group

7923. Finding signs of spring in the yard

7924. Opportunities

7925. So many feelings and prayers

7926. Anna was so excited

7927. Some time at Mom's house

7928. 6 great kids at supper

7929. Sleepover fun

7930. Everyone slept

7931. Aliza had so much to tell me

7932. Did more "demo" than I planned on (lol)

7933. A quiet evening after a big day

7934. Working out the budget

7935. After church dessert

7936. Aliza and I could laugh at our poor communication skills

7937. After well check snack with Aliza

7938. Completely relying on God's intervention

7939. Sitting outside to do the grocery order

7940. Anna's scavenger hunt for Daddy

7941. Japanese and ice cream cake to celebrate Jeremy

7942. I pulled off a birthday gift surprise

7943. Windows open = a taste of spring

7944. A winning Mom plan

7945. The first Home Depot date

7946. Pulling together a gift was so much fun

7947. Schoolwork on the porch

7948. Some things working out

7949. Waking up early

7950. Isaiah finishing a couple subjects

7951. Another outside afternoon

7952. A long visit with my mother in law

7953. A little more preparation

7954. Time alone with my mom

7955. Fist tacos turned out well

7956. Bursts of yellow in the yard

7957. Isaiah wanting me to read out loud to him

7958. Evening light

7959. Good Bible study discussion

7960. Josiah laughing with his friend

7961. Everyone motivated to get their work finished

7962. Aliza made cheesecake by herself

7963. Dance costume excitement

7964. Seeing Aliza's dances

7965. Anna's turn to be excited about dance costumes

7966. All the high school Mom feelings

7967. Stopping everything to pray

7968. Watching Aliza grow up and try new things

7969. Isaiah fell asleep on my shoulder

7970. A day to just focus on school

7971. Sitting in the sun, watching children play

7972. Trees starting to bloom

7973. Afternoon walk

7974. Sunday conversations

7975. Reading time

7976. A friend in quarantine = time to talk!

7977. Another morning walk with Isaiah

7978. Anna's mail arrived a day early and she is thrilled

7979. Sent the children back outside after supper

7980. A slow paced week

7981. Green leaves starting on the bushes

7982. Amazing answer to prayer

7983. Joining zoom call from the porch

7984. Having children is all stages of growth

7985. The official preconstruction meeting

7986. A hot enough day that it was more comfortable outside this evening

7987. Scones made

7988. Celebrating Janell

7989. All the details of the day worked out

7990. The boys had fun fishing

7991. The BEST news

7992. Sunday evening family dessert

7993. Ready to face a new week

7994. Trees in bloom

7995. Still learning to enjoy the journey

7996. 10 kiddos playing made up games

7997. Visiting on the deck

7998. Anna doing so much better with division

7999. Learning to live with tensions of happy and sad, understanding and not understanding

8000. Cookie baking instigator

 

For-tea

 My sister has joined me in the 40s club!

The first plan was to go to tea, but, in the end, we prepared our own tea. 

The menu was salad, soup, tea sandwiches, scones, chocolate covered strawberries, macaroons, and...

...cupcakes! A friend of mine bakes from home as a second job. When I saw her post succulent decorated cupcakes a while ago, I knew I had to find an excuse to order some! Janell was definitely the perfect excuse.

Mom put the cupcakes in glass cups with rocks on the bottom. They looked like they were planted and were part of the place setting.

The advantage of making our own tea is that we could spend as long as we wanted talking and eating. Then we watched the first episode of Growing Floret on Magnolia Network. Floret is the flower farm that Janell and I like buying seeds from. We had been saving it to watch together and that afternoon was the perfect opportunity.

There would have been a time when Janell and I couldn't imagine being friends or that we would have anything in common, but now I count her as one of my dearest friends. I can't imagine doing life without her! I'll always admire her ability to listen thoughtfully and then calmly deliver a one line zinger of wisdom.

 

Getting Ready

 There were a few things that I could mostly do on my own to prepare the yard for the initial demolition needed for construction. The first Saturday that was nice enough to work outside my plan was to pick up the bricks that outlined my flowerbed and pull out the two large ornamental grasses that were beside the porch. I did those things and then I thought I would just pick up the extra bricks laying on the porch steps. And then I decided to just pull off the loose bricks on the porch steps. AND THEN I realized that when I pulled out one loose brick, it loosened one or two more bricks. I couldn't stop at that point. 

I got Jeremy, Josiah and Josiah's friend involved and we took apart quite a chunk of the porch steps. The porch remodel is not the first thing on the project list so I'm aware that I won't have steps there for a long time. It may not have been the most thought out thing I've ever done, but, as my kids were say, it was very satisfying!

The next Saturday I removed several larger plants from the flowerbed, moved a large terra cotta pot to a place where I can plant some flowers in it and then transplanted the clucks. They were still looking pretty sad, but last year they thrived and multiplied in these gutters attached to a privacy fence.

We've had a red wagon that has lost it's handle so I got Josiah to drill holes in it for drainage. We filled it with sand and dirt and then I transplanted the clucks into the wagon.

They do not look happy at all right now. Time will tell if they will adjust. I kindof like it for now.

 

Birthday Week Recap

 I'm a couple days past the birthday festivities and, once again, it felt like a whirlwind of activity. I'm so thankful that our families are willing to celebrate our children with us. I enjoy the excuse for all of us local ones to get together and Van, Karen and Joel just fit right in.

Flamingo socks specifically and any other crazy socks is what Josiah most wanted. Of course he was also quite thrilled to have a new Lego to put together, Robucks to use and a new game to play.

Aliza also had exactly one thing that she really wanted--amibo (not sure if that is the right word) cards for Animal Crossing. She was also thrilled to get books to finish a series and add to her reading pile.

This picture just makes me laugh. Josiah blew out all but one candle on his ice cream cake and he and I had the exact same reaction. Ice cream cake has become the go to birthday party dessert. Josiah had chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Aliza chose cookies and cream and salted caramel for her flavors. The freezer door must have opened a crack because the ice cream was not set at all. It was soup, but it tasted good.

Josiah's actual birthday comes first--Feb 28. He saw his box the night before and since he had watched unboxing videos he was pretty sure he knew he was getting a gaming steering wheel. He was so excited that he couldn't fall asleep. 

Aliza's actual birthday was a couple days later--March 3. She, too, knew what she was getting because she uses my phone and I had left the Amazon page open in Safari when I was looking at idea. Aliza's birthday was on a Wednesday which meant she had dance and youth group on her birthday which  could not have made her happier. We took Chick Fil A for the youth group to celebrate her. She had a very happy, special day.

This wasn't part of birthdays, but it happened the same week--our first friend sleepover. Aliza went to her friend's house and three of their kids came to our house. Aliza had a great time and everyone here did really well too. There was no bickering or boredom and everyone was asleep by 11pm. I call that a win!

Last but not least, Jeremy's birthday was March 9. Anna and Aliza made a scavenger hunt for Jeremy to find his gift.

The clues were quite funny and took him among other places to the freezer, bathroom and outside.

And eventually he found his new desk chair--that he had to put together. With Joel's help, I surprised him with something that he wanted.

It takes a bit of planning, but, honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love celebrating each one.

 

Joy Dare::February

7840. Cousin soccer afternoon

7841. Everything finished just in time

7842. A day of just being with Jeremy's parents

7843. Looking at scrapbooks

7844. Crazy boy wrestling

7845. Plenty of blankets and a propane fireplace

7846. Grandma to build snowmen with

7847. Josiah and Anna's baptism

7848. Hot water this morning

7849. Able to work slow and steady today

7850. Homemade cake

7851. 6 year old--"I don't make the rules. I change the rules." 

7852. Rainy/snowy morning snuggles

7853. The children all playing upstairs

7854. A little snow on the ground and blue sky

7855. The girls reading their Bibles together

7856. Fast school day for Aliza

7857. Supper salad

7858. Driving day with Janell

7859. Lunch with Dad and his cousin

7860. Just showing up

7861. A house with plenty of windows

7862. Snow falling in the hugest flakes

7863. Superbowl night food and hanging out

7864. So good to have Bible study in person

7865. 9:20am Cookies in the oven on a rainy morning

7866. Wonderful company this afternoon

7867. Walking felt so good this morning

7868. Anna has been more independent with schoolwork

7869. Puppies joining Isaiah for school

7870. Snowy morning

7871. Sunlight while I'm making supper

7872. It looks like the end of a long process is in sight

7873. Anna grew 5 inches in a year!

7874. Valentine in the mailbox.

7875. Jeremy's long lasting patience

7876. Lunch with Maria

7877. Valentine flowers

7878. Brownie sundaes

7879. 6 year old energy

7880. A closing date

7881. Daddy/Daughter talk

7882. Walking and watching a flock of blackbirds with Isaiah

7883. Evening dessert with Aliza

7884. Late night ideas

7885. A friend to call

7886. We signed and settled!

7887. So excited!

7888. Groceries picked up and put away by 8:20am

7889. Peace in my heart

7890. Mom telling Aliza her dating stories

7891. Just at home

7892. Cookies were necessary

7893. Starting to sort and pack

7894. Blue sky and ice on trees is pretty to see

7895. Girls practicing their worship dance

7896. Anna did so well speaking

7897. Jeremy made the prettiest salads for lunch

7898. Sunday afternoon nap

7899. Chicken in the crockpot

7900. Tillamook ice cream

7901. Afternoon at the park

7902. Watching Aliza enjoy her friendships

7903. Jeremy's investigative skills

7904. Friendships solidifying at just the right time

7905. Friends that had the same orthodontist appointment time

7906. Birthday party supplies

7907. Sun and blue sky

7908. Touching base with Brian

7909. Another afternoon of playing outside with friends

7910. Grandma and Grandpa here for supper

7911. Family birthday party

7912. Pulling out all of the siblings' wedding scrapbooks

7913. Bedtime conversations with Isaiah

7914. Celebrating Josiah

7915. Chocolate covered strawberries

7916. Jeremy.

 

Happy 15th Birthday Aliza!

It's just not possible that she is counting down to the day that she can get her driver's permit. I'm excited, though, to watch all of her adventures this year.