April Snow Showers Bring?

Miss A one morning, so proud of her fancy towel wrap around her head

This morning, I was out running a few errands for the "big" Eagle Scout Ceremony this weekend and big fluffy snowflakes were falling from the sky.  Snow.  In April.  I really thought Spring was suppose to be here by now, but each day I look at the weather and tell my kids to wear long pants, sweaters and pants.  Last week, I finally put away the snow pants, hats and gloves because I couldn't stand them anymore.  I had to go get my husband's snow boots this morning as he had an appointment west of here where they were expecting 2 to 6 inches.  Miss A told me a hood on her "wintry spring coat" works better in this weather anyway.

Enough.

Mr C is besides himself over the state of the golf team this season. According to him, the year he's actually playing well the weather causes four tournaments to be cancelled due to snow and last year when he barely made the JV team they played every match.  He is itching to play so bad.  Two Saturday's in the last month, he's actually played golf in about 30 degree weather and made it to the clubhouse just a bit before it started to snow.  One day, he was out on the practice green and driving range and the clubhouse manager's car was the only one in the parking lot.

Of course, I realize that come July and August we will be complaining again about the heat! We'll be begging for some cool weather and the ability to go outside without sweat rolling down our face.  I know this, but it still makes the waiting on the nice weather hard to stomach.  Miss M told me yesterday that she has never hated her winter wardrobe more than the last few weeks that she's seen glimpses of her spring clothes in the closet and had to keep them there instead of wearing them.  Can't blame the girl.

You would think that since it's been so cold and miserable that I would be all caught up on the blog, creating new scrapbook pages and have the best meal plans ever for my family.  Reality is that I've done "40 Bags in 40 Days" the abbreviated version (when you start two weeks late) yet still come up with 48 bags to give or toss away.  Pretended to be a Videographer and created a masterpiece for the Eagle Scout Ceremony of "scouting through the years" and tried to keep up with the new spring schedule of soccer, softball and golf.

I'll admit that on most days the only item still on my "to do list" is the line "update blog" and I consider that a success.  Well, I guess if I'm honest the lines that include the word; laundry, put away, fold or sort socks and underwear" tends to be uncrossed out as well, but that is normal. Right?

My goal for these final weeks of April and May is to get all caught up with blogging, laundry, scrap booking and knitting before "those" kids get out of school and I get nothing done all summer long!

Watch Out, New Driver in the Family

Mr C has his Driver's License and he's not afraid to use it to get him around town. Since C had Good Friday off of school, we figured it was the perfect opportunity to go the DMV and pick up his license.  Having taken Driver's Ed over the summer, all he needed to do was turn in certificate and take an eye exam.  Of course as per a trip to DMV, we forgot his social security number at home and were panicked that we'd have to leave our great spot in line to go home.  Dad to the rescue; he found the number on some health documents at the office and was able to call us with right as our #10 was called!  Phew!

C's snazzy license would take a few weeks to come in the mail, but at least we walked out with a temporary card.  To celebrate the accomplishment, we went out to lunch, did a little shopping for some cool red golf pants for tournaments, and then Mr C went and played 18 holes of golf!  I had to drop him off as I needed the car that afternoon and Mr C admitted he was a little nervous to drive on a busy Friday afternoon.

By Monday though, he was ready to take the car out for a spin around the Neighborhood and even let Miss A tag along.  She was disappointed the trip did not include ice cream, but enjoyed sitting in the back directing him around her "neck of the woods." 

Mr C has now requested a big city map to put in his room.  He'd like to draw out routes to his favorite places.I think his highlighted spots will be the area golf courses, the baseball fields where he'll umpire this summer, and maybe if his sisters have anything to do with it a few frozen yogurt shops.  

I'm realizing that those concerns I had a first time mom with the "big moments" like walking, preschool, friends, and little league strike outs are all pretty minor in comparison to the prayers I'm offering now for him as he drives away in a car; for wisdom, safety and protection.  I'm trusting that Jesus really does have that "wheel."

Easter Sunday: Faith, Family and Fun

He Is Risen. His Is Risen Indeed.  Hallelujah!

Is there any better day than Easter.  No matter the weather, plans or world around you, there is nothing that beats the joy that only Easter can bring.  A Savior who not only died for my sin, a Savior who Conquered Death and Lives Again.  Amazing.

After a glorious morning of worship, we hosted my family for Easter this year.  Normally, I let the "party planning" go to my mother who not only has the gift of hosting, but who also has a larger home that can stay clean for weeks as she has no children living with her to mess it up!  Our home is far from perfect even after a day of cleaning, but the whole point of getting together with family is to spend time together.

I had big plans of making a pretty centerpiece and fancy dishes, but decided instead to make a simple Resurrection Garden, order a ham from Honey Baked, and have my sister in law bring along a few things to add to the meal. Perfect.

We had two full tables of people; a big kids table and an old people's table.  Of course, I was at the later.  My niece brought along both a boyfriend and roommate from college, Miss A brought along her need to snuggle with the cousins and grandparents, and the big kids challenged the cousins to Badminton and Golf in the yard.

Keeping the tradition alive, we even went over to my parents house to take the traditional "Stair Picture" of all the cousins; a picture that we've taken a few times over the past few years and are shocked at how these kids keep getting taller and older!

Finally to end the afternoon, Miss M and Mr C joined Papa for a round of golf where Miss M got her first par.  Who knows maybe we are going to have two golf team players in the family in the next few years!

A wonderful Easter Celebration!

Easter Traditions Still Alive

I love how even though some of my children might be past the age of doing some of the traditional parts of Easter, they are still willing to be part of the activity so their younger sister can experience the fun just as they did.  At least I think that's why Mr C and Miss M still come to the table to work on dying Easter Eggs.  It could have something to do with the fact that it allows them to create and color like a kid.  I might also tell them that the "Easter Bunny" only delivers baskets and candy to those that play along.

The best part of this year's Easter Egg creations is that not one single egg was lost in the hard boiling process.  I baked them in the oven. Really.  No one in our family really likes eggs that much and hard boiled are not the "way" they would eat them if they chose eggs (runny and sunny or scrambled with cheese, please) so I only hard boil once a year.  On a normal Holy Saturday you will find me with four or five cracked eggs. Baking them in the oven in my muffin tin totally saved me from the cracked fiasco of the past.  

Not that a cracked egg makes that much of a difference to this crew; we dye them and then store them in the fridge for the next day's decorations and then toss them out. Not an eaten one in the bunch.  But at least they look better without big holes in them!

Sunday morning after church when the Easter Bunny had finally delivered the candy eggs in the backyard (smart bunny he doesn't do it when the dew is on the grass), Miss A asked her brother if he was too old to do the Egg Hunt this year.  His response; I like candy just like the rest of you, let's hunt!  Smart Boy!  Guess the fact that his Easter Basket was filled with a Ping Hat and some of his favorite candies spurred him on to even more.  That smart Bunny even brought Miss M the exact pair of sandals she needed for her Easter Dress and gave Miss A another set of Lego Friends!  Not too bad for an imaginary bunny that lays eggs.