Grandpa's, Day 1 (cont'd)

That evening, I took the kids out because I had something in mind.

It was a bit windy.  Or was it just a case of bedhead?  Can't remember now.

This is the big sister handing little rocks one by one to the little brother to throw into the water.

He loves throwing little rocks into the water.

Changing up the scenery every once in a while.  Good for the soul.

Running free in wide open spaces.  Also good for the soul.

This was the thing I had in mind.

This was a bonus.

And the one thing the kids remember from taking these pictures?  Was that Mommy laid right down on top of duck poop and it was stuck to her shirt when she got up.  Allie pointed it out.  They also remember Mommy's REALLY LOUD SCREAM as she swatted it off.  Mikey says it echoed through the whole hillside.

Thanks, kids.

And when we got back, grandpa was right there waiting for us.

Sometimes there just aren't words.

Love.

Grandpa's, Day 1

Phil had the opportunity to attend our church's men's retreat last month and he suggested I take the kids to my dad's in his absence.

So I did.

We got in pretty late and my dad was a little worried since I was driving alone with the kids.  We drove down the small countryish road to his house only to find him standing on the dark roadside waiting for us.  Seems you never stop worrying about your kids.  

So our first full day there started off with a full breakfast, as always.  With the littlest one parked right here, as always.

Then they moved on to early morning movie time.  Tangled.  The rules are a bit different at grandpa's house.

Then it was goat-feeding time.

See the kid in the green shirt back there?  He was getting a bit annoyed that the goats were only coming to Allie's food dish instead of his.

This one had the grandpa advantage.  Also a bigger feeding bucket.

Be patiently still and quiet and not moan and groan and complain and good things (ie, a goat) will come to you.  A life lesson?  Perhaps.

Did you just call me a good thing, mama?

Want a closeup of my beard?  Just combed it this morning.

That afternoon we went for a walk with grandma while grandpa and Jonah rested at home.

Wide open spaces!

Running in fields of green!

I spotted this bright green caterpillar and told Mikey I'd give him five bucks if he'd pick it up.

And this is him just after saying no thanks and explaining that money just isn't that important to him.  Also, it would appear that entomology is not in his future.

This my girl.

Deep breath in...

Exhale.

Yes, that would be Lauren giving herself bunny ears.

This is how you turn a single stroller into a double when the need arises.

The boy was good about walking the whole way with me though.

Measuring herself against the tall grasses.

And when we got back, we found them awake from naptime and parked right here.

Easter

Oh yeah, did I mention that we were struck with Hand, Foot, & Mouth disease the last couple of weeks in addition to severe seasonal allergies for Mikey and a sinus infection for me?  Might have something to do with feeling like we're muddling through the days lately.  And HF&M?  Sheer. Misery.

So let's pretend it's not already May and back up a few weeks.  Humor me, please?

Spring break ended with Easter.  I love Easter.  I think I've mentioned this before but it's worth repeating.  I love celebrating our risen Savior and rejoicing anew that through His finished work on the cross, we can be forgiven and made new.  There is such grace and mercy and beauty in the gospel for all who believe and it never gets old to celebrate it.

I love Easter.

I also love that we were able to celebrate at the home of our friends for the fourth year in a row.  Traditions, man.  I think I like 'em.

This year though, was windy and rainy and cold so more time was spent indoors rather than out.

This egg cracks me up.  Get it?  Nyuk, nyuk.

Then we realized we forgot something  (I think it was diapers) at home, so I drove back to get some while Phil manned the camera during the egg hunt.  We only live a mile and half away, but it was really starting to rain so the hunt was all over and done with and everyone was back inside by the time I returned.

And they're off!

Jonah's first egg hunt.  He started off with the scoop-it-up method first.

But he got the hang of it soon enough.

He also had a little help, too.

Meanwhile, the others took off and were a bit harder to catch in action.

Or so Phil tells me.  Remember I managed to miss the whole thing?

Back inside and going through all his loot.  And discovering that he really, really loves this whole egg hunt business.

Really wish I had gotten both kids in focus in this one.

Because he'll only hold still for one kiss.

Back at home, Daddy convinced us he could pop us popcorn over an open flame.  Even though I cautioned him that the package said not to pop over an open flame. 

Hmm, maybe I should just glance at these here directions.

At which he point he decided that perhaps a stove would work, too.

YEAH BABY,  popcorn!

Anyway, hope your Easter was great.

Crazy kids.

To see Easters past, click here, here, or here.

Friends are Friends Forever

I've moved fourteen times through childhood until marriage.  And after marriage, I moved eight more times.  That's a total of twenty-two times in my thirty-six years.  (Wow.  Am I really that old?).

Kinda makes it tough to make those lifelong friendships that start when you're three years old. Or eight.  Or fifteen.  Is it too late to start one at thirty-six?

And even more importantly, those friendships as sisters in Christ who are able to come alongside to sharpen one another as we seek to become more and more like Him.

So friendships have been on my mind lately.  Or maybe it's my lack thereof that's been on my mind.  Am I the only one who feels sort of disconnected?  Like somewhere in there I missed the window where lifelong buddies are passed out?  Or is it this stage of my life that makes me feel this way?  Most days for me sort of seem like the Groundhog Day movie where Bill Murray lives the same day over and over and over.  Know the feeling?

For now, it's just muddling through the days trying not to forget too many things.  Like paying this or that bill on time.  Or that doctor's appointment for which kid?  Or that vague feeling like I'm supposed to be somewhere picking someone up.  Or... now I can't even remember what my next example was going to be.  Ugh.

In any case, it does make me all the more grateful for the handful of faithful, dear friends who have managed to stay my friends in spite of all the insane address changes (and I hope you know who you are because if you don't, you may well send me deeper into a downward spiral and for love of my kids, please don't do that. :p).  And when the rare opportunity to get together with one of those friends presents itself?

Well.  I get downright giddy.

 And when I get giddy, I take (cell phone) pictures of my friend taking pictures of our food.

This is her picture of our food.  :)

And this was the view we enjoyed while eating our food and talking like no time at all had passed since we last saw each other (which was actually many months ago).

And this was our dessert.

And this is me looking giddy with my dear Miss Jenny.

Thank you for blessing me with your friendship and encouragement through all these years, Jenny!

ps- and a BIG thank you to our husbands for holding down the fort with six kiddos while we mamas giddily ran out the door.  :)