Easter Catch Up!

A few months ago there was a teeny tiny holiday.

A very special, almost off the charts He-is-risen holiday.

We had a super special Easter, as witnessed by this girls face.

We actually spent tons of time this year talking about the empty tomb and doing resurrection eggs.

Ford had a lot of questions (not all of which made sense) and made me realize that this topic is fairly complex for a little mind. So, we stuck to the basics. 

Jesus is alive.

And for this, we can rejoice.

A savior who took away our sins and reigns at the right hand of God in heaven.

A savior who loves us enough to conquer death.

Apparently the fairies heard the news as well and delivered some eggs….

And after a sweet service at our new church, which we love, 

we went to the Country Club with some friends.

We heard that's where this guy was going to be hanging out.

Here's Abby with her friend, Ella.

She and Ford are thick as thieves.

Already taken with the older ladies...

The kids were dressed up and it was glorious for them to have to behave and actually sit in their chairs during an entire meal. We have some work to do in this area, but they did great. 

No champagne was spilled, no bunnies were marred...

And what is a big holiday without a typical nap.

I think my heart just melted.

1225. the club invite

1226. feeling connected

1227. book club thriving

1228. running into people we know in this small town

Princess Party Catch Up

There is a local princess joint around these parts. 

The girls dress up, get their hair done and then learn etiquette and manners. 

The best part?

The creed is that they are more beautiful on the inside than on the outside when they are kind and loving. 

We had the chance to go to a birthday party there and it was lovely.

Abby loved picking our her dress….

Got her hair done…

And then paraded through the streets waving to the common folk. 

They were a sight.

And what a gift to be learning that inner beauty trumps Elsa beauty. 

Amen.

1221. like-mindedness
1222. impromptu swim date that's easy and fun
1223. hearing "I'm sorry mom" unsolicited
1224. successful surgery for a friend.

First Swim!

Back in April, we had the first swim of the season. 

It involved the cousins and popsicles were on the agenda. 

It was one of many amazing summer nights together...

The other Nieportes have a sprinkler situation that shoots into their pool.

Can  you say "awesome?!"

The oldest cousins seeing if it's too chilly to jump in...

And Fordy, post swim. He rocked it.

And after this day, I was convinced, let the swim lessons begin.

These kids need to be water safe.

More on that soon!

1217. the right sermon

1218. feeling at home

1219. swimming when it's 104

1220. the best oil on my feet at night

Tahoe Catch Up

Up next on our "it's not our spring break but it's yours" tour, 

we headed to Tahoe.

For the day. For one lovely day. 

In the same time it took to get to Napa, we were there, in all of it's winter-death glory.

It tried so hard to hang on to winter.

But spring was pushing her way in and the snow was melting,

by the minute, it seemed.

We could've made the drive just for the gondola ride.

Oh, hallelujah.

It might seem like I hadn't combed Fordy's hair.

And that's because I most surely had not. 

We're working on homeless-looking-child-number-two.

Here we were on the ride up. 

One happy mama, one silly girl.

I mean, one really silly girl.

And one peering boy…

I've looked at that view in that gondola more times than I can remember.

It makes me happy that they have now seen it too.

And once we arrived, they chose their teams. 

As usual, Ford and the older lady teamed up (whether she liked it or not!)

and he was smitten all over again, since Maine.

Abby and her pal Quincy got cozy….

...and we headed out to the sad state of affairs that was the snow.

White dirt was more like it.

But they were determined to built Olaf.

I'm not sure that happened….

but Fordy chased his shadow plenty.

But we got nice and wet and then this guy just would not keep his pants on.

He walked right up to the BBQ area in front of everyone and just stripped down.

Because they were wet, after all.

And why not? 

Super cool Spidey underwear is worth showing off. 

So, my dear friend was kind enough to take him on a tour while we waited for the others.

And after the kids watched a show (and promptly fell asleep for an hour, thank God)

and the mommys headed down to chat alone,

we got back on the gondola with these monkeys for some dinner.

Which was followed by cart racing.

And of course, Fordy won.

1213. the kindle staying charged

1214. no one on the winding road

1215. "our friends" mom

1216. learning what to ask

Napa Catch Up

We took a few road trips around spring break. 

We'd seek out our friends vacationing somewhat close by and hunt them down.

Napa was our first stop.

Too bad it was such a horrible location.

The kindle died on the way there (my sanity! the movie i downloaded!) but we still survived. We literally arrived, caught up, got lunch and headed out. It was not enough time. But it was glorious. And worth every traffic filled moment home. Napa! In Spring! With the Bowne clan! Nothing beats it.

Ford hanging with the big boys (and their air guns!)…

Secret-telling….

All the kids together at one of my all time favorite places : Gotts Roadside. May these children meet there every spring until then die. Amen.

1208. friends from afar coming near

1209. not losing anytime

1210. matchy match boys that we miss so much

1211. girls growing like weeds

1212. windows open at night

Catch Up On Ford

I've got it bad for our little guy right now.

He knows how to stop me in my tracks with a hug, a kiss….a look.

Or by whining for hours on end.

Either way, I'm smitten with this three year old.

"O Lord, you are my rock…"

Spidey climbs.

He takes horses galloping, galloping through the mud.

And makes mud pies.

He spins. And spins.

He puts up with Sissy's frozen (homemade) garb...

He finally has pals of his own...

And loves goggles.

And apparently shopping.

And pretending he's in London.

Or a doctor.

He's a crazy snuggler. A fierce scooter rider. A lover. A fighter. A sweet, tender, compassionate and easy going tough-guy. I love this guy's jam. Please remind me of this at 5pm tomorrow when I need to be reminded how to make the whining stop. We love you, Fordy!

1204. no wake up nights

1205. faces in the water during swimming

1206. coordinating schedels

1207. getting to the root of it

Catch-Up Part One

Oh, how many times have I admitted to neglecting you all, my blog people? 

Too many.

Too many to count.

So we shall recap once again….

and then forgive.

And move forward.

Again.

Bless your hearts.

There's so much to cover, so I'll just get started. 

Ah-hem….

This spring was glorious around these parts. 

And I mean, insanely glorious.

You can hardly tell, but look at this flowering plum tree.

These were everywhere.

With pink petals floating through the air like snow.

Mmmmmm.

And then there was this girl.

Still wearing those cowboy boots, nightgowns and ballet sweaters to the park.

I've quite fighting it.

She's also a crazy driver, as shown from Sloan's face.

Eeeeek!

And we went through a phase in the spring where these pumpkins (thanks, Grandmama!) went with us everywhere.  I still am not sure why…. but it was Halloween in March around here for awhile!

As the weather got warmer, we had a few lovely lunch time playdates with our next door neighbors. 

The fairies left a Frozen present - the movie! 

Just when singing Let It Go in the car wasn't enough.

This guy got potty trained.

Even at night.

3 days and it was done.

Bam.

Like a boss.

And mama is so very thankful.

There were a few trips to the lake with the cousins before the snakes came out to play...

The littles played in the water….

The boys made a mud house...

Maybe it was the nice weather.

Maybe it was the longer days.

But there were many, many afternoons of plain ole Tom Foolery with these four.

More to come….

1199. no a/c needed even with hot weather

1200. getting muddy and not caring

1201. remembering that I'm not doing it right

1202. mercy to start over

1203. church family