April

After a LONG winter of 11 snow days and weeks of sub-freezing temps, spring has finally sprung!  One of our three annual nests under the deck is ready to go and the playgrounds are ready for Matthew.

After nearly a year of looking for suitable round tables to accommodate our family, decor and budget, the table I grew up with in the mountains arrived.  Mom and Dad decided to have a larger one made, so passed on theirs.  After having it shipped and refinished, it was delivered...and Matthew was ready. While he backed away from the power drill, he's been on all over it since---literally.  I am diligently praying for the novelty of dancing on the built-in lazy susan to wear off.  

We finally got Andrew's new bed assembled, his reading nook staged, and his lego storage put together.  Happy kiddos!  Unhappy Mom that the picture is somehow sideways.  

Beautiful day at the park with Dody.

Whistle Down the Wind at FPC, Richmond.  April 5, 2014.  What a show!  Granddaddy made a pretty logical Grandpa.  The kids are still singing, "When Children Rule the World".  Why would that possibly be their favorite song??

Matthew has figured out Fellowship Hour....sit still on the bench and cookies come my way!

Can't keep this monkey off of anything in the house.  I've found him on top of the keyboard, the dining room table, and just today, on the kitchen counter.  

Nothing makes me happier than this scene....Andrew and the neighbors all happily playing defense on Michael, just home from work.  

He shoots, and scores (on a really happy goalie!).  

The commentary here was priceless.  Andrew was diligently showing Matthew how to aim his hips squarely at the goal for the best shooting form.  I'm certain Matthew absorbed the instruction.

The next instruction was to stop for a snack.

My mulch helper.

Matthew hasn't had a morning nap probably since laying in the bucket at the pool this summer, but apparently MOPS was just too much fun today.  Out cold at 11:00am, with all kinds of activity around him.  

This is what MOPS is all about - snacking on donut leftovers, and making room for little friends on the bench....in that order.

Happiness is getting Magazines in the mail after school. (Mom would be happy if the picture posted the way the thumbnail looked!) 

A front yard nest this year!

While Daddy is away for the weekend, we must find ways to wear each other out.  Morning spent at the best playground in greater Charlottesville, followed by lunch at Panera (our first lunch with Matthew AND without Michael was a success!), followed by Sweet Frogs and a festival did the trick!  Everyone was passed out drooling by 2:30 and had to be awakened for round 2 to ensure an easy bedtime.

Nice view on a beautiful day.  

Mommy's little helper.

Palm Sunday and Easter

Palm Sunday was a beautiful, but extraordinarily busy day.  Michael was out town, so I had to figure out how to be multiple places at once.  The years of that trick are just beginning!  The kids did great, though...

• Waved palm branches down the aisle for both services while learning, ”All glory, laud and honor, To Thee, Redeemer, King, To Whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring.”
• Learned the "Jelly Bean" story, tying each of the colors to the Easter story.
• Hunted for dozens of eggs on the playground at church.
• Went to Lacrosse practice.
• Successfully ran in their 3rd annual "Little Eggs, Hidden Eggs" at ACAC.  I LOVE that the gym has them do running races in heats by age before they search for their candy-filled eggs!
• Took a deep breath and scooted off to AWANA, practicing verses pertinent to the Palm Sunday story. 
• Oh, and somewhere in there we dyed eggs, too, for our indoor hunt.  
• Andrew finished his weekly Lent services at Church by faithfully attending our touching Maundy Thursday service.  He continued to be intrigued by these mid-week services, the symbolism behind them, and the meaning of the songs, hymns, and prayers we said.  It was really a special season with him.  

  Waiting patiently for the second service to begin.

The story of the Jelly Bean colors is so neat!  We made copies and put them in Margaret's eggs for her school hunt.

"Forget the jelly bean story, I'm ready to go hunt outside!"

 Rounding the corner for lap 2.

Here comes Matthew...

...add Mommy

...and enter Daddy!

And again, here comes Matthew...

Ready, set, go!

Andrew was patient and sweet in the less-than-challenging egg hunt, which was designed to give Matthew a chance at one or two.  

Watch for Matthew bopping up 

and down to help.

A CEO celebration...

we eat as a family in the dining room on Christmas and Easter Only:)

At least one of my sons likes mashed potatoes!