My idea of a perfect morning...

This morning was just perfect. We have the privilege of keeping Emelia this weekend which has proven to be quite an extended play date for my two boys. It is so funny how close they all are in size which explains why I have been asked all morning if I have triplets!!! Crazy!

We decided to take a jog up to the Dunkin' Donuts near our house. We had some excited little people, as you can tell!! Getting the day started with a jog always pleases me! You can tell Stan was equally as excited...

When we got to Dunkin' Donuts there was a really long line...so we sampled their frozen juice which was the perfect treat to tide us all over while we waited for our donuts!

A patient little girl, finally, Emmie has her donut! Hooray!

Connor was quite pleased with his as well!

And, my little sweet tooth was pretty much in heaven.

I had to take the opportunity to snap this shot. What a wonderful bond these two have. What a wonderful daddy my Stan is.

Next stop was the park. The kids had a blast in the sandbox and made me several cakes. They really shared so nicely and Stan and I sat back and watched as they played.

Landon was showing off his "big boy" climbing skills.

Connor was so pleased with the frog mold and the Elmo shovel. He kept repeating Ribbit, Ribbit, Elmo! Elmo!

Then, we spotted Lewis, the squirrel. If you know anything about my dad and Landon, they have a whole make believe world made up about a squirrel named Lewis. Well, every single squirrel Landon sees is named Lewis (or Bob or Fred, Lewis's two best friends). As you can see, this "Lewis" was very friendly. He even climbed in our stroller basket while we were on the other side of the playground! Here Stan and Landon were feeding him out left over donut.

I love the look of delight on Landon's face and that of determination on Stan's.

Then Connor came over and had to see this "MOUSE" as he calls squirrels. As you can see, even my "bull in the China shop" Connor, did not phase this squirrel.

Here he is up close and personal, Lewis the squirrel.

Next stop was our house for a little free play before lunch. I adore this picture.

The kids had some water play...balloons and all, and then ate a great lunch and both Connor and Emelia are still asleep as I type.

A fun morning of course, preceded by a fun evening, here are Landon and Emelia in Stan's shoes.

I simply adore my kids and my friends' kids as well. What a wonderful gift. Enjoy!

Easter Preparations

Have you ever seen a more adorable crew? We had a chance to dye Easter Eggs at playgroup last week. As we sat around in Sunday School the week before and everyone shared their stories about Easter memories, I thought it was time to get the Easter Eggs out...and what a better venue than our Friday morning playgroup!!

The kids had such a blast and so did all the mommies, making memories and taking time to enjoy the beauty of Spring.

Here is Janise helping Emelia, who really got into decorating. It is truly amazing what a 2 year old can do.

Sophia, Landon and Baylie took time to humor me and smile for the camera pre-decorating...they could hardly wait!!

Stacey was the master-dyer, showing the kids how to make the eggs especially pretty. :)

Here's Emmie, concentrating...I love this face!! She was putting stickers on her egg after she dyed it pink.

Baby Kaeden even took a little chance to cheese for the camera. :)

And, Connor, our little ham. He was busy eating crackers, cheese, fruit, basically anything he could get his hands on while we all decorated the eggs. Next year, Connor-bug.

Here is Ursula showing Abigail how to roll the paints onto the egg. Yes, we went all out...there were colors to dye, paints to roll, wax crayons to use and stickers. These were some eggs!!

Here I am trying to show these wild kiddos how to roll the paints on as well...the after a spill due to their uncontainable excitement to GET STARTED all ready!!

Then we headed outside for a picnic. It is truly amazing how food motivates kids. They were so great and sat on the picnic blanket enjoying every moment, as did the mommies.

Now for dessert...they got to eat their eggs! :)

Landon says, "Yum!" I think the idea that the egg was actually dessert made Landon eat his first whole hard boiled egg. Maybe I should start calling brussel sprouts dessert???

And one more group shot...just can't get enough of their little faces. :)

Landon really wanted to do more the next day, so I obliged...

One happy little boy.

Landon is so very particular, he has to get the colors just so...I wonder where this perfectionism comes from?

Now they are done! Look at him holding on for dear life!

Our next big Easter event was an Easter Egg Hunt over at Sarah and Holt's house. Sarah put together an Easter Egg Hunt with special symbols in 12 eggs that the kids had to find. These eggs told the story of the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus. It was a meaningful time to share the Gospel with our kids. It was really neat to hear the kids talking about Jesus and really engaging in the questions...alright, the first few...they did get restless and started running around like crazy people, had a few meltdowns, and what can I say, they are kids. :)

Connor and Lily were in the background making joyful noises unto the Lord...

Here is Landon bringing an egg to Sarah. I think this egg had a small piece of bread in it, representing Jesus's body.

Anna beat all the big boys to the last egg, the empty egg, representing the empty tomb!! Go Anna!

Now time for more hunting. Do you think these boys are having fun?

Landon hamin' it up for the camera, showing off his Easter egg collection.

It truly has been a time of joy watching my children learn through this Holy Season. I was just thinking this morning that I hadn't reflected enough, I hadn't taken the time necessary to really ponder what Christ did for me. But, when I look back through these pictures, I realize that part of my calling as a mom is to teach my children the truth about Easter. And that takes time and reflection. In the midst of thinking I was not reflecting enough, I was building special memories with my children. God has a special way of showing us he is always here, doesn't he?

I pray your Holy Season has been a time of meaningful memories and reflection on the true sacrifice and gift Christ is to us.

He is RISEN!!

Sweet Surprises

We finally made it back to the airport this week. Landon, Connor and I headed to RDU to watch the planes land and take off and have a picnic in the warm spring air! Much to our surprise, it was a chilly day with brisk wind. I brought jackets for the boys and I managed to cuddle up in the picnic blanket we had brought. Connor was really impressed. It was so neat to see him take to the airplanes just like Landon did at that age. Landon loved it as usual and we even got a special treat...

We enjoyed our picnic, complete with craisins, cheese, pretzels and peanut butter and jelly...

We finally got some beautiful sunshine, enough to cause us to need to wear hats and eat in the shade...

And...our dear friends, Ursula, Josie and Abigail had the same great idea! What a true blessing to be able to spend the morning with these ladies!

God certainly has a way of surprising us and this is one of his surprises to me this week. Ursula has been such a wonderful friend who has really been so supportive in my trying to figure life out, here recently. She, and all of my friends at playgroup, are simply a Godsend...

Another surprise, Janise and I got to enjoy a morning together this morning with Emelia and Connor at the park. Janise has also just been invaluable in her wisdom, empathy and prayer in supporting me as well. What a truly blessed friendship hers is!! If I ever wonder if God is there, I shouldn't. He surprises me with his goodness daily, and often through the wonderful friends he has given me.

A few more random sweet surprises this week...

Landon made a mustache with his play dough and wanted me to take his picture! He is growing up way too fast!

I got a day away with my two sweet boys at the museum...and they surprised me by both sitting on this bench and smiling for this picture. Seriously, could they be any more precious?

All of a sudden, my two little fellas "puppy-piled" me! They did this spontaneously and could not stop tickling me and giggling. So funny...notice Landon's underwear is on backwards as he is SO adamant that he can totally dress himself!!

When things seem rough and rocky, there are always opportunities to be surprised by good things. I have recently been learning about the true discipline that thanksgiving is. Today, I am thankful for God and the way he uses my boys and my special friends to surprise me...should it really take discipline to recognize such precious gifts?

Springtime Calling

A special project planned just for fun is sometimes all that I need to get out of a funk. Last Monday, Landon, Connor and I headed over to see Janise, Sophia and Emelia for just that, an exciting spring project that you can see pictured above! Because of the cold weather and sick kiddos Janise and I have both experienced lately, we decided to welcome Springtime in whether it was warm or not. :)

Here is a shot of the two little families (as Landon calls them) together. Each peep representing each member of both of the families.

First we rolled out the dough to make the cookies. Landon was very excited to use the rolling pin and did a really nice job cutting out the shapes.

Emelia was quite good with the spatula....for a 2 year old! :)

Next for the icing! I think the kids consumed more icing that they actually put on the cookies!

Connor was content as can be- we let him eat a cookie while the rest of us decorated!

More icing (and eating).

Probably a miracle that I got all four kids to look at the camera and smile! As you can see, it was a fun time had by all. :) Nothing puts a smile on a mommy's face more than seeing her little ones with such delight in their eyes.

I had to stop for a sweet photo with my "Connor-bug".

Janise was guiding the kids to put pretzel sticks on top if the cakes where we had cut a piece out of the middle for the birds and the eggs to be carefully placed.

Landon, perfecting our nest.

And the best part...eating it!! Yummy!

Connor was obviously thrilled to be a part of the cake eating as well!

What a wonderful memory with my boys and with our three best pals.

It is often in these reflection when I contemplate my calling in life. Being with these boys brings such amazing joy to my heart. Projects such as this are just plain fun. It is a nice reminder of the how much joy these two bring me especially in light of a lot of whining, fussing, snotting, waking in the middle of the night, wetting the bed, throwing the food I made for dinner, time outs, giving up naps, fighting bedtime, screaming during diaper changes, battles... just normal kid things.

I also often find myself between work and staying home, by working part time- the seemingly "best of both worlds". It is hard to switch sometimes, to divide my time, to let work go so that I can be fully present for my family- who are my number one calling.

Our pastor talked this week about the difference between a calling and a career, saying people have really moved away from talking about work as a "calling" and more of a "career" and how a career is defined more of how much you can move up the corporate ladder and thus define yourself quickly by work.

I want to be in tuned to the calling God has for me and whether that is at home as a wife and mom and/or at work as a PNP. The constant pull both ways often weighs on me, but it is times life the above, when I truly feel blessed right where I am.