One Year Ago...

One year ago (actually yesterday!), we baptised our little one! Miss Wiggles joined our church family! Aren't they cute!

Happy, Hoppy, Easter!

Well, the Easter Bunny DID come...although there have been some questionable moments during the past week. It was probably a combination of Mommy and Daddy's stress level and children begging for attention...so the big Bunny decided to stop by anyway!

There was lots of fun times searching though baskets and buckets to explore the hidden treasures! All three kids got new beach buckets for our vacation this summer. Tater loved her new princess Band-aids and Bruiser giggled when he saw the candy! Miss Wiggles didn't quite get it all...but had fun digging through bucket and standing up in her high chair.

After the excitement died down, we got everyone dressed (and by "we" - I mean, Mommy!) and headed out front for the traditional family Easter picture.

Almost...

Sit up, Bruiser!

As good as it got!

Then the kids had a mini-egg hunt for the mysterious eggs that appear in our garden each Easter. They are shiny and sparkly and contain "paper money" as Tater calls it. Someone in our neighborhood is a secret bunny - and it is such a fun treat!

Then we headed to church, where I spent the service in the cry room...so much for Easter! I did get to escape when Bruiser decided he was going to dance in the aisle instead of sit for the children's sermon. As I marched him back down the aisle, he yelled "Ow!" over and over. Didn't I feel like a great mom!

After church we had a congregational brunch and Sunday School egg hunt. It was a fun time to social and share our faith together!

In Honor of Ash Wednesday

Church is a very large part of our family's life. Tater actually cries when someone is sick and we can't go on a Sunday morning. Many of our children's friends are church friends. I have become very involved in the "management side" of our church - heading a committee, being a part of the pastoral call committee, leading small groups, and now becoming a member of the church council. Church grounds us and provides us with a welcoming and enjoyable group of people to surround ourselves with. We admire and mirror many of their values which makes friendship much easier!

In addition to the people, Daddy and I love the peace of a Sunday morning service...a service without the company of our dear little ones! We have a wonderful nursery and a great group of parents who take turns watching the children. And our kids love to play!

Well, since Tater is turning 5, we decided it was time for her to start joining us in the sanctuary for the service. **sigh** So, last Sunday, Daddy was covering the nursery and Tater decided on her own to join me with her goodie bag of quiet activities. She did fairly well for the most part. She was especially quiet during the sermon and I breathed a big sigh of relief...until she leaned over with the questions. Oh, yes, she wasn't just coloring. She was listening...and sort of understanding. The sermon was focused on the ending of Pentecost and the beginning of the lent season. So there was a bit of talk about Jesus being killed. Tater zoomed right in on that word since we preach (no pun intended!) non-violence in our house. Luckily I was able to quiet her and tell her we'd talk about it a bit later.

So at lunch I explained to her that Jesus was killed by some mean people but that he died so that God will forgive us when we make mistakes. She accepted that and I thought we were done...HA!

Last night at dinner she brought it up again. She wanted to know how Jesus could be a baby, a little boy, and man all at the same time. I told her that the stories we heard at church were stories about different times in Jesus' life and that he was a man when he died. And her question? "Why didn't his mommy keep him safe?" I stopped, looked at her, shook my head, and picked up the phone to call Papa to answer that one!

I have a feeling church has become a new adventure!

Weekend Recap (Warning! Lots of Pictures!)

We had two (yes, two!) birthday parties on Saturday and lots of things going on at church on Sunday, as well as that random holiday...you know, Valentine's Day! It was a crazy-busy weekend!

We started off Saturday with a party at the local Audubon Society...and it was awesome! They did a great job and the educational center is amazing and age appropriate for my children. Here is a bit of the party:

They started out talking about tide pools.

And they made their own tide pool.

Tater decided to listen to the story from the cubbies at one end of the room.

Then they moved like the animals in the tide pool. Tater was a sea star...

Then we went into the exhibits to do a scavenger hunt.

This is the actual tide pool in the exhibit room.

Don't you love the clipboards?

This little cave has domes that allow the children to look outside.

The inside of a large whale sculpture.

And there is the whale!

Then they got to touch and hold some of the critters.

Tater was a bit hesitant!

A sea star.

Holding a snail.

Then, after a quick stop at home, we headed out to party #2 at the bowling alley. A different location but still a great party. Tater loves to bowl and had a blast!

Love the action shot!

Could care less where the ball ends up!

Then today we had a later church service and a congregational meeting. Since the time went so late into the afternoon, we headed out for lunch and to get Daddy's hair cut. When we got home the neighborhood kids were playing outside and Tater and Bruiser couldn't wait to join in! Bruiser especially liked running with the "big boys" and being included in their games!

He was out for as little as five minutes before his knees were muddy!

I can't wait for the spring thaw and the mess that will bring with my boy!

He tried to push the sled through the bit of snow we had!

After he gave up on the sled, he found a boogie board and ran after the "big boys"!

Resourceful...even if it was the wrong season!

I'm sure we will have more to share tomorrow! It's winter vacation week for me and the kids and Daddy has tomorrow off for Presidents' Day. Tater and I can't wait to take the others to the Audubon Society tomorrow! It's always exciting to find hidden treasures so close to home!

Catching Up ("A No Pictures Post")

Sorry in advance to the grandparents - no pictures with this post! I promise tomorrow will bring lots of shoot-able memories!

Tater has returned and has settled back in much easier than I expected. She seems to be happy to be back with her own things and with her family. We still hear very frequently..."I miss Papa!"...but she is crying a bit less! She has returned to school and is enjoying her friends. She announced she will be marrying her friend, S, but we told her she has to wait a few years!

Bruiser LOVES school...or at least the bus ride! He has shared a bit more about his afternoons since that first day. We now know he plays with "hars" (what a surprise!), sand, and puzzles. He loves to talk about the bus and the other kids on it. "They go home to them mommies? And them daddies? And them babies?" and "My bus has lights?" Reports from his teacher have been good and I even find his speech a bit clearer! Tomorrow he starts Tumble Tots at our local rec center with Tater...we'll see how that goes!

Miss Wiggles has been enjoying her afternoons with Mommy! We spent Wednesday at Target and today at Trader Joe's and Sam's Club. So exciting! She also has been fighting sleep...staying up until 11pm last night...which was not on our schedule! So, she was a bit tired today! And I love to watch her "play" with the other two! She watches what they do and then swoops in to steal something when they are distracted...and runs when they scream. Priceless!

And the big news? We are adding to the family! No, not a baby...but some fish! Since Shadow seems to have taken up semi-permanent residency with Mimi, we offered to set up the fish tank for the kids in the meantime. Bruiser can't wait to "watch the fish" and "feed fish." Tater wants to get a rainbow fish and she wants Mommy to get a pink one with polka dots! Miss Wiggles just watches it all happen! We'll post pictures when the new additions arrive!

Have a great weekend and watch for updates on the fish, Tumble Tots, and our new? minister...which will be the main focus of our busy weekend! Say a little prayer that all works out for church community as we venture into the next stage of growth!

Talking to Jesus

Last week we headed out to the mommy book club at our church - finally!!!! - after a month of sickness! I was so excited to have adult time and the kids couldn't wait to see their friends. We were the first to arrive, went in the church and I sent the kids to the basement to find the toys. As I followed Bruiser down the stairs, I could hear his chattering voice around the bend in the stairs. Out of curiosity, I asked "Who are you talking to, Bruiser." His simple answer? "I talk to Jesus!" And at the bottom of the steps? A portrait of Jesus! What a sweet moment from a sweet boy!

Time to Re-Group!

We have been supper-busy over the past month - soccer, a trip to visit the grandparents, church things, school (for Mommy, Tater & Bruiser!), doctor appointments, a business trip for Daddy, and so on. Add all that to the typical fall colds and our normal errands and responsibilities, and you get one tired family (especially this Mommy!).

And I wish I could say things were slowing down...but not likely! This weekend, we have plans to go to the Spooky Zoo (an annual tradition!), my small group at church, and The NephCure Walk to support Tater's kidney disease - on top of soccer and Bruiser's Saturday class. Then next weekend, Mimi and Papa come to visit and we have Gracie's party! And after that - Halloween! Thinking about it all makes me want to go crawl in bed!

But, seriously, that's where I'd love to be! I don't know if it is the constant activity or the change in the weather, but I'm ready to curl up under a blanket and hide out in our house. It just beginning to feel like a bit too much work to manage it all. Maybe it's because we had no real vacation this summer. Maybe its because its hard to get a break with no family nearby. Maybe its because I'm just plain tired!

Okay, I'm done whining...for now! I'm off to make dinner, bake cookies, make pumpkin bread, entertain 3 children (who are probably a bit cranky after their naps!), and then go to a church meeting, where I'll probably add a few more things to my plate!

Just for fun, here is a quick shot of Bruiser stealing Tater's apple cake she made at preschool. In the end, she was okay with because she didn't really want to eat it with all the cinnamon she added to it!

Pumpkin Picking Pictures!

Today was a bit of a day! It's only 3:30 and I'm ready for it to be over! We started the morning with flu shots for Tater, Mommy, and Daddy. Tater's ear-piercing screech was probably heard on the other side of the country! She does not do needles very well!

Then we went to Kids' Club (Sunday School with a fancy name!), where Bruiser got told he wasn't quite ready...a nice way of kicking him out! But more on that another time...maybe.

Then, we ventured over the bridge, down the highway, and into the country to find some pumpkins! We started with a tractor-pulled wagon ride - no hay, perfect for the allergy prone Sprouts!

Then we went search of the perfect Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin, which Daddy got the honor of carrying for the next half hour - all 20 pounds of it!

(Yes, Mommy made the blog today!)

Tater found a pumpkin blossom.

Tried for the picture-perfect fall photo but Bruiser doesn't act on command very well!

Better picture, minus the unknown child in the background - need to explore the wonders of Photo-Shop!

Bruiser spent the ride back from the field looking through the wagon slats at the tractor. He's all boy!

We ended the day with a mini-train ride ("All aboard!) and some yummy fresh-made french fries and corn-on-the-cob!

Now the exhaustion has hit - me at least! Bruiser napped (passed out!) in the car on the way home and is now upstairs calling for me because he has decided nap time is over. Not according to my schedule! Hopefully he'll entertain himself with his trains and give me a few more minutes of piece!

The good news is that I have tomorrow off and we have a play date planned! Entertainment for the kids and for Mommy!