~ Happy Easter to you all~

 

  

         We woke up to snow, and it is still snowing. The tulips growth will slow down again with this cold weather. Just yesterday I noticed that the stems had shot out with the buds. The daffodils had just bloomed a day or two ago. When I went out to feed the animals, I looked around a bit and it was very sad to see how bad the tulips looked. Are they ruined for this year?! I took some mail out to the mail box, and found the daffodils froze. I was going to pick a bunch for the table before they are over. I'd hoped to take a vase full of tulips to church for Easter.  It sure is cold out there and will be colder tonight...down to 19 degrees. Eric  was doing his best to melt the snow a few weeks ago. I saw him with a watering can, and his boots on. He was a little sheepish, when I asked him what he was doing with the watering can. I had to laugh, and told him he could let it up to the sun. It is Spring and the sun is warm! The children have tired of the snow much sooner than I have, and are so impatient for warm weather.                       

       I was just gathering all the veges I could find from the fridge for the soup for lunch... Jason thought he'd stop in for lunch since he is in the dump truck today, hauling gravel to a place close by. Lunch will be ready if he stops in...it has been a chaotic morning with it being bath morning, helping Jennika get some letters in the mail, needing to do extra Math, finishing writing a family news letter, AND the school room clock not keeping time!( Big excuse!) Maybe I glance at the clock more than I know, but it keeps us on track, or helps us know how far off we have gotten!

       Last week was full with having the sewing here on Tues. then Jennika's 8th birthday was the next day. At the end of the week I was preparing for Clarisa's Bridal Shower, which was planned for Sunday afternoon.

      The Bridal Shower was an enjoyable day. We had 3 kinds of sandwich spread, crackers and dip, fresh strawberries, cup cakes, some with mint frosting, rhubarb punch, and a coffee bar.  Sylvia had fun with some creative and oh so attractive decorating, but it also included a lot of work before and after, I know! It was fun to work together to give Clarisa a shower that brought her friends and their gifts!  :)

          For me now that the fun and full weekend is over, it is on to those flower girl dresses (that are now finally cut out) more shopping, and doing the last few weeks of school!

We ordered next year's school books... (now buying for the 4th child- ouch for the pocket book, even with 20% off if you order in April for Alpha Omega books; which is a big chunk of them.) This year Jason called in the order...a difficult job to keep your head together! Of course I was close by to answer any questions. I was so grateful he was willing to do that for me! One morning before the children were awake we spent over a hour deciding and writing out the list of books. Maybe we can go pick them up at the end of this week if they are in by then.

           Ahh! Just when the day is getting to be too much...it is nap time, and the youngest sleep for a few hours. Oh yes, maybe we need their sleep even more than they do!  :)

           Bradyn (14 mo.) is so close to walking now. He turned one the middle of Feb.  His hair is staying fairly dark, and is beginning to curl some...too bad he should have another hair cut some time soon. I promised Jason I will give him one once he starts walking... :) We are finding out how much he loves the out doors. He doesn't want to be left out of any out- door adventures!

          Venesa's second birthday was at the end of Jan. She is so sweet, still my baby girl, but looking so big with her long(shoulder length) hair, curly as ever. Two year olds are fun to teach and train. Some days they seem to need to be close to you, and other times they might be off playing for long stretches, and mom needs to go look for them. Not sure what makes her sometimes tell on Brady's mischief, "No, No baby!" and other times just join in! 

           Eric tells people that he is four and he won't have a birthday for a REALLY long time. He usually gets some sympathy with his doleful expression when he shares that with someone! He even got a quick hug once. In the fall he will start Kinder garden, and maybe do it in two years, I guess I haven't decided yet. It is too far ahead to know what he is ready for. I know he will be excited to see his books. He loves Saturdays as much as the other children.  Mostly because it is the only day of the week they are allowed to play games on the computer. I am looking forward to watching him enjoy summer with all its delights for a little boy.

           Ciara is happy to be finishing first grade. I think school would go a lot better and faster for her if she could read a little better. She is actually really good at Math. Then she comes to a story problem and wants me to read it to her. She has a love of beauty and an eye for creating it too. I smiled when I saw her night stand. She had laid a dried rose across the corner of a paper with a poem she's learning, and scattered a few petals all around the edge. Definitely got a feminine flair. Maybe I could try to explain to her that a true lady never raises her voice or speaks sassily or angrily.  Teach me by example , Mom!     

               Jennika wonders if she can have another kiss if she gets her multiplication fact figured right...(her love language is physical touch) the others are finished with their Math for today; what else is new? She had a sad experience with her pet fish the other week. We had just got 3 new fish and hers refused to eat after the first feeding. So hard on this animal lover that tries to always take such good care of her animals. It died half a week later, but the others seem to be doing fine. She is hoping we will go to NY for Simon's brother's wedding in May. The reason she gave? To see Natasha's cousin's pony. :)  It is the week before Clarisa's wedding though, so we aren't sure...but we will need to decide soon! She was given some very nice gifts for her birthday, older girl gifts like cookie cutters, sketch pad and pencils, key chains for her purse... my little girl is growing up, and her sister is right behind....

            Ryan is 9 and finishing 4th grade. He turns ten this summer. His dad made him a bow and arrow which he loves to use for target practice. Oh! I said I'd play pitch and catch outside with him after he finished his Language Arts...I told him it is cold out there. But some fresh air is always welcome.  I think he enjoyed his science the most this year. But I think he will like even more what we chose for next year, The World of Animals  At least I will enjoy teaching it more than the "Inventions" study we did. Above both our heads, especially mine!

How he dislikes his school when it requires a lot of writing! He tries to make the shortest sentences, ect. He is not impressed with cursive, either. He requested we skip language arts for him. Sorry, Buddy! Not a chance! I love to see that he wants to spend time with Jason more than he used to. He doesn't always want to go to work (he doesn't have that opportunity very often) but he jumps at the chance to go to town with him.

            This Spring Jason & I put on an 'Art of Marriage' video seminar.  It is produced by Family Life Ministries. We have been to their Weekend to Remember Marriage Conference two times.  We had around 12 couples come. We tried to create a 'weekend to remember' including time for a date night. Of course we had the best time of anyone, seeing the couples enjoy connecting and being challenged through the sessions. We might do it again in the future, but that seems a little overwhelming right now. We know that there are a few couples that want to come if we do it again... and we have all the materials. We also have a place available for free, a very beautiful building. That was a huge blessing!

We are thrilled if God can use us in a small way to offer encouragement and hope to marriages in our community. We long to be a couple that thrives in marriage, not just survives!  :)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Hoping you all have a great Easter Celebration! It is one of my favorite times of the year. I have a Cd I like to listen to with songs taken from Isaiah. The last song is the Halalujah Chorus. What a joyful season full of hope.