Easter 2011

Easter baskets on Easter morning

Off to church!

Uncle Jordan was here to keep the kids entertained.

Hunting for Easter eggs. 

We had a house full of family including Grandma Lilly, Jordan, my parents, Will's parents, Barbara and her boys as well as Jay, Natalie and their kids.  It was a wonderful Easter!

Easter Preparations 2011

The annual dying of the Easter Eggs

Joey's first Easter. 

A new tradition.  Giving our Peeps a bath with white chocolate and sprinkles.  Yum!!

Decorating a new dining room table is so much fun!



Behold your King

The girls have put in many practices preparing for our church's performance of "Behold your King".  They have loved each and every minute of it.  They have a very small part, but its tons of fun watching the other extremely talented men and women of our church rehearse.  They had their first performance today.  They will perform again on Wednesday and Thursday evening.

Lauren and Madelyn getting their stage make up applied.  Jillian said "no way" to the make up. 

Lauren and Madelyn running on stage to get the attention of Jesus in hopes that he will cure their sick sister

The teaching scene

Jesus heals their sister!

It was a wonderful way to begin Holy Week.   As you can see the girls and I have been quite busy with play practice and performances.  I thought I would give you a glimpse of what Will and Owen have been up to.

Farming!  Will got a tractor and the boys have been having fun!

What we have been up to?

Well, the blog has been silent for quite some time.  Its been very busy around here.  Here are a few pictures of the last 2 months

 Here are the girls waking up from their last night in the Harbor House. (our rental)  They had a room with 2 sets of bunk beds.  Some nights they slept alone and other nights they all bunked together.  It was an 8 week sleepover.  They loved it!

 Here are the troops reporting for "moving in day".  Thanks moms, dads and Aunt Barbara!

This picture pretty much explains that last month.  We stored our stuff in the garage for 2 months. Much of it was covered or in boxes,  but in the end most things looked like this.  The battle rages on, construction dust is no laughing matter- its a crying matter!

 Miracle the cat had been staying with my parents while we were in the rental.  The kids are glad to have her back.  I will be happy when she remembers the fact that she was an "Outdoor Cat"  when she left us.  Not sure why Madelyn was wearing my sunglasses that day?

 We finally had Owen's family birthday party this past weekend.  He loved his "Thomas" cake made my Grandma Darlene.

Owen got his first bike.  Our home is surrounded in mud, but he has been finding ways to enjoy his bike on the deck. 

Happy Birthday Owen!

Today is Owen's 3rd birthday.  Where did the time go?  Owen was born here in Yankton and almost every time we go by the hospital he was born at Madelyn tells me "that was the place where we got Owen."  If only it had been that easy.  Owen brings us so much joy each and every day.  He always has a smile on his face even when he is in trouble.  He wants pancakes for supper so we are taking him to the Fryn pan.  Happy birthday Owen! 

Introducing the girls to their baby brother was quite a moment!

One of my favorite pictures

learning to crawl!

Still smiling :)

Prayers please

Hello friends!  I ask you all to pray for a wonderful guy and his family that Will and I have known for years.  Adam Nelson was an usher in our wedding, and a roommate of Will's at USF.  As a couple we spent many evenings with Adam and  his wife Michelle.  He was recently diagnosed with a stage 2 type of malignant brain cancer.  He is a daddy to Brynn and Cooper.  I am copying his most recent post on his caringbridge website to give you an idea of the faith and trust he has in our Lord.  He and his family are truly amazing!  I hope and pray I could have the same faith and understanding if I was ever faced with a similar challenge.  Please lift them up in prayer as they face this difficult road ahead.  Here is Adam's most recent post:

So as look up at the clock as I type this little update I can't help but think back at what has happened over the passed week. One week ago today this new journey began in my (our) life and I can't express enough how richly blessed my family and I have felt from God and his body.
First, I would have to say that nobody and I mean nobody should feel sorry for me!!! What I have experienced on this short journey so far is the PEACE THAT TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING! For all of you Brooklynites you will remember  back in the day Paster Abrams would close his sermons with this verse. Up until this past week I can honestly say that I couldn't understand this verse as I do today. I'm truely grateful to experience that PEACE and LOVE that Christ has extended to me. If this doesn't make sense trust me this is one of the best places to be.
Secondly, I can't express the LOVE my family has felt from all of you over the past week. I can only imagine how Christ is looking down from His throne and just smiling. This is exactly the way the body of Christ works. It's a beautiful thing to see and I want to say thank you to everyone. Continue to serve those people in your life.
I will post some more later, however, my breakfast is smelling so good and I'm starving.

Love

Adam

Student of the Week!

Lauren has received the honor of Student of the Week at Lincoln Elementary for the 3rd consecutive year.  She was nominated by her teacher.  Our ritual has become going out for a blizzard to celebrate.  So it looks like we will be making our way to Dairy Queen later tonight.  Great job Lauren!