This and that

Time will go by and I won't realize how much has happened since my last post. Not necessarily tons, but more than I thought.


This chapeau was what my mom called her "splurge" as part of V's Easter basket.


J had his "Race For Education" on Friday. He ran/walked 16 laps this year. He ran fastest when he could see me :)


This is also the morning that V decided to take a header off of the front stoop. However, he was so brave. He stopped crying so quickly and sat very still without a peep while I cleaned the wound and put on his band aid.


We are almost done with E's dance class. Actually last week was her last class and this weekend is her recital.


I think practicing their smiles and making faces in the mirror is half the fun.

It's a hit!

SAFE!!

Yes, it's baseball season here and J is enjoying his team. His coach this year is not as "laid back" shall we say as last year. He is actually a great coach, serious and firm but always encouraging the kids as well. He reminds them to take care of their own stuff, doesn't let them pout when they are losing, and promotes goods sportsmanship. All great things for our son to have reinforced.

Another cool thing is that his team was invited (if we bought tickets and we did) to our local minor game to be on the field with the players, have a ball signed, be there during the national anthem and while the team handed their coach a big check for a fundraiser they did. Exciting right? Yes, well I completely had the time wrong and we missed it. I was so mad at myself. J did get a bit upset at one point, but I don't think he really understood the big deal in the first place. I know it wasn't the dodgers or anything but still, for a little guy a cool thing and I blew it big time. I was definitely more bummed then he was.

At the game.

As you can see he got over it and we had a good time. His coach even got him a ball with the team name on it.

This grumpy Gus was the reason we did not stay until the end for the fireworks. But I actually had been under the weather for a couple days, and we had opening ceremonies in the am and J's first game in the middle of the day, so it was a good decision to head home.

E and a bit of V

She got a basket for her bike for Easter,


and bubbles.


He LOVED them.


I'm all for children picking out their own clothes now and then but sometimes I have to draw the line. She picked this out for a party. In her defense I will often layer because of inclement weather. But it was a sunny day and well, need I say more? I said she looked lovely and I wanted to take a picture before she took it off, as it wasn't time for the party anyway.

If you sit under a tree....

a bird just might poop on your head.



But doesn't he clean up well?

Easter, etc.

We hope everyone had a lovely Easter. My tulips bloomed just in time to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior.


First things first. I made E's Easter dress this year. Yes, I am proud. But really it was simple and fun. I even used extra fabric to cover a headband to match.


Our morning started out at a brunch at church. Don't you love the look I'm getting from my daughter?


How handsome is my V?



The picture doesn't really do it justice, but I put flowers on the cross in front of the church and I was really pleased with how it turned out.


J and his buddy Wes.


V was ticked with the the bunny he got from Grandma Linda.




We colored eggs Friday night.

Saturday was pouring, and friends invited us to go bowling. Let it be known that i still suck at it. Only twice, when I threw the ball did I NOT get a gutter ball.

But the kids loved it.

V has taken up singing with our microphone. It cracks me up that he know what to do with it, because there are no batteries in it.

One sunny day we took him outside and he just wandered around "talking" the entire time with hand gestures. It must have been something important.

One not so sunny day we had hail. This was one of the bigger pieces that Den heroically ran out to get for us.

Happy Easter

This is an ocotillo, my favorite cactus. When we were out west for Christmas, this one was blooming in the desert. I love how vibrant the blooms are, but if you look below they grow above some serious thorns. Just like our lives. God has something beautiful planned for us but there seems to be thorns along the way. A few posts ago I announced that we were having another baby. On Thursday we found out that I had a miscarriage. I had some signs leading up to it, so it was not a huge shock, but still very disappointing. The kids have handled it so well. When Dennis told them that they now have a sibling waiting for them in heaven, they both responded with a "I wish we could go there now!" I love how their childlike faith can embrace the concept of heaven and their baby brother or sister safe in the arms of Jesus so easily. God has given us a blanket of perspective in all of this. I felt immediately covered in how we are so blessed with three beautiful children, protected from a harder situation if I had been further along in the pregnancy, and surrounded by prayers, loved ones and having others close by that have been through similar experiences. I feel like I don't really know how to grieve, I'll be fine then in a funk. But I can truly say that I feel His peace around me and my family, and I have a hope that isn't just a daydream, but something real.

I know many of you know, but for those that didn't or that I haven't talked to, I just wanted to have you hear it from me. Please don't take it personally if we haven't spoken on the phone or face to face. Honestly, I'm a bit talked out. However know that I have been eating up your notes of encouragement, and feeling comfort from the Father because of your prayers. I remember being on the other side of this with others and not knowing what to do or say. So I'll tell you. Don't be afraid to ask about it. I'll probably be fine to talk and if I don't want to talk about it I'll be honest, just don't be offended. Thanks again for all the love.