The Grass is Greener.....

....in the first grade! Jonathan's first grade classes presented a little program tonight based on a book they read, In the Tall, Tall Grass. They sang, played instruments, and did rhythmic movements to the song. They all wore green to represent grass. Jonathan did a great job, and the program was short enough that Alyssa was actually well behaved in the audience - a good bonus!

Easter

This year for Easter our family celebrated in several different ways. We started yesterday by making resurrection cookies. The igredients for the cookies each represent something from the Easter story, and after you mix them up you put them in the oven all night and tape it shut. In the morning, you come down to an "unlocked oven" (I took the tape off last night) and the cookies are hollow and symbolize the hollow tomb found on Easter morning.

The kids always get a basket of Easter goodies, we go to church (and it was a really nice service this year - great music, lots of flowers, and a good sermon), and we have a good Easter lunch. This year Richard made a great ham with a yummy glaze. We also had sweet potatoes and a wonderful spinach salad - truly the best salad I've had in a long time. For dessert I made a strawberry jello cake, put fresh strawberries and whipped cream on top, and put a few Easter sprinkles on it just for the kids. It was a nice light end to our lunch.

Our Easter egg hunt this year had to be inside because of all the rain we got last night, but the kids had a great time anyway -- 62 eggs for 2 kids.....who wouldn't have fun!?!?!?

We ended our celebration today by goig through the Resurrection Eggs that we bought the kids last year (a set of eggs, that once opened, reveal the entire story of Easter through scripture and tiny objects, and the last one is empty for the empty tomb.) The kids always like those.

Wailing and Weeping

Well, Alyssa has not been sleeping through the night at all since last week. I think it has something to do with my grandmother's passing. She is a lot more scared of things, especially the "darkness" as she calls it, and of being away from me. I keep reassuring her, but she's still so emotional. And, it's not like it is normal crying. It's the kind of gut-wrenching sobbing that comes from someone who is really, really upset or scared out of their wits---and don't even get me started about how she acted when the storms rolled through the other night! Let's just say I am really tired from her not wanting to go to sleep or from her coming into our room a trillion times a night. I may start crying soon myself! :-)

If you haven't seen it....

...then it's new to you. We bought used, but it sure feels new. We are so thankful to have found a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan at Carmax on Saturday. I thought we were just looking and I had psyched myself up for high pressure sales, gimmicks, and hidden fees. Carmax was so easy. We test drove and looked at several vans trying to find the best deal for the money. The sales rep was quite helpful. When we were done he simply said "It's up to you". No begging or pleading for us to make a choice or buy something right then. I was in shock. So we completed the whole process in about 3 hours. The kids sure like the new ride, and Cynthia is proud to be riding up to her school in style (like an administrator should :-). Now, what to do with Mema's old van, lol???

Caden's First Campout

Over spring break I went with my co-worker, Craig, and his 5-year-old son, Caden, to Lake Mineral Wells State Park. We set up camp, went rock climbing, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, and told ghost stories around the campfire. We even used the dutch oven to make a cobbler. The next morning I made my traditional breakfast with all of the fixings. We made biscuits in the dutch oven. Later, we broke camp and went canoeing. Caden and his dad had a great time.

My Vacation

I called the doc yesterday to see if they had my blood test results. After putting me on hold for a bit, they said that the blood vial was sent to one location in Texas, then it went to another state up north, and then that facility sent it to Salt Lake City! After the nurse and I giggled about me being OVER whatever it is I have by the time they finally diagnose me, I realized that at least a little piece of me is getting a vacation this week, while the rest of me is stuck at home! How ironic! Oh well, at least my cough is almost gone.

SPRING has Sprung!!!!

No matter what the experts say, Spring is already here! Every year our family visits the Arboretum, and to me, at least, it signals the beginning of spring! It is like a cleansing to my soul - the cold and dust of winter is washed away by the colors, fragrance, and sunshine of the gorgeous flowers! I just love it. And, judging from the kids' reactions, they enjoy it, too (though they mostly enjoy the running and rolling in the green lush grass). This year was the 25th Anniversary of Dallas Blooms, so they had all kinds of cool things at the park. They also had several storybook playhouses that the kids could explore (about 15), and while we were exploring one of them, we saw Laura Bush. She came by to see one of the houses that apparently was designed by someone she knew. Richard and I thought it was cool to see someone famous. The kids, however, preferred the petting zoo over Mrs. Bush! LOL Kids are really funny. (You can see her in the background of the picture of the kids with the animals)

Anyway, it was a beautiful start to spring. The colors were just beautiful. I wish I could go by every afternoon - it would be good therapy after long workdays!