A little Easter

On Friday, we arrived safe and sound in Denver from our big adventure in the motor home.  Guess who was waiting for us to return?   Yep, Auntie Megan and Adaline.   They came to the big city for a few days and we were really excited to have them.

The first thing we did was get ready for the Easter Bunny.  We had some eggs to dye and decorate.

Gracie really wanted to help but, she just isn't quite old enough.  So, Grandma held her up so she could watch all the excitment.

 

After all the excitment, I think Grandma and Pop were ready for a little down time.

Easter Sunday was a wonderful day.  Filled with family, easter egg hunts, and candy.  We even dressed up for the occasion.  And, yes, getting a good picture of all 5 kiddos is almost impossible.  So, we will take this even if it's not perfect!

Happy Easter 2013!

Our Hosts

There are times in your life when you meet people that make your life so much sweeter.  The kind of people who love on your children like their own.  That open their homes and hearts to you.  That even take you out on a lake fishing in freezing temperatures early in the morning.  Rick and Sharon are those kind of people.  The most kind and generous people that I have ever met.

They invited all of us to their lake house for a week and were the most generous hosts.  I don't think they will ever know how much we really appreciated all they did for us on our vacation.  We had the best time and have memories that my boys will take with them for a lifetime.

I'm pretty sure that we wore all the grandparents out on our week on Arkansas.      But, nobody said anything and I just hope that they had as good of a time as we did.  From the horse races to the 40 pound catfish, we couldn't have had a better time (even with the cold weather).

So, here are a few pictures from our vacation.  One that we will never forget and we feel so lucky to have been able to share our time with such a wonderful couple.  Thank you so much, Rick and Sharon!

As we were leaving the lake house, I turned around and took a shot of this sign on Rick's deck.  It made me laugh and I just thought about Sharon....Yep, I think Rick has found the perfect woman.  One that can do all of this and has a boat, a motor, and a lake house in Arkansas.  Just perfect!

 

What a wonderful Spring Break!

 

Spring Break 13

There were no palm trees and golf this year.  No beaches or ski resorts.  Our spring break was even more exciting than all of those things.

It involved a motor home.  A baby.  A toddler.  3 school aged kiddos.   A grandma and pop.  A mom and dad.  We all piled into the motor home and headed south.  South to Arkansas.   On the fishing adventure of a lifetime.

We had to travel for 18 hours before we would arrive in fishing heaven.  So, we all settled in for the long drive across the country.

We kept ourselves busy with our Kindles, books, a few games.  We watched out the window as the wind blew and the snow started to fly.

 

And, we were so thankful that Pop was driving.  Navigating that beast of a vehicle.  Through the long straight roads of Colorado and Kansas and finally Arkansas.

We took turns helping him navigate as the minutes turned to hours and we came closer and closer to our destination.

We couldn't forget someone's 11th birthday.  So, we stopped beside the road and picked a few roadside flowers.   Beautiful flowers for a beautiful little girl.

And, we were never so happy as when we arrived at a small mobile home park around Lake Ouachita, Little Fir Landing, Arkansas.

We all piled out a little bit ragged but, our excitment couldn't be contained.  Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate the first couple of days. As the cold wind rocked the trailer we pondered what to do.  So we loaded up into the Rick's van and headed to Hot Springs for the horse races.  Everyone had a great time picking their horse and betting.  We didn't win any money but, the kids loved it.

We continued to wait for the weather to clear.  My boys could hardly wait to get out on the boat, fishing rod in hand.  And, even in freezing temperatures they ventured out.

 While the boys were out on the lake...I took a few pictures of the lake from our front deck.

And, the first few minutes out on the boat.....they caught a Monster.  A Monster Catfish that is.  I think everyone was a little surprised.

After all that fun...Rick showed us how to skin and filet him.  We can't wait to have a fish fry.  What a fun first couple of days in Arkansas.  A trip the boys will never forget.

A little list

Thankfulness today:

A game of balloon basketball.   3 little boys screaming at the top of their lungs as they make a basket.

6 loads of laundry that are no longer in baskets in my basement.

The warm sunshine while the boys payed at the playground.

Leftovers.

A tableful of women studying the bible.

A baby that slept 6 hours into the night.

The garbage man that took away all those diapers.

A phone call from a wonderful husband with a "I love you" at the end.

Being able to hold (lift) my three year old for the first time in 3 months.

Friends that just call to see how things are going.


I love thinking over my day and ending it a list of all my blessings.  It's these silent moments of reflection that helps me put my life into perspective.....because nothing else really matters.

The Hard

Holding my baby girl.  Holding her until my arm completely gives out and I put her down on the couch for a little relief.  Screams hit my ears.  I try a toy but she just wants to be held.  My arms aren't strong enough to continue holding her.  I say a silent prayer.

A little boy who refuses to eat.  Who spends most of his day whining and screaming.   Not quite sure what he wants.  Just knowing that things aren't quite right.  I get so frustrated with him that I allow him to scream.  I walk away from him because I don't know what else to do.  I walk away and say another silent prayer.

Taxes that just can't wait another day.  The papers stacked by my computer as my little boy refuses to sit anywhere but on my lap.  Helping me by drawing on my W-2 and pushing buttons on my calculator.  I try everything to distract him just so I can have a few minutes to finish.  I have to say a silent prayer.

 

Rain.  Rain and cold.  Weather that kept us inside with all the housework.  Laundry and dishes that caused me anxiety all day.  Chores that were never completed and still stare at me into the night.  I have to say a silent prayer.

Math homework.  Homework that didn't get done until 8:30 at night.   Homework that was rushed through.  Homework that caused several angry moments because I just didn't have the patience.   A silent prayer for forgiveness.

Today, I needed strength.  Perseverence.  Patience.  All these traits that are so lacking in my life.  Pushing me to my limit and creating all this mommy guilt.

I know that what I did today makes a difference.  I know that where I am today is just where I need to be.  Doing what I need to do.  But, knowing this doesn't make it any easier.   My job was so hard today and I failed miserably.  

Because of the hard, I am learning.   I am learning that tomorrow I get to start all over again.  Tomorrow will be better.  Tomorrow will be different.  My babies will get healthy.  Homework will get done before the last moment.  The rain will stop.   I can just imagine my day and am thankful for it already.  It has to be better then today. 

This is the blessing in my life.  To have the wisdom to just know that everyday is new and nothing ever stays the same.  That there is bad days but, good days are coming.  Trusting that there is a reason for all of this and breathing deep through it all.  So as I place my head on my pillow tonight I am thankful for even the hard and this brings me peace and happiness.