Big Week Growing Up

I don't know how some weeks turn into big weeks, but this last one has been HUGE for Evan. I took away his diapers and he has been commando the last 4 days. Yikes. What was I thinking? It always sounds like a good idea but when you are standing by a puddle of pee at Hobby Lobby you start to rethink your decision. Seriously, I had forgotten how you soak everything from the waist down...shoes included. It takes 4 pairs of shoes and shorts to make it through the day. But, he really is doing great. Only one big accident every day so I know I just need to push on.

After spending time with his cousin and sleeping in the bunk bed, Evan is certain he is ready for his loft bed. I have been sanding and painting it black to match his furniture this week as a reward for going in the potty. I can't believe by next week he'll be in a big boy bed and free of diapers. What happened to my baby. He is getting to be such a big boy.

As the school year is coming to a close, I am clinging to Haley's last days at preschool. What a joy it has been to watch her get ready for Kindergarten and how exciting to see her practice for her first dance recital. Even though I still feel like I run a marathon at the end of each day, chasing kids, cleaning up, cooking meals and breaking up fights, it is such a precious time. If only I could just sink into it more and just enjoy it all. What a task to balance:) God, give me the grace to endure the race and enjoy it at the same time!

P.S. Here are some pictures from our fun times with cousins in Houston.

Bluebonnets

We finally made it to a field with bluebonnets. It wasn't easy either. Between all our travels this week and some pretty tired kiddos, I was excited to get any smiles that we could capture. Cousin Max stopped by for a visit this week after returning from a few days in Houston with more cousins....basically this week was a fun cousin fest! So, before church we were able to stop in a field between our house and Addison and get a few snapshots of the kids in the bluebonnets. They had much more fun playing in the flowers than posing for snapshots:) Bebe & Papa these are for you!!!

Talk and Play

Mr. Funny face:) And then there is Haley!

I couldn't imagine the day when I could actually carry on a conversation with an adult during a play date but it is happening more and more. I love it. It is so exciting to watch the children play and laugh without constantly taking each others' toys or hitting each other. (I guess it is only fair to mention that the house is usually destroyed in order that I might enjoy the luxury of adult discussion.) I feel like we have achieved another milestone at our house.

I guess that exciting news comes with the sad reality that as they grow up and play better with others that they start liking their friends as much as they once liked playing with you. Today I also took Haley to sign her up for Kindergarten and as much as I am excited for her to start school, I am sad that we won't get to play together every day. I guess that is the thing about parenting. Once you start to settle in to one phase you find yourself moving into another. I guess that means I better play extra hard this summer and get in extra hugs to prepare Haley and Evan for the big fall we have coming ahead.

Ordering Some New Teeth

Yesterday when I picked Haley up from school she said, "Mom I need to lose my first tooth before Kindergarten starts in the fall." I asked her if friends from preschool were starting to lose their teeth and she said that they were. I told her that there was no rush to lose your teeth, they would fall out when they were ready.

Haley replied, "I need to lose my first one soon Mom so that we can order a new one before school starts."

After explaining how teeth come in and push the old ones out of the way we determined that after Papa Bean and Gigi had some teeth pulled then replaced with "new" ones she was worried that you had to wait a while for everything to get put back together. :)

Fort Worth Art Festival

Jed and I took the kids over to the Fort Worth Art Festival today. It was a gorgeous day...the perfect weather for such an outing. Until lunchtime and all the business folks in downtown poured out into the streets, it was not very crowed and the kids were able to run around and we were able to enjoy some awesome art.

If you know Haley, you wouldn't be surprised that she wanted to get her face painted pink. Today, she chose a pink princess mask with glitter. So fun! Evan and Haley then each made a mask at one of the kids' booths as well as some tile art.

We stopped at Uno's pizza downtown afterward and enjoyed great pizza and laughs with Evan. I had forgotten how cute Fort Worth's downtown really is. When we left Uno's there was a guy who had a rat riding on a cat riding on a dog. The kids thought this was the best. Seriously. I guess this is proof we can all really get along:)

Easter Day

I thought it was only fair to not only post the best pictures but to give you a snapshot of all the pictures it takes to get a good one. What did my parents do without a digital camera?

What a glorious Easter Day. We were blessed with a full house at Restoration and it was a beautiful, joy-filled service. After the intense Holy Week it was wonderful to just breathe in and enjoy the new life all around us:) Here is a picture of the alter at church better known as "Sambuca Restaurant".

We had more fun this Easter than I can ever remember. We celebrated lunch at our house with friends, had an Easter egg hunt with all the kids and then spent the late afternoon into the evening with Jed's parents. Their neighbor was having an Easter extravaganza of sorts with a bounce house, egg dying, games, etc. and the kids played into the night. Haley realized that she could jump rope not only by herself but also with Gigi and Gdaddy holding the rope and she was super excited. They played and played...maybe it was all the Easter candy. They had the best time yesterday.

Haley had the sweetest prayer as everything came to a close last night. She said, "Thank you God that Jesus lives and is in my heart today". It is true, there is no greater joy this Easter than sharing the love of Christ with others and experiencing the freedom found from the cross. (as a side note, Evan has entered a phase where the answer to everything is "Jesus" or "cross". Today I picked him up from his nap and he told me I rescued him. I asked, "from what". He said, "Jesus". I asked what was Jesus doing and he answered, "the cross".)

Fire Fighters

Evan and Haley have finally started playing more than fighting with each and it is wonderful! Not that we make it through a day without a scuffle here and there, but it is amazing to see how the kids have turned a corner in their friendship. Now that Evan uses his words, he and Haley can communicate and it brings me so much joy to see them laughing, pretending and playing together.

They love playing pretend games and today they were fire fighters. Evan is OBSESSED with them and could dress in his fire fighter hat, coat and boots every day if I would let him. Today the kids turned half the house into their fire station. They put chairs in a row by the back door which was the fire truck. Stuffed animals filled the rows and they take turns driving the truck. They turned the living room into the bunk room with sleeping bags on the floor. The kitchen was a bar stool for a table and two chairs. Seriously, they played without fighting for at least an hour. It was precious to hear them "getting out the hose", "climbing the ladder", or "rescuing people in danger".

Who knows, maybe Evan may really be a fire fighter one day but if not, he sure has a beautiful heart to help others. He has grown up so much in the last couple of months and I am so excited to see the joyful, bundle of energy learn to channel some of that passion:)

Holy Week

I can't say that I have ever had a Holy Week like I have experienced this year. First, we started with the ever popular Holy Week tea party in Haley's room. She and Evan put a box and doll trunk together to make a table for two tea sets and a half dozen stuffed animals dressed in their party best. Jed and I entered with our hot tea and coffee then joined the party in time to read the day's "resurrection egg". It is amazing to see the kids' excitement about Easter. A parent at dance said they overhead Haley talking about the resurrection with other girls and it was so cool to know that she really is excited to talk about her faith.

Today we colored eggs and it was a much better experience than last year. A few eggs cracked and splashed but it was worth it. We can't wait to decorate with them on Easter morning. Both kids worked together to get all the eggs colored, glittered and put back in the egg carton.

This is also our first Holy Week at Restoration, our church plant in Addison. I can't even describe the ways that God has been working and teaching me this year about His love, grace and mercy. Jed and I have witnessed an immeasurable amount of pain and suffering this week in the lives of the parishioners...job losses, divorce, separation from loved ones, sickness, addiction and more than I can mention. That's the reality of life all around us. People are facing pain, loss and heartache and all we have to offer is love, the love that led the Son of God to the cross for us all.

For whatever reason, Jed and I have caught a tiny glimpse of the pain that Christ carried to the cross on our behalf. He didn't deserve it but God loved us so much, He sent His Son to walk on this earth to feel our pain, to experience suffering and to love His people. In His grace and mercy this love also led Christ to die on the cross so that we could experience forgiveness, love and mercy beyond anything we can experience on earth. The resurrection brings hope and the strength to continue to press into people's lives as well as loving others right where they are in the midst of their suffering. What a joy it is to be able to walk with others in life and what a privilege it is to be called to shared in people's joys and sorrows, praying and loving only as God equips.