easter 2015

Little playdate friends. Our second annual easter egg hunt! they are so fun to watch gather the eggs!!

Ellie reading every one a book ;) She makes up amazing stories!

My little spunky birdie reading her little pink Bible to me. She has so much personality, it cracks me up!

This year's easter baskets (the other ones were in storage) I think I'll use these again next year. 

Jack and his Papa. My dad wasn't feeling too well, but Jack had to give him some cuddles. Love how he's totally a mini version of my pops!

being present

"If we are all alive ten years hence, let's meet, and see how many of us have got our wishes, or how much nearer we are then than now..."
-Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Ch. 13

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Thursday was a day for a Swap It Party. It's a great idea, but with 12+ kids under 5 it was kind of chaotic. We all brought forth our undesired items of clothing and a topping for the pizza. I went through everything I owned (in search of a purple sweater I never did find) and got a whole garbage bag full. Oh. My. Goodness. When we arrived, there were kids and pizza and yummy (oh so good) apple crisp.






After a couple hours of rummaging through each other's things (kind of funny when you think about it) and filling the bag that I had emptied when I arrived, we enjoyed lunch. And the kids began to get tired. Jack fell off a chair, a little girl scolded me for pushing her and Jack had emptied an entire plate of apple crisp (it was so good!) all over the couch and floor. We decided it was time to hit the road (jack) and the boys barely made it 10 minutes into the drive. 

So precious.


What fun. 

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This weekend has been magical thus far. After fighting off a bad cold (and soaking my face in hot water and stuffing it full of vitamin c) I awoke before the sun and hit the road to pick up my bountiful basket. There's something about trekking out in the cold (before most of our neighbors) and feel the 20 degree weather and see the sky barely peaking through. I enjoy the brisk cold and once the car has warmed up I open the window a bit.










God's faithfulness is so present in the way He provides kindred spirits wherever He leads. I have been in some lonelier places and there...there He's been my only friend, but He always seems to reveal a kiddo or seasonal friend even in those times. Here in this season He's brought some dear souls who enjoy being genuine and whimsical. My cup runneth over.

The Day the Javelina's Ate My Pumpkins

As you know, I love autumn.

I love the changing colors, the cooling temperature, the early sunsets and darker mornings. I love seeing my breath in the dark air while roasting marshmallows around a fire. I love snuggling close with my man over an episode of Parenthood. I love eating candy corn (until I feel sick) and making many warm, delicious meals (tonight was tortilla soup...not the best. We'll forget that one happened. Sorry, babe.)

 

This morning when I opened our front door to let in a cool breeze and a little sunlight I discovered my two pumpkins I JUST bought on Sunday were GONE! It was as if they were never there. Looking closer I found tiny remnants. I quickly ruled out teenagers (they would have left behind something) and that meant it could only be an animal. Javelina's. Arizona's squirrel, if you will. They come to destroy and be a pest. Annnd eat pumpkins. My 3.98 pumpkins, too. In Scottsdale it was too hot to leave pumpkins outside and here it's too dangerous to leave them outside. I think I will put them outside 8am-7pm and then bring them to the garage, kiss them goodnight and keep them safe. Just kidding, of course.

this is all that remained of my pumpkins

I got my Canon Rebel back. It had been 2 weeks. It's like reuniting with an old friend. It's fun, but different. It takes a few days to find the groove and be yourself. 

Jack had Cougan over for a little while today. It was delightful. The whole way to our house they sat in the back seat giggling at each other. So, so precious. 


By the way, my screen is seriously broken on our door there. How does one fix that?


I have so many pictures to share, so much I want to capture and create to be set as memories for Jack to sift through when we're old and aging. That reminds me...

Last night on the drive home John and I were talking about the strange reality that we will most likely be alive when our parents pass away. My mom is already concerned about "what will happened when..." and trying to plan ahead. But, how do you plan ahead for something that is so beautiful and natural, yet so painful? How do you plan ahead in the reality that you might not being able to care for yourself anymore? When you can't remember where you put your shoes, car keys, or if you ate your breakfast or took your medicine? How can you plan for that? While we were driving I let it really sink in to my brain for a brief moment. I let the thought take off it's shoes and settle deep into the lazyboy of my brain (maybe I'm the only one who doesn't think about this sort of thing on a daily basis.) and it was a startling reality. Honestly, if I think about it too long the whole thing freaks me out.

I haven't lost a lot of loved ones in my life. John has experienced losing both of his grandparents and his great aunt. Both sets of my grandparents are still alive and I'm not sure how it will be when they pass away. My heart rejoices with them because they will get to meet face to face with their Savior, but the pain that will reach my parent's hearts goes deeper than my pain. I'm sure it's a different kind of pain. The truth that it will one day be my parents who I'll have to say goodbye to is a very scary and shaking fact.


As the moment passed on our drive home I decided to settle into the present and the time I do have with them. We're not meant to live forever, and this moment isn't forever (however blissful it may be.) It's meant to end and we're meant to grow older and one day pass away. I'll focus on today. On enjoying and loving them for as long as God wills it.