Easter Sunday!

The weeks leading up to Easter are some of the most special 

and anticipated in our year because celebrating Jesus and His sacrifice &

Resurrection has such precious meaning to us. 

This year however, was a little altered for us since we were literally in boxes as we packed up our home to move.  We left our Easter decorations up as long as we possibly could and after the movers came and took all of our things we camped out in the Master Bedroom for a few days/nights.

The kids loved these few nights of slumbering on the floor and being altogether!

It was a close one (I was IN bed before remembering I needed to put out the baskets),

but we still managed to get Easter baskets delivered to our almost empty house!

Paigey chose to comfy up next to Mom & Dad.

Jake holed up in the corner of the room to sleep. 

Mr. Army man was a little excited about his basket treats. 

I realize weapons aren't the loveliest choice for Easter,

 but it's a long time until his birthday and he really wanted some gear for his military play.

Paigey got (another) Doo-doo!  

It's seahorse that has been a beloved friend for years, but some how got lost.

Why she calls him Doo-doo, we aren't completely sure. Except that she was three when she named him and there's just been no going back!

A loolipop of hair rubberbands.

Paigey was just a little excited to get "Sophia the First" on dvd.

This is the ONLY picture I have of our Easter Sunday prettiness!

I took it because it reminded me of how my Dad would always tie my dress bows. :)

We all dressed up and wen to church and out to dinner. 

Following that we went out to the Farm, because we were supposed to have access that day.

But, in all the commotion (they still weren't out of the house) and the craziness of the day, 

we never ended up getting a family Easter picture.  :(

We did enjoy meeting the family of the previous owner of our new home and we heard oodles of great stories.  We dropped off a few things and then spent the remainder of our afternoon with our dear friends the Jobmann's (only 8 mins from our new house).  The kids had an Easter egg hunt and Lori made a fabulous Easter dinner.  We then enjoyed the finale of "The Bible" together before calling it a day and heading to 5066 Creekmonte Drive for one last night.

It wasn't your typical Easter, but it holds so many wonderful memories...

the greatest of which is NEW LIFE!!

Baking Cousins

At our last family get together Willow and Connor contrived a plan that since they both love gymnastics and baking, that they should get together (soon!) and do both! 

So Connor invited Willow over and they made cake pops.

They both agreed that the best part of being a chef is licking the bowl and the whippers!

Paige hardly thought it fair that Willow come over to hang with Connor and she not invite Macy to play. So Macy came too and the two girls had all sorts of screeching fun together. 

(I think this is the calmest they were the whole time!!)

The two of them make an Easter Cake.

And if Willow and Macy were coming over, what was poor Jake to do?

So we had Zak come too! 

BUT WAIT!? What about Chloe?  

Well, needless to say when you have cousins your same ages you can't invite just ONE over to play!

The kids had a great time playing games and baking and the like.

Egging the Neighbors

When I was a kid, egging the neighbors was something that happened the night before Halloween and it was most certainly not done by sweet, Christian children.  But, today is a completely different culture and egging for Easter is the new rave!

Oh, yes! And it's two weeks til Easter and there is SNOW on the ground!

The kids filled Easter eggs with candy and hid them in the front yard of all their little neighbor-friends.

Then they left this note on the door.

(You can click on the picture to zoom in and get a closer look>)

All the kids loved it...both the deliverers...and those who received the delivery!!

I just love fun ways to share Jesus!

Valentine's Day 2013

There are just a few things that we who have been in traditional school miss in our homeschooling world and one of them is the fun of a friends Valentine's exchange.  Don't get me wrong, we're all about a good family love fest on Valentine's Day and we enjoying making and mailing Valentine's to our cousins and grandparents, but it's the whole- "make a box and exchange with your friends fun" that just isn't the same when you have a class of 3!  :)

So when Valentine's Day rolled around and our house was up for sale and keeping it pristine clean and being "kicked out" most afternoons was our new normal, the idea of 15+ in the house didn't seem like the best idea I'd ever had (at least not to certain household members).  But, I prayed (yes! I really did!) and waited.  

And just as God would have it, we had an offer on our house, signed the papers and took it off the market for showings, so I sent out the invitation to our Valentine friends!  four days later the couple backed out of the purchase, but that was okay, because I already had our party secured! (Hee, hee!)

The kids each made their Valentine's with creativity and love!

Jake made a "school" of fish. Using the school pun in various ways for each friend.

Connor gave everyone an A&W, stating that he was "rooting" for them!

And Paige made some cheese  & mice out of Hershey Kisses and stated 

that it was "Mice" to know you!

Party day came and we had a wonderful time decorating cookies.

Passing out Valentine's...

And sewing some purses, pillows and pockets...

Con supervised from the couch. Still in a great deal of pain from his previous nights adventure...

Jake with one of his best buddies, Ella Jane!

 Brooke modeling her beautiful, handmade flower!

Drew with his "Message in  a Bottle"

Alyvia and her homemade heart pillow.

I found this on my bed on Valentine's Day. 

Connor is gave me a beautiful heart necklace in a heart shaped box!

(the boy is going to make a great husband one day!)

After the party, Paige wrote a note in an ESV Bible she picked up at church 

sharing the love Jesus has for us.  She took the Bible, together with a Valentine and a Subway sandwich and gave it to Bruce our homeless Lake Orion friend.

It was a special day and we were so grateful the Lord allowed us 

the opportunity to share it with friends.