Easter Blessings

Belated Easter blessings to each of you!

I feel so blessed and grateful!

Poor Ava got sick right before we left for Easter dinner at my parents' house. Little did I realize that it was just the beginning of a stomach bug that would work its way through our whole family during Spring Break.

Getting Ready for Easter

We love celebrating Easter! Every year, we try to do special things to get our hearts ready for this important day. Once again, we used Resurrection Eggs to focus on the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. Hannah never tires of doing this year after year, and Ava really got into doing it this year. I love it that Ava is beginning to understand what Easter is all about! We also decorated eggs, made Resurrection rolls, sang and listened to Easter songs, and read Bible stories.

Our empty Resurrection rolls...just like the tomb.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Mirsada's Baby Shower

Very soon, I get to be an Auntie again! My younger brother Mark and his wife Mirsada are expecting a baby girl, who should be making her entrance into this world sometime during the first week of May. I can't wait! There's no better way to celebrate the anticipation and excitement than a baby shower. On April 1st, no foolin', we threw a shower for Mirsada. Here's a glimpse of the fun!

A Night at The Gardens

We enjoyed a special night at our area botanical gardens with my parents. The butterflies were definitely blooming! They were so active that both Doug and Dad had little friends land on them. It was a delightful evening for everyone...even the butterflies!

Still Funny at 98!

My dear grandpa Peter has always had a quick wit. Recently, while visiting him with my cousin and our girls, he showed us that even at 98 he can think quick on his feet. When we first arrived, I asked him, "How do you feel, Grandpa?" He smiled mischievously and said, "With my fingers." We all got a kick out of that, but Ava thought it was so funny. She just laughed and laughed and kept repeating it. In fact, she's still repeating it. So, if you ask Ava how she feels, you may get her "Great Papa's" response...followed by lots of giggles.

Scissors, Sewing and Spring

Okay, so these pictures don't really go together, but I came up with a way to group them together. In case you haven't noticed, I love alliteration. I guess it's the former English teacher in me. The first picture needs a bit of an explanation though. Really, I just want to share the story because I think it's so funny.

Recently, Doug and Hannah were playing Rat-a-Tat-Cat on the floor while I was cooking supper. At the same time, Ava was playing beauty shop and Doug was her customer. She was brushing his hair and telling him that he was a pretty, pretty princess (Hope you don't mind I'm sharing this, Doug).

Somehow she snuck away and found a pair of scissors. She brought it with her and sat back behind Doug. Doug didn't notice. I think she planned to cut his hair, which I personally think would have been really funny (I'm not sure Doug would agree), but she started with her own hair. That's when I walk in and see a clump of black hair sitting on the floor by Doug and notice Ava sitting behind Doug cutting her hair. I rescue the scissors and Doug jumps up, and that's when we notice two more clumps of hair on the floor. Ava immdediately senses that she's done something wrong and starts to cry saying "Mommy, love you" and "Daddy, love you." Then she runs into Hannah's arms for comfort. :-)

After she calms down we inspect the damage. It's not too bad. She actually did a pretty good job...it kind of looks like she has bangs now. Then we ask Ava if she cut Daddy's hair. She at first says "Yes" and Doug looks quite alarmed. He quickly asks me to check his hair. I gasp and tell him she cut off a big hunk of hair on the back of his head. The look on his face was priceless. And then I tell him that his hair looks fine...she didn't cut any of it. Yes, I am a mean wife, but I got quite a few laughs out of the whole episode.

Hannah is really into sewing right now. Just wish we had a sewing machine. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can sew by hand. She has made pouches, purses and pillows (see how I once again slipped alliteration in...without even trying). Here's one of the purses she made.

Signs of Spring! Oh, sweet Spring, we love you!

Catching Up

I am finally getting caught up on pictures! There are several new posts below (Locks of Love, Chinese New Year, etc). Click on the February link on the left side under Blog Archive and you should be able to see each of the new posts.