The Lord is Risen

Our Easter was such a busy time this year (which I don't nessessarily love) that it seemed like it was gone before we knew it.  It was still special and a wonderful time celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (but here's to making next year more intentional)!  The church down the street had an puppet show and egg hunt which was awesome because they had thousands of eggs and only a few kids. 

 The girls filled their baskets (and then gave most of their candy away).

We colored some eggs using our own food coloring and vinegar and I HIGHLY recommend it.  They were so bold and vibrant...of course I forgot to take a picture :(

And our night-before-Easter tradition of making Resurrection Rolls.  

 We also let the girls find their baskets the night before too.  We have to be at church so early on Easter, we try not to make things so rushed.  This year, the girls got their first pair of "high-heels" which they have been begging for.  They want to wear them all the time.  The don't mind the dirt but they love their dresses and glitter too :)

 They also got garden gloves and some special things for their fairy garden.

Happy Easter!!!  

 It was super windy and cold that morning...hence the looks :)

 Hadley, Andy, and I all sang for our Easter service :)

 Then we came home and had lamb...something we look forward to every year.  It was quite the feast with broccoli salad, spinach soufflé, mac and cheese, bunny eggs, Swedish cream and berries (and more).  We invited dear friends over and had a small hunt for the kids too.

 Andy goes through our Resurrection Eggs and tells the story about how Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins...and then ROSE AGAIN, defeating death and allowing us to have a relationship with Him and the Father.

Kansas is in full bloom and we are so enjoying the beauty of God's timing.

Love to you all!

Catching up--everything but Easter

How does time get away from me so?  Things are going well and we are gearing up for summer and all the traveling and visiting we will be doing.  My sweet grandmother passed away in February and we miss her so!  This picture was being passed around and I fell in love with it...it was taken after they got married...she is holding the baby coyote they got as a wedding gift!  Such a wonderful picture of two people who never stopped loving each other....70 years later.  I framed it and it sits on our counter.   

Hadley is almost done with her first year of Kindergarten.  She really enjoys learning new things and has taken to reading!  She loves reading...just like her mom :)  For science she has been doing these lap books...environments, push and pull, and this week we talked all about weather.  We are excited for next year too when she's in 1st and Joni is in Kindergarten.  My babies are growing up!

 Nana and Papa's Legoland gift has come in handy on more than one occasion.  We so enjoy taking friends too!  The 3D movies are always a hit!

 For Valentine's Day, our little town puts on a Father/Daughter Tea.  Andy took the girls this year and they LOVED it!  I guess any excuse to dress up and go dancing with their dad....and eat lots of candy and get presents.

Valentine's Breakfast:  heart shaped waffles <3 p="">

 Crazy hair night at AWANA.

 Having dinner with some friends we found them all like this....the girls love their pets!

My grandma taught me so much about sewing and quilting.  There were a few weeks around here where thread and needles could be found EVERYWHERE.  I'm excited they enjoy it so....they each made a shirt and some pants for their dolls.

 Also in February....our new niece was born....Madelyn May.  So sweet!  It kills me we haven't even met her yet...soon and very soon! 

 Our annual ski trip with the Youth Group was a success...(well if you don't count the sprained knee, sprained ankle, and broken foot).  The girls picked up on it so quick.  I even gave it another shot (the last time I skiied did not go well).  It was a BEAUTIFUL day and the slopes were almost empty. 

 Eating pie on Pi Day (March 14th).

And finally SPRING BREAK!!!  This year we did Country Week (click here for last year's RAINBOW WEEK)...each day we studied a different country, ate their food, found it on the map, read books, did a craft, and had fun!

MEXICO--tacos, vests, and maracas 

 IRELAND--green food, Lucky Charms for breakfast, Irish soda bread, shamrock hats, watched an Irish Dancing competition

 KOREA--Japchae (beef and noodles), Kimchee, dumplings, writing in Korean (with our friends), and Yut Nori (game)

 ITALY--Zuppa Toscana, pizza, lasagna flags, painting like Michelangelo 

CHINA--fried rice, egg rolls, crab wontons, Chinese lanterns, watched Kung Foo Panda

INDIA--the only day we went to a restaurant...an Indian buffet...too much amazing food to list here :)

We also did a paper doll everyday and we make a poster board for our week...

Stay tuned for our Easter adventures...

***  We are still waiting for a referral for our adoption!  THANK YOU THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for those of you who have supported us.  You will never know how much it means to us!  We love you all!