Easter 2014

 After church we spent the day over at the farm. It was a beautiful day! Sadly, I didn't get a picture of everyone together in their nice clothes before the egg hunt AND before John David ran inside and had a lightning fast wardrobe change. 

 There's a lot of places those eggs can be when you've got a lot of land. 

At least this year nobody hid eggs in the middle of thorn bushes like last year!

 My parents got baby bunnies and chicks. It was perfect for Easter. 

(And I can tell you that the chicks are nowhere near this size now!)

 Some bluebonnets scattered about sure made for pretty pictures!

 My niece, Audrey, got in on the candy action.

 Joshua did the best because Daddy was helping him (that's what the other kids say anyway!).

 John David LOVES animals!

Of course, you have to have at least one goofy picture!

Six Flags Spring 2014 Video

Six Flags Spring 2014

We were rained out but it was fun while it lasted! The rainy day also made for shorter lines. I don't plan to ever ride the Superman ride again (apparently I've developed a fear of heights in my older age), but I'm still loving the roller coasters! It will be great when the younger two are a little bigger so we can all stay together. Currently I always take the big two and John takes the little two. (He's not into the big scary rides at all!)

See you again soon, Six Flags!

Aulora's Kids

Aulora just told me, "One day, I want to train my kids to be my minions."

I asked her, "Do you think you're MY minion?"

"Yeah! I like it."

Haha!

The Boy Plays Basketball

Basketball playoffs started today. This is John David's first year to play and he loves it. (In full disclosure he hates practicing - mostly because of getting up early in the morning - but he does love to play.)

The boy has crazy defense skills. Finally, a good outlet for all his energy!

He doesn't always play since there are other boys who have more experience. The bench is fun too!

He takes the shot! 

It's a win!! 60 to 14. Way to go Lions!!! 

It's All Coming Back To Me

We loved living in Indiana. Really, we did. The seasons were beautiful and we even have lovely memories of all the fires and cozy nights during winter. We have missed it so much. 

And then it snowed today. A lot, actually, for Texas. 

A very short time later I remembered the unlovely parts of an Indiana winter. 

Bitter cold. 

Clearing the elements off the car before you could leave. 

Driving painfully slow. 

Freezing your booty off even with the seat heater on that normally burns you. 

Messy car floors. 

Messy house floors. 

Messy bathroom. (Somehow that's the weather's fault. I'm still working on how.)

BUT, it is still beautiful and the kids love it so much! They must be freezing right now, but they're working on a snowman anyway. Their Texas gear doesn't protect them from wet snow too much! (Can you tell I took this from inside?)

And right about now I'm noticing my six year old is wearing wet shoes and NO socks. I guess my post is over! 

Rats!

During our transition to Dallas we lived at my parents' farm for a month. We parked out beside a workshop building. One day the Jeep had a funny smell and was making a weird noise. We could have never guessed the cause! Ewwww!!

Packing has Begun

We closed on our house. Renovations are happening there and I am packing here. How many days should this take? Seems to always take longer than it should (especially when I stop to blog!). 

I think we'll take this guy with us. (Have you seen the new Christmas Veggie Tales? The kids were singing the Silly Songs with Larry song called "I wrapped Myself up for Christmas" while putting Joshua in the box.) 

Aulora's 7th Birthday

On Aulora's 7th birthday I took the younger three to a children's museum in 

TheWoodlands and then to a splash pad park. Gran went with us too! For dinner we made lasagna at home and cousin Natalia joined us. Happy Birthday, Aulora! 

Puzzle Pieces

When John was little he abhorred puzzles. (So I've been told.) When he couldn't figure out where the various pieces went, he began to bang and cram them into whatever empty spots pleased him. It just made for a frustrated little kid.

And that is our life right now. We have pieces of a puzzle.

Wonderful, God-given pieces.

Blessed pieces that will one day, when we aren't smack in the middle of it all, make sense.

But right now? We can't figure out how these wondrous pieces can all co-exist. I feel like banging and cramming. I'm the frustrated little kid.

So this is me trying to trade my banging and cramming for trusting and listening.

"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand." Psalm 37:23-24

This is me trying to remember that God is making something beautiful out of all of this....

"Lord, I know that people's lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps." Jeremiah 10:23

even though I can't see it yet.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him." Psalm 32:8-10

 

Feeding the park animals

I took Aulora, Joshua, and cousin Natalia to the park to use up the stale bread. We fed squirrels, birds, ducks, fish, turtles, and nutrias (river rats). There were so many! I finally told the kids to throw out all their bread so we could run. The animals are not shy! One of the nutrias even nibbled at my toe when I was busy watching the kids. Ewww! We worked up an appetite so a trip to Bullritos came next. 

We've Found a Bit of Heaven

This place, not too far from our house, is wonderful. Beautiful grass, lots of shade, and so quiet. Ahhhhh....