Family Time

Jim's sister and her family were here this week staying with us for a conference. As always, it was wonderful time both for the cousins to be together, and for Jim's birthday to be celebrated yet again, and for me to talk with my sissy in law. Here are some cute pics of some of the kiddos together. The first is of my two nieces. Aren't they cuties? And the second is of our big boys and their cousin John--all who are crazy about Spiderman!!  :)

Birthday Banana Splits!

My sweet husband is 36 years old today, and we celebrated with banana splits rather than cake. Because of our two March birthdays, and because we just had Easter, we have recently eaten three cakes, and I'm caked-out! So, banana splits it was today.

We began our day with presents in bed. This seems to be a new favorite tradition of our family that began a year and a half or so ago. So first thing in the morning now, we open gifts in bed together--the whole fam. Then we had a special breakfast of sausage and fried eggs--yum! Not our everyday oatmeal. And now tonight we'll go out to dinner at Macaroni Grill for a special treat. It's so fun to celebrate, and my husband's life is definitely one worth celebrating!!! I love you, Jim Hamilton!

Playtime...uh, I Mean Yardwork

My husband's remarkably generous parents just gave him this wonderful riding lawnmower when they last visited. It sure has made his life easier as far as mowing goes. What used to take over an hour is now finished in less than half an hour! We are so grateful...and all the boys love it, as you can imagine!!!  :)

Strange Children!

I'm not sure quite why, but our two big boys have taken to making up their beds after we say night-night to them, and then falling asleep on top of all the covers, with everything looking nice and neat. Biggest says that he doesn't have to make his bed the next day that way. Whatever! Crazy horses!!!!

Empty Tomb Cake

My dear FIL wanted to see this cake I made for Easter. It was a lot of fun to make this, display it for the kids, and then take it to church for our Easter potluck. I also had a sign by it that said, "He is not here. He has risen!" You have to look closely, but there is a "stone that was rolled away" up against the tomb also. This cake was super easy--of course. That's all I ever do!   :)

This Time Already!!

Today we busted out the Batman Bop Bag that sprays out water! Yes, we're in swimsuits already--in early April! But it's been very, very warm for a week or so, and it's beautiful! You can see here from the pics that we have a Skinny Minny and a Chunkeroo. The Redhead here on the right just turned 4, and he's wearing a size 7 swimsuit, just as our firstborn is here on the left, who is about to be 6 1/2!! The Red is actually 2-3 pounds heavier than his elder brother! How we love our big boys!!! They're such fun!

Understanding the Rock

Just when you think your 4-year-old is getting it he says this, (an exact quote from this morning) "The cross was laid on a rock to pay the penalty for Jesus' sin."

See, we are using Resurrection Eggs (love 'em) right now during this Easter week to tell again the story of Jesus' death, beginning with his entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, all the way to the empty tomb. Well, today's symbol tucked inside the pink egg was a rock. So, our Redhead took it out and declared he knew what it meant. Hence, "The cross was laid on a rock to pay the penalty for Jesus' sin." Hilarious! Of course, the cross was clearly NOT laid on a rock, and more importantly, Jesus had NO need of payment for sin, other than OURS, because He did not have any sin!!!!!  :)

The rock, by the way, stood for the rock rolled in front of Jesus' tomb to seal it.

I love motherhood.

Flexibility and Variety? They're Overrated! :)

From time to time I have people ask us about my daily schedule as a homeschooling mommy. It's actually a favorite topic of mine, as the boys and I thrive on schedules, and they truly are essential to work in all that we need to do!  So just for fun I thought I'd lay out here what our day looks like at this point in life.  It's pretty much the same every day during the week. Saturdays and Sundays we do deviate, though, of course.

(Those of you like my friend Linda who are anti-rigid structure, will hate this)!!! Ha! We love it...of course I did love that Colorado trip a week ago, too, though, when all this was abandoned!!

7 am  Big boys are allowed to come out of their room

7:30  Littlest gets up, breakfast time

8-9 A bit of free time, as Mommy does dishes, checks email, etc.

9:00 School begins

(Bible first, then math, then CC, then grammar, then spelling, then history and reading time)

11:45 Finishing up school

by 12:00 Eating lunch

12:15 or so  Playing outside before little one's naptime

12:30  Pookie's nap

12:30-1 Game time with big boys (the Redhead loves board games and card games!)

1-2  Big boys' room time  (They listen to an audio book and read while Mommy catches up with things)

2:00 Big boys watch short video, Mommy cleans and tries to work in a phone conversation with friend

2:30  Snacktime

3:00  Littlest gets out of bed and has snack too

3-4:30  Some free time--either playing outside, or playing with friends, or going to library, etc.

4:30 Making dinner

Around 5 or 5:30 Dinner

6:30 Bathtime

7:15 Family devotions

7:30 Bedtime for all boys

Hopefully we're stewarding well the time the Lord gives us in all areas. Our days are so blessed. Thank you, Jesus!