Our Easter Brunch

Saturday finally arrived! The house filled.

The backyard filled.

 

 First timers were welcomed with open arms.

  

All the kids were having such a good time it was hard to shoo them into the basement

so the dads could hide all the eggs.

 After the job was complete the "flood gates were opened." It was like the clowns getting out of a clown car...

they just kept coming out, more and more of those sweet kids.

 Egg were hunted and prizes were traded.

 

Cookies were iced and sprinkled.

(icing bags burst open.)

Above all there was a lot of laughter and love being shared.  It really doesn't matter what food is served, what goodies are hidden in the eggs, or that we even have eggs to hunt. What matters is the sweet blessing of this small group living life side by side.  Since the last brunch (and I am sure till the one next year) we as a community have cheered as these precious children have been baptised, cried as hearts have been stretched in obedience, and spoken truth to one another as we have been challenged to be grace filled and radical for Him.  

I am so thankful for this group of friends, I really can't capture my thanks for them with words. So until next year we'll pack away the baskets, let the icing color fade from the grass, and we'll keep doing life together no matter how wild the adventures get!

Sweet Easter (one of some Easter posts :)

I Love Easter!! 

 Easter has always been my favorite holiday... so it may take me a few several posts to fit it all in, so please bunny bear with me.

Leading up to this past weekend you could hear whisperings such as,

"how many days till the brunch?" "will the new baby be at the brunch?" "will all the families be at the brunch?"  "I want to help... find eggs this year."  "can I make the peep vase for the brunch this year?" "I will be in charge of the music as people get here for the brunch!"  and several more "is today the brunch?"

It all started about 6 year ago.  I was longing to be with my family "back home" for Easter.  It just wasn't going to happen so we decided to host an Easter brunch for our small group (much much smaller, small group at the time)  to fill in the gap.  Well, every year since then we have celebrated Easter together with a Saturday morning brunch and Easter Egg hunt.  

However, before we get to the really good part of the actual brunch post, we have to pack away the day before as the girls and I got things ready.  If you could just find your VeggieTales "A Very Veggie Easter" and crank it up while you look at the pictures it will help set the mood a little.

Our food is usually pretty simple...

however there are a few dishes that are a must, and one of them takes a lot of grapes ;)

 

 

While Sophie and Haleigh (mostly Sophie) filled about 300 eggs...

 Mackenzie stayed pretty close to the kitchen helping me with whatever I happened to be stirring, mixing, or chopping up.

Sophie had waited and waited, feeling like this was her year to step into the vase preparations. 

 She was very proud of her final product.

 Then finally, perhaps the most fun, it was time to cut out the sugar cookies for all the kids to decorate.

It was a special time as we got things ready

 for very special people in our lives to come celebrate

 a very special day!

 

A New Set of Keys

 My sweet Haleigh has been asking to take music lessons for a few years now.  She had a thought set on playing the cello (until Sophie suggested we sit down and listen closely to some cello music.)  After a close examination of cello music vs. piano music, Haleigh was again set on taking piano lessons.  Once I got my act in gear (at least for a brief moment)  I was in touch with a highly recommended Suzuki teacher.  (Several learning techniques we use in schooling and memory work are based on the Suzuki method and Haleigh seems to click well with this method.)  Haleigh's first lesson was scheduled, a "new to us" piano was purchased and moved in... then Haleigh had a string of sickness that resulted in a three week postponement of lessons.  But finally, we have started lessons!!  I do say we because it is a "we" kind of thing.

(putting Haleigh's foot stool together... together)

All three of the girls and I go to Haleigh's lesson.  Sophie and Mackenzie sit still and quiet in the studio, listening quietly... did I mention quietly?! It is fun to see how much the girls are learning from the "sidelines."  I listen and take notes on what we are to practice the following week, and I also take my turn on the bench, under the watchful eye of the teacher to make sure I have full understanding how to guide Haleigh through the exercises or song throughout the following week. (I now have a glimmer of perhaps redeeming all the lessons my mom and dad shelled out for me many years ago ;) Haleigh's teacher is very fun, but also very strict with high expectations.  I wasn't sure at first how Haleigh would respond with her instructor's personality, but she LOVES her.

The first lesson was exciting and met the highly anticipated first Haleigh had been waiting for.  Her biggest "practice assignment" for the week was learning to sit still, very still in "rest position."  During her first lesson, Haleigh struggled to hold the expected position for 3 seconds.  When we arrived in the studio just two lessons later Haleigh was elated to show her teacher the 100 second mark had been met!

Now four weeks into lessons, Haleigh daily listens to her CD of Suzuki music, practices her rest position,  the dinosaur walk, c-do s, and her first "song" of Twinkle Variations.   So far these piano lessons are a great thing for all of us.  Yes, it is another thing to add to an already busy schedule, however Haleigh is gaining benefits with focus, calmness, perseverance, and following very detailed instructions.  Sophie is learning what her sisters have put up with during the last 5 years of her violin lessons.  Mackenzie is learning to be in the room with me, yet allow my focus to be elsewhere while she sits still and quiet.  She is actually already asking when she can take music lessons. 

Perhaps best of all, Haleigh and I now have a daily date on the piano bench, side by side,  reaching toward achieving a beautiful dream, together!

His creation declaring His glory!!!

Psalm 104:1...24

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord my God, you are very great!

You are clothed with splendor and majesty. . . . He lays the beams of his chambers in the waters:

He makes the clouds his chariot: he rides on the wings of the wind. . . . He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.

V. 10. He makes springs gush forth in the valleys, they flow between the hills. . . .

V. 13–14. From your lofty abode you water the mountains;

the earth is satisfied with fruit of your work.

You cause the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate: that he may bring forth food out of the earth . . .

V. 19–20. He made the moon to mark the seasons: The sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness, and it is night; . . .

V. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works!

In wisdom have you made them all: the earth is full of your riches.

A Quick Funny!

Yesterday Sophie had her ten year well child check.  After settled into the patient room, our beloved nurse came in to take Sophie for her sight and hearing screenings.  As they walked down the hall Haleigh stepped behind them offering a little sisterly support, since she had recently walked the same path for her seven year well child check,

"Hey Soph,  a few rows down there is a "c" that looks an awful lot like an "o" so watch out!"

Laughter was the only medicine needed with that appointment and Haleigh provided it for sure!!

Sophie is the big 10!

 Growing up in so many ways!

  Over the past six months or so I have seen the biggest change in Sophie.  Maturing is probably the best word for it.  Everything about her seems to be being "tweaked."  Something in her bright eyes, the shape of her sweet face, the serving attitude when she is helping me or her sisters out, the relationship and conversations we share, shifting, ever so slightly, but a shift none the less.  Some of this shift is hard to accept.  I see my first born, my baby who has always seemed a bit older than her actual age, continuing to surprise me with her thoughts as she shares with me, not taking it as fact just because we say it is fact, but digging in, analyzing, making her own judgements. Its exciting to see what God is shaping her into, not always easy, but exciting!

 This year we planned to be in WV on Sophie's birthday to celebrate my Grandma's 90 birthday (and what a celebration it was!)  However, 9 hours in the car was not exactly the best way to celebrate Sophie's tenth.  SO, my mom spoke with her neighbor and set up a special surprise for Sophie the day before her actual birthday.  She was going to get to go to the stables just down the road from my parents' house and not just ride a horse, but learn a lot about horses too.  Sophie got to help groom the horse in preparation for riding, she fed the horses, she rode Tristan while receiving a lesson for well over an hour and ended up riding all by herself for quite a while.  She had a blast!

After the amazing treat we headed back to get scrubbed up for Granny's party.  Did I say Granny's party?  Well at Granny's party my mom and aunt had set up a special side room for Sophie to celebrate her birthday with several of her favorite people... her cousins and sisters.  Definitely one of the highlights of celebrating turning 10.  

 

There was even still snow around the edges of the parking lot, Sophie was overjoyed to get to play in the snow as part of her celebration!!

Waking up on her actual birthday, Sophie was pumped that Grandma kept the steamer tradition going even though we were away from home!!

 

With big time snow on the road trip home Sophie felt like God was whispering a birthday wish with falling snow!!  Squeals of delight rang out as she caught a few snowflakes during a quick pit stop.

 The following day we took our "birthday" skip day from school.  (Haleigh was sick so we didn't get to go out to celebrate even more but we did some baking!)

Sophie wanted to try her baker hand at making and decorating her cake this year.  We had a blast baking, making icing, designing her Kung Fu Panda character cake, and decorating it.  We also ate way too much icing!!

 Sophie did a great job on her cake and was very proud to call her first decorating project a real success!!