Well check-ups

Today I took Lucy and Lydia for their 5 and 1 year check-ups.  Lydia has Hand, Foot and Mouth disease so it wasn't such a 'well visit' but she checked out fine.  Here are the stats

Lucy - in the 45%
weight - 39lb 6 oz
height - 42 1/2 inches

Lydia - in the 8%
weight - 18 lbs 4 oz
height - 27 1/2 inches

Birthday girl

For the pure enjoyment of chocolate...

The simple pleasures

Here is Lydia exploring while Samuel and Lucy play.

Wind in the trees

Being outside is delightful this time of year, after the pollen and before the sweltering heat.  On her birthday we took Lydia outside to blow bubbles and watch the wind in the trees...she seems to have found joy in the leaves dancing and the bubbles flying.

Big Brother

It's always high energy around here.  Samuel is a wonderful big brother and for the most part plays well with his sisters.  He thinks Lydia is "curious" and "so cute" and whether he admits it or not he plays well with his big sister too.

Last week I kept him home from school and we did science experiments.  We made a volcano and let it explode - he had so much fun and loved it so much that when I stood up to go inside and check on Lydia he exclaimed "I was so excited about this volcano I forgot for a little bit that I even had a baby sister!"  We went on to make a tornado in a bottle, read about volcanoes and tornadoes and talk about how pressure moves weather systems.  What a great day with my little guy.

Big sister

Lucy loves being a big sister and loves to give hugs and kisses.   Lucy thinks Lydia is "adorable" and "sucks her thumb too much".  She can't wait to share a room with Lydia and be a big sister for years to come.

Lydia's 1st birthday

She has been bringing us joy for a year now and we celebrated her birthday with a few bubbles, some cupcakes and giggles.  We are grateful for this little girl who brings us joy, is a delight to her siblings with her "curiousness about the world" and her excitement each time she sees them.  We are blessed to have her as a part of our family and can't wait to see who she becomes and how we are all changed in the process of her becoming fully Lydia Joy.

1st birthday yumminess

We ate cupcakes before dinner tonight in honor of sweet Lydia Joy turning one.

Boy at play

This is where the serious business of being a boy takes place. On his knees, in the dirt, on the floor, playing, recounting, sound effects and dialogue, wonder and exploration...making sense of his world, creating the stories in his head, making it all come to life in some small way.

Field Trip

Yesterday I went with Samuel on a field trip. Here are some shots with some of his classmates.

Peru

Peru, as in the South American country. I wanted to write a brief line to let you now I was planning to go to Peru this summer with my church on a mission trip - to use these nursing skills of mine and this heart for those different than me and this confidence that Jesus is the Christ. Some of you might have gotten a letter recently about the trip. Well, I just found out we WILL NOT be going. I'll try to contact those of you personally that received letters but it might take a few days so I wanted to let you know the trip has been canceled.

Easter picnic in the backyard

HE is not here..HE is risen!

"He is not here, for He has risen just as He said. Come see the place where He was lying." from the gospel of Matthew 28:6

This is a big deal, important in ways we can't fathom...and made tangible in our little home with little hands and a little yard clippings. The simple things in life to reveal the most profound of mysteries.

Good Friday - lego man wrapped with cloth laid in the potato tomb and guarded by the Roman soldier. Tomb sealed with a rock

Resurrection Day/ Easter morning - tomb is open, rock rolled away, Roman soldier gone, flowers abound and the angel comes to proclaim "He is Risen"



This great Easter idea from this blog and this one.

Here is an amazing song that I am singing this morning - grateful for Jesus.

More Easter Egg hunt

checking out the loot - candy and money!

Easter Egg Hunt

We were invited to an amazing Easter Egg hunt to day by some friends at church. We were overwhelmed at their hospitality and generosity. I think for the 30 or so children there were 2500 eggs - amazing! My children had a wonderful time hunting, playing with friends and enjoying the day...Jeremy and I enjoyed their excitement...Lydia enjoyed the cookies!

Who is that man?

Headband - check
Sports goggles - check
mustache - check
child of the 80's - check

**Disclaimer**No time machine was involved in the making of this picture, no props were used, all characters photographed were photographed in their natural state.