Just Another Day In The Life.....

...of the ordinary homemaker. :)

Recently, the girls got the brilliant idea to make and serve supper to the rest of us. They have limited abilities in the kitchen, but I did help them prepare a Hamburger Helper meal, broccoli, and cheese biscuits. They set the table in the living room and thus began the very special opportunity of serving us. They were so excited!!

We started off the meal by looking under our chairs for a treat. I was the lucky winner of ......... a rubber ducky!

They brought our meals in to us and then they ate their meal in the kitchen. We heard much giggling and chatter from that direction. 

At the end of the meal, we each received a very tiny, tightly wrapped and taped, present. Inside one of the 4 was a dime. Jamison was the lucky winner.

They also serenaded us with after-dinner music.

After clearing the table, they were shocked and thrilled to find that their Dad had tipped them each a dollar!!!

We have been LOVING the beautiful spring days. Like usual, we have several gorgeous days, then a blast of cold, only to repeat this cycle until, oh, maybe June. (jk)

Annika learned to drive the 4-wheeler recently. 

And Brooklyn {finally} learned to ride her bike without training wheels. I wonder how many times her siblings removed her training wheels in the past 1 1/2 years, only to have her plead for them to put them on again. But she finally did master the art!

I love to herd the children outside on these nice days and watch their creativity take over!

Brooklyn lost her first tooth!!!!!!!!!!!

 The tooth fairy {aka her sister} left her a whole dollar under her pillow!! 

I forced everyone to pose on Easter Sunday. Let's just say that some people enjoy dressing up more than others.......And nobody complains about photo's if they can include their pet on the picture. I pick my battles carefully.

So now you had another peek into ordinary life here on the farm. And may Spring come quickly to stay!

Easter At Our House {keepin' it real}

Easter is such a special holiday. I really think it ranks up there at the VERY top for Christians! It also has a lot of warm fuzzy feelings that come w/ it, coloring eggs, family dinners, new clothes, spring and more.

Let me tell you about our Easter this year.

We just came home from a 9 day vacation/family wedding in the South. We were still tired. I was in an Easter choir at church so I had our final practice to attend on Saturday night. It was late-ish before I went to bed. My farmer husband had A LOT of chores on Sunday morning. He got up at the crack of dawn thirty and was still working hard when the boys and I left for sunrise services at church at 6:30 AM.

The service was very special. I felt like a dry crust of bread from all our travels the previous week. I was around people a lot and hadn't really soaked up a whole lot of Jesus for what seemed like a long time. Now I get to sing in an Easter choir about what Jesus did for me. I prayed that morning that I wouldn't just go through the motions, but that the message would be real in my heart. God answered that in a big way. It was just so incredibly meaningful. While we were singing I could see a gentleman in the audience. He was lined up w/ our director so that when I looked at her, I couldn't help but see him. He was having a Jesus moment, big time! Because of our songs, because of the message. His tears ministered to me in an amazing way, if that makes sense.

After the sunrise service, we gathered for an amazing brunch. I couldn't help but think back to a year ago, when we were so new in this church, and how much has changed. I looked around and saw friends, lots and lots of friends. I was almost overwhelmed at what God has given our family.

My farmer husband showed up with the two little girls, who were supposed to be dressed alike in their flower girl dresses, from their uncle's wedding last summer. Alas, the dress no longer fit the oldest daughter and Daddy dear had quite a time at home consoling her and finding something else for her to wear. I helped get food for the girls and then I was off w/ the choir to sing at our local nursing home. We dashed back to church and finished our program in the second service. When we sang "Lion of Judah" holy goosebumps came out on my arms and I couldn't help but feel excitement about that awesome day when we get to see Jesus!

After church, we headed to an extended family gathering for a potluck lunch. The children changed into play clothes and so no Easter family photos were taken this year. It's probably best, because while yellow was the theme color going on, the oldest daughter's pink floral looked a little out of place. I was so tired that I had a hard time being sociable.

We came home, where I enjoyed a wonderful nap. Then I set up a treasure hunt for the children and had some restful time reading and relaxing. The children and I watched Easter songs on you tube which was pretty special, too. We ate leftovers for supper. I tried to pick up the trashed house before retiring for the night. We all went to bed early.

So as I reflect on Easter this year, it wasn't the warm fuzzies I get sometimes. We didn't color eggs, eat chocolate;) or take family pictures. But Easter was very special in other ways; ways that count.

Here's a family picture from the recent wedding:

 And a few more just for fun:

He is Risen!

Easter has been so special to our family this year. We enjoyed a special sunrise service this morning, breakfast with our church, and then our regular service. And while 7 AM was quite early to get this bunch to church, we just rejoiced again in the Power of the Resurrection. Lunch was pancakes and sausage and then we enjoyed our long naps. The boys are out searching for mushrooms with their Dad and the girls and I are just chilling. Today is a Family Day for us...and we needed it. There's no one I'd rather spent time with then my own little family.

I couldn't help but think of my dear sister-in-law, who would never have left the house with a mismatched bunch like this. Her family was color coordinated and dressed to the T. I, on the other hand, discovered my oldest son wore white socks to church with his black pants, and my youngest son was smeared with grass stains due to some wild after church activities. I guess you could say the 'power of the resurrection' and the 'look' in my husband's eyes made me just let it go. While I admire my wonderful sister in law, and it may happen here someday, but this year, we just went out the door as we were.

Here are some of my recent favorite pictures:

These two are the very best of friends and I often watch them together and realize what I never had. They just don't know how blessed they are.

A guys night of fishing...2 hours and 39 fish!

I turned a normal lunch time into a restaurant meal. The children were thrilled!

Oh, the fun of their first ever Easter egg hunt!

We invited some of Leon's family over for a picnic.

Leon's parents, my sweet in laws.

Leon's brother, AJ, and Grandma Miller

Cousins