Easter with the kids

Rick, Ev, Lo & Braydon came over for dinner before the Easter Vigil service.   We had a great dinner of ham, potatoes, cinnamon apples, deviled eggs, asparagus, broccoli and rolls.  YUM!! 

After dinner, Evie walked Braydon down to the fire station.  That was the highlight of his night -- seeing the fire trucks.  Ev said the fireman were super nice and welcomed their visit anytime. 

The Easter Bunny stopped by early and brought Lo, Braydon, Ricky & Ev. Easter baskets.   OK, for those of you reading this.  At what age do you stop giving Easter baskets to your kids?  My kids are 32 and 28 and still get Easter baskets.  Each year they tell me to stop.  But, I just can't bring myself to do it! 

I am a VERY bad Grammie as I was so busy putting dinner together, eating and then rushing off to church that I forgot to get the camera!  So, no pictures.  

After Church on Sunday morning,  Zach, Sarah and the kids came for Brunch.   We had Paula Deen's baked french toast (SOOOO GOOD!), ham and strawberries.   We did have appetizers of deviled eggs and asparagus/havarti toasts before hand -- the french toast takes about an hour and we were starved!

Cassidy found her Easter basket and had fun seeing what the Easter Bunny left her.  Sarah put together an Easter egg hunt for her.  Photos are at Sarah's Blog.

The kids ended up staying until almost 6:00!  Long enough for everyone to take a nap! 

Zach & Gavin -- Nap #1

Cassidy after her egg hunt, riding her bike, blowing bubbles, coloring, 

riding her bike some more and eating chocolate. 

Gavin and Mommy getting ready for a nap.

Zach - Nap #2

The White Family

Gavin. 

Zach likes to call him Uncle Fester.  

Cassidy.

Easter

Easter is my MOST favorite time of the year.  I love the freshness, rebirth and renewal that the season brings.   

I totally LOVE the way our church celebrates Easter.  During Lent we have Wednesday evening services with a great dinner before hand.  The kids and I went to many of the services and had dinner before hand.  Two things we learned.  1.  Don't be fashionably late -- the food will be gone - Lutherans LOVE to eat!  2.  The men's group definitely need a little help from the women!  

Here's how we celebrated Easter week. 

This past Thursday, Evie and I went to the Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) service.  It was awesome to hear again the story of the last supper.  I left with a somewhat heavy heart -- knowing that Friday was the day the Jesus died on the cross to give us eternal life. 

Good Friday.  It's always been a tradition for me to go to church at noon on Good Friday.  So, that's what I did this year.  HOWEVER, I am going to re-think that tradition next year.  Evie went to the evening service on Friday and said that she could totally feel the Holy Spirit.  I'm all about that!  

About 5 years ago, St. John's started an Easter Vigil Service.   Rick, Evie and I went on Saturday.  Lauren's Sanctus choir sang.  This service starts in the front of the church - which is pretty cool.   There is a small fire (in a fire ring) outside the church from which the Paschal candle is lit.  As the congregation enters the church, we light our candles and enter the darkened church.   This year they had the Sanctus choir in the balcony singing a cappella as we entered the church.   It sounded like angels.   Brought tears to my eyes.  

The remainder of the service is great bible stories and after each story and song the lights are turned up a little more.  Until the end of the service.  When Pastor Tim declares, "He is Risen" and we, the congregation with joy filled hearts exclaim, "He is Risen, Indeed!"

Sunday morning we all agreed to meet for the 9:30 service.  Which is when we typically go.   OH MY!  The church was overflowing (Praise God!) We didn't get to sit together.  Braydon was in the Nursery.  Lo went to Sunday School. Rick and Ev squished into a pew in the front.  Zach, Gavin and I sat in chairs in the very back of the church - which was actually perfect.  There were people standing 2 - 3 deep in the narthex of the church.  Pretty cool!   Where was Sarah?  She dropped Cassidy off at Sunday School and realized that the there was one teacher and about 20 kids.   Sarah stayed with Miss Brooke and helped teach 2 year old Sunday School.   

My heart is full today.   Knowing that my Lord and Savior died to save me.   Thank you, Jesus, for everlasting life. 

May the spirit of the season of renewal and rebirth fill you with love, hope and promise. 

Love, 

Sharon

The Lizard

Cassidy and Gavin have a lizard living at their house -- outside, of course. 

We were sitting on the porch and in a very excited tone -- Cassidy said, "Bammie,  a wizard, a wizard".  Now, I'm thinking Wizard -- a little man with a pointy hat and a long beard.   She kept saying, "a wizard, a wizard".   Finally,  Cass pointed and showed me the LIZARD!!! 

 

The Lizard.

A wizard, Bammie!

I was really surprised that she was not afraid of the lizard.   You see Cassidy is afraid of flies, bee's and bugs.  But, nope, not lizards. 

So, we sat and watched the lizard for about an hour. 

Gavin -- unaware of the lizard

Time Flies. . .

I don't know what happened!  How did three weeks go by with out one single post.   Sarah has been NAGGING me to blog -- so here goes. . .  

Let's see,  I guess the biggest event that's happened since I last blogged was my weekend with Cassidy & Gavin.  Sarah went to Toronto with Zach.   It was a great race for her to attend.  Zach's team was their 24th championship!  24!  WOW!!!   She also got another stamp in her passport --which is super cool. 

So. . . the weekend actually was a little easier than I anticipated.  I only broke a sweat about 30 times throughout the weekend.  Not bad, huh? 

Sweet baby Gavin

Cassidy in Gavin's crib pretending to be asleep. She fooled me!

My sweet man.  Gavin is by far the happiest baby I've ever met. 

My biggest challenge was getting both kids dressed, fed, bag packed, car loaded and be out the door by 8:45 am on Saturday morning!   Lo had a Soccer game in OC.  I did pretty well -- I was on the road by 8:55!   We arrived at the game -- Bammie and her double stroller aka: BUS! 

Cassidy, Ricky, Braydon, Evie and Gavin

The kids were great.   Braydon enjoyed seeing Cassidy.  He gave her the sweetest hug and kiss.  Of course, I didn't get it on my camera.   Uncle Rick (aka Bubba) took the Braydon and Cassidy to the playground at halftime.  Is that what they call it in Soccer?   Anyway,  they had a great time until Rick put Cass on his lap in the swing.  Seems Braydon didn't like sharing his daddy.  Too cute! 

Lo did great in her game.  Her team won.  She's on a 13 year old team this year (she's 12).  They are playing 1 and 2 age groups above theirs to be ready for the Club season.   Some of those girls are tough - and I mean TOUGH!  They shove and push and grunt!  It's kinda crazy! 

After the game, Bammie loaded up the kids, the BUS, the bag and headed back to Corona.   Cassidy talked the ENTIRE way back.   She's much like her mother in that respect!  She kept telling me to "go faster'.  Obviously, her parents haven't taught her about "the 91". 

The rest of Saturday was filled with learning how to make mud pies, watering the garden and riding the "Dora board". 

"you wanna drink, Bammie?"

Muddy hands.  

4 pm Saturday -- Cassidy was done!

Sunday morning was when the drama began.  I thought I lost Callie.   Callie is Sarah's first daughter -- A Jack Russell mix.  Sunday morning, I picked the house up and tried to at least get it back to the way Sarah had left it.  I took Cass and Gavin out to the front porch for a little fresh air and mud pies.   

Callie Louise White

As we were coming back in,  I left the door open for just a minute.  I didn't see Callie go out the door but couldn't find her in the house.  At this point I am in full panic mode.  I throw the kids in the car and cruise the neighborhood for 30 minutes looking for Callie.  Even Cass was in the back seat yelling "Callie, where are you?" in a very sing-songy tone.   

I can't find Callie.  How and the heck am I going to tell Sarah that I've lost Callie.  I'm in tears at this point.   Take the kids back in the house -- I'm pacing back and forth and then it pops into my head -- Sarah told me once that she couldn't find Callie -- and finally found her underneath their bed.  Guess where Callie was?  Yep!  under the bed.  Whew!  

"Callie, Where are you?"