13.1

My friend Erica and I escaped (right before finals) to Indiana to run the Indy Mini.

erica is in front; i am peaking around; and i don't know the white t-shirt guy
we were pretty impressed with our stride in this picutre!

You learn a lot about a person when you run 13 miles with her.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 12:1

New Neighbors

These little guys moved in on the down spout by my kitchen window.
Violet struggled with the egg to baby bird concept, so she called them the egg-a-babies!And I thought I was busy trying to keep my brood fed.

Readin'

For a home school update, Asher is reading!
Mom and Dad are very proud of his hard work.

Violet does anything she can to get attention during school. This is her laundry room costume.

Needless to say, we lost all focus at this moment.

A real Potty Girl

Violet is obsessed with trying to use the potty. She can't stand being the only person in the house in diapers. She takes off her clothes, holds her crotch and begs for her quack quack (her potty seat has ducks on it). You may think this is a good thing...it is not. She has very little success and much frustration.

More recently...she is also trying to change her own diaper. Not pretty either.

Just wait sweet girl, it will happen.

Good-byes

At seminary, everyone is in a transitional phase of life. You put it in the back of your mind most of the time, but come spring it happens. Sweet families graduate, pack-up and leave. Just like that. You have seen them every day for months or years and then they are gone. You have helped each other survive fire, flood, finals, and languages...seminary. The community here is real and alive.
Asher is getting hit really hard. His two best buddies are leaving.


Asher and Hampton at my door after a sailing trip down the drainage ditch.

Asher and Gage(the other friend) came to my door with this bird they "found" in the woods.
I was just glad it wasn't another rabid bat.

I sure will miss having them knocking on our door.

A Morning with Dad

Jeff took the kids to the Missouri Botanical Gardens one Saturday morning. I picked up a friend from the airport, went to Trader Joe's and had some quiet time. It was a beautiful morning for all us us!

Egg Colorin'

Everyone was very proud of their Easter handy work this year.

Violet had some new ideas.

And, no one complained when I turned them into "doubled" eggs for the next night's dinner.
(Asher thinks the term deviled eggs doesn't make sense)

Picture Takin'

Yearly, every "good" mom should get a perfect Easter photo. Right? Well...once in seven years I have snapped a good one (with a disposable camera). It happens the same way each time...kids dressed in their best, color-coordinated, spring fashions. ..hair fixed and bellies full without any disasters. After all that, you are late for church so you get the later-Honey look. SOOOO We wait till after church so the kids can roll on the floor, drink red cool-aid and chew on some part of their shirt. Now everyone is hungry again and tired of being dress-up. Picture Time!
This year we had potential...a good background, no snow, everyone could stand unassisted, no one's eyes were swollen shut(ash on his 2nd Easter)
After about four pictures, I told Jeff to go inside so he wouldn't start twitching. I finished up with that hope that maybe I got one. I then noticed I had my camera on the wrong setting :) blurry pictures. Oh well!

I am so thankful for the Gospel! Nothing about the first Easter seemed picture perfect, but everything was being made right.

I am so thankful for the Gospel! Nothing about the first Easter seemed picture perfect, but everything was being made right.

got my camera in focus

proof of my one good Easter photo

Easter Egg Huntin'

I cannot tell you how excited my kids were for this egg hunt!

I wish you could hear how sweetly Violet says, "egg."

Spring Breakin'

We made a trip to Indiana over Jeff's spring break. We stayed at the family lake house. We hadn't been to Richmond since August and it was so good to see friends and family. The two nights our three kids spent with grammie and papaw were pretty cool too!