Egg Dying 2012

We love all holidays around this house.  Jacob particularily is ready to decorate and get to having some holiday fun.  Since Granny's extreme illness and funeral was the two weeks before Easter, we did no decorate or really do anything to celebrate or prepare other than our morning Bible Studies.  I found a neat countdown to Easter Bible reading schedule, so we started that 40 days before Easter.  It was really the whole point of Easter anyway, so I don't feel bad that the only secular thing we did was dye eggs.

 Rylan was very intent on making his eggs dark green.  They pretty much stayed pale green, but he was OK with it.

 Jacob was the orange egg man.  He liked to use the spoon and swich the egg around in the dye.

 Jason loves to help decorate eggs!  He did 3 or 4 himself!  He tried to write on them with the clear crayon, but it was a really cheap set and the crayon was useless.  But those smiles.. they warm my heart!

 Rylan tried to mix the colors too.  He would start an egg in yellow, then go to green.  It did not work exactly like he planned, but it was still fun!

 And what is an egg dying event without colored fingers?!?!?

Welcome to the Museum!

Jacob is getting the ribbon ready to cut for the grand opening..

Rylan is putting the spy gear put into place...

Welcome to the ribbon cutting ceremony!

May we present to you, the History Museum!

On the table you will see... the snake that was in the encampment, an Indian tomahawk, Indian teepee, spy alarm, compass that belonged to Davy Crockett, binoculars that belonged to Jim Bowie, a cowboy map or a war map...we don't know which one, Civil War bullets, a knight's shield, Davy Crocket's coon-skin cap, Rylan's reflector and Jacob's shooter.

Thanks for coming!

A New Family Member...

I would like to introduce you to our newest family member... the dryer!  Our dryer broke about 2 months ago.  We used Dad and Mom's (read they did our laundry) for about 2 months while we saved for a new dryer so we could pay cash (thanks Dave Ramsey).  We got this beauty for half... that's right, HALF, of the sticker price including delivery/haul-off/install for free!

THe boys love to watch the clothes spin and spin and spin.  They are also both way more interested in helping with the laundry. The swap loads being the lint screen cleaner and the loader.  It makes me happy and hopefully they will continue and then their wives will love them even more! :)

Rylan's Trading Card

I would like to present to you... Rylan's trading card poses!  One day while shooting hoops, Rylan asked me to go get Baby (my camera) and take some photos of him for his trading card.  He came up with this pose all on his own! This will be the back of the card

 And this is the action shot he chose for the front.

I think they will sell like hotcakes! :)

Gotta Love the Tag!

For Easter, Granna and GPop gave the boys two awesome new Tag activities - the Solar System pack and the USA map.  They are SOOOOO cool and the boys LOVE them!  Each pack has about 10 games - some teaching info, some questions to answer.  They rock!

 The boys will sit (or lay) for at least 30 minutes a day doing Tag... either these new ones or the books.  Jacob is really stuck on the USA map.  My little history buff!

 Rylan likes the Cars books best, but will happily play with the Solar System... my little scientist!

Thanks Granna and GPop for hours and hours of fun and learning!

First Reading!!!

A few weeks ago I put the new Eric Carle book, The Man Who Painted the Blue Horse, on hold at the library.  I got an email saying it was waiting, so we trotted up there and got it... along with a bag full of other books.  I had not read the book before and it was the first pick to read out loud when we got home.  It is very easy... supportive text... predictable... and readable by my boys!!! YIPEE!  We've read our first real book!!!

 Rylan was not wanting to "show off" to Jason when he got home from work, so there are not photos of him.  Boo hiss!

 Jacob was ready and willing to read really loud and even tracked each word! His favorite animal was the polka-dot donkey!

 And Rylan was convince that Mr. Carle made the green lion especially for him... fave animal, fave color.

We still have a lot of learning to do, but we've made a milestone! Way to go Boys!!!

A Typical Afrernoon

 It's a typical afternoon at our house... the boys are outside shooting hoops!!!  They have created an entire "Kid Basketball League."  The teams include: Disney Rats and Disney Tigers.  Some of the stars, besides Rylan and Jacob, are Marca Parrot, CooCoo Parrot, Stinky Keith, Clementine, and Shhhh.  Then Dirk, JJ, JET, Jason Kidd and crew also make daily appearances.  I hope these cool afternoons never end!!!

My Granny

I have been dreading this blog post for almost 2 weeks now, but it needs to be done... My Granny was called home to heaven on March 31st about 1am. She had been hospitalized on Thursday afternoon for pneumonia. She had a pulmonary embolism at 1am on Saturday and that was it... she was finally at peace... in glory... with Ruthie... out of pain... in the presence of the Lord.

The weekend was a blur of planning the funeral, contacting friends and family, creating a slide show, etc. The funeral home was so wonderful. They made the process easier.

Monday night was visitation.... overwhleming amount of friends and family out-pouring love on our small family. Many laughs and happy thoughts. Granny looked so pretty... all in pink... hair finally looking right... and a peace on her beautiful face that brought chills.

Tuesday was another blur... funeral was packed. SO many hugs and tears. Overcome with peace from our friends... assurance from God's Word... singing of Granny's favorite hymms - My GOd and I, God's Family, I Come to the Garden Alone and No Tears in Heaven...Carl, a friend since 1955, spoke words of respect, of love, of joy that Granny is with God... Ralph spoke of those welcoming Granny home. I love that thought... the one of Ruthie, Frances and the gang saying, "Here she comes!!!!!"

Then we drove to Arkansas for the burial... tornadoes along the way so we stopped 3/4 of the way there. Arrived for lunch then overwhelmed at the graveside... so many cousins of mine that I have not seen in 15 years... ashamed of the time that passed between hugs... I know Granny was smiling to see all of her nieces and nephews showing love and honor to the last of 14 children.

The next morning we went back to the cemetery to say good-bye one last time. The plot was covered in pink flowers. It was a blue sky, a slight breeze, and 7 heavy hearts that we walked to the spot. Then all of a sudden an orange and black butterfly appeared. It landed on a pink rose and stayed for about 10 minutes. Then it flitted in front of Rylan, as if saying "Let's play!" Then it flit in front of Jacob and the chase was on. Giggles soared on the wings of that butterfly. The chase lasted about 4 minutes. Then the butterfly went back to that same pink rose. It stayed there until we left...

I think that butterfly was a gift from God... a glimpse of Granny now... in heaven... a new creature... free from pain and agony... able to play chase with the apples of her eye...

People ask how we are doing - I don't exactly know how to answer. We are SO relieved that Granny is out of pain, out of agony, is whole again, is in glory with her Lord and Savior. But we are sad for ourselves... sad not to eat another chocolate pie, sad not to hear her laugh, sad not to see her get fiesty about something, sad not to hear her soprano voice singing praises to God. We have peace.

So Granny, I do miss you. But I know you are watching us. I know that you loved me with all your heart. I treasure our RV trips, popcorn Fridays, trips to Luby's, phone calls almost daily, your Blue Ridge dishes, that chain on your glasses... There are so many things that I miss, but you left the best parts of you in my heart... your passion for God, your hospitality, your love of serving others. I'll try to make you proud... I love you Granny!