Soccer

Soccer has been in full swing here. Abby really loves it! I think she's pretty good too :) Here are some pictures of her playing.
We moved Kate into her "big" car seat this week. She is turned around to the front and I know we are supposed to wait until she is a year, but, heck, we are 1 month away! She loves it! She can see and look out the window!
Enjoy!

A Shout Out!

My mother has had this cordless vacuum called a "Shark". I made fun of her because of its name. She told me that it worked really good. She uses it to vacuum her kitchen floor instead of dust mopping it everyday. Well...I tried it out one day, and I was totally blown away. When Christmas time came around, my grandmother asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told her a Shark. She looked at me kinda weird. "A shark?" she asked. So I had to explain exactly what kind of "shark" I was talking about. My grandma got me my shark for Christmas. I have to say it is the BEST Christmas present I have ever gotten. I told her this about a month ago, and she thought it was pretty sad that a sweeper was "the best gift" I've ever gotten. If you know me though, you know that I am an absolute neat freak. Everything has to be clean at ALL times. I was constantly sweeping up my kitchen floor and everyday I had to drag out the vacuum because the rug I have in my kitchen shows absolutely EVERYTHING. Well...since I've gotten the shark, cleaning the kitchen floor has been a breeze and since it's a vacuum it cleans my rug too! I LOVE MY SHARK! I totally recommend that if you have your own place, you have to invest in a shark. They are really not expensive and totally worth it. Since I got my at Christmas, I've only had to charge it 3 times. I use it everyday, several times a day. All I know, is that I had no idea what I was missing!

Here is my little best friend:

I recommend you go and get one!

Just Look At Her....

Look at this baby....Isn't she cute?!?!?

Look at those eyes! And those eyelashes...Just makes me want to stare at her all day...

And those cheeks! Don't you want to pinch them?!?!?! (I'm not quite sure what is hanging out of her mouth here. Maybe a spaghetti noodle?)

Look at her now! She has grown up so much!

Here she was on her first day of preschool this year. How the time flies!

I enrolled Abby for Kindergarten today! I'm so sad. It's just something about "big" school that is just scary for me. I'm afraid that all of that innocence is about to be lost...

Abby is such a sweetheart. She is so sympathetic towards others, she reads about a lost dog or cat and she cries. She loves to help others. My prayer is that she will keep these characteristics with her throughout her life.

I know that she will do great starting "big" school next year, but I don't know how I will handle it!

My baby is growing up!

Just wait moms...You'll see!

How Was Your Week?

A lot happend in our family last week. Starting in April, it gets REALLY busy around here. It usually doesn't let up until after school is out. Which by the way I only have 28 days left! I am so ready. Like I always say...I love my job, but I LOVE being with my kids MORE. If I could be a stay at home mom, you wouldn't see me at work tomorrow. But, I have a great job and that is so much to be thankful for because so many people are struggling right now.

My goal is to post something everyday this week, from last week! I get so busy at nights, so we'll see what happens. Today I thought I would start with Easter. We had a wonderful time! I hope your family did too! This was a special Easter because it was Kate's first Easter. Both girls had a good time, even if it did rain. We had our family cookout and egg hunt the day before when the weather was nice. Abby hunted eggs, and we would hide them again...she'd hunt them again...then she would hide them for us, and we would find them. Later when we got home, we were going through the eggs and seeing what was inside of them. We found some quarters in some. Boy did she hit the jackpot! That is one thing I remember most about the egg hunt when I was younger. My grandma would put quarters in about 3 of the eggs and it was always a big race to find the eggs with the quarters. Boy did we love hunting for those eggs!

Was there anything special hidden in your eggs when you were little?

So I had to put this picture in here. This was after my attempt to take a million pictures. I wanted to get a really good one of both girls together. Normally, when I try to do that I have Abby sit there and smile while we try to get Kate all situated. As you can see, Kate was sick of taking pictures and wanted to get away! Of course, Abby thought it was hilarious!

Kate loves to stand up! She is doing so good. She can go from any position. She is walking now too! She started that a couple of weeks back. Now, she is taking anywhere between 5 -10 steps at a time. Then she gets lazy and drops down to start crawling :)

Abby found the "golden egg" at church and got these sunglasses. She was so proud!

Abby loves to pose for the camera :)

Eating those fingers!

Thought this one was cute :)

I wish I took good pictures like this!

Here they are looking at their Easter goodies from the Easter bunny.

Goofy girls!

This was the best picture of BOTH of them together all day. Abby is holding one of her Easter eggs she dyed. I don't know why she is holding it up like that. I guess she's proud?!?!

See what I mean...Abby smiles...Kate...not cooperating!

Awwww...sooooo much eaiser at 5!

We had an Easter egg hunt over at my aunt's house. She bought this little wagon for Kate and Selah (my cousin's baby) Selah is about 7 months. As you can see, Abby liked it more than Selah!

Here is Abby dying Easter eggs. We have to do it outside every year because we always end up spilling something!

EVERYTHING goes in her mouth!

I love this shot!

Kate hunted eggs too! Here she is getting one out of the flowers.

And of course the master Easter egg finder...We hid eggs at our house all week to get ready for the "BIG" hunt!

Finding more eggs!

No I don't torture my poor child. I just like pictures! Why can't she?

Easter Bunny Abby

Sunday's Coming!!!

Very powerful! This brings me to tears everytime I watch it, but....Sunday's Coming!!!

Easter Cookies and Pictures

I got this from a mother of one of my kids in my class. She said that she did this last year with her kids and really liked it. I am going to try this with Abby this year.

Cookies for Easter to be made the evening before Easter.

You will need: to preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important - don't wait until you'rehalf done with the recipe)!
1 cup whole pecans 1 tsp.
Vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch salt
1 cup sugar
Zipper baggie
Wooden spoon
Tape
Bible

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested. He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. Vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Palms 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white Represents -- in God's eyes -- the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9

I encourage you to share The Easter Cookie Story With Friends and Family

We took Abby and Kate to get pictures made last Sunday. It is such a HUGE ordeal to go and get BOTH girls' picture made. While we were waiting, Abby was spinning this spinner around looking at the frames that were on it...well...one fell off and grazed Kate's face. Not bad at all, but bad enough so that she couldn't get her pictures made!!! So, I am going to have to take Kate back. Abby went ahead and had pictures made by herself. I thought they turned out good.

I hope everyone has a good Easter. Please take time to read and reflect on what Easter is all about....Our Lord Saviour Jesus, and what He did on the cross that day, and how miraculous it was that He rose.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV)