Spring Turkey

A turkey was bagged on JB's first real hunt with his Dad this morning. They left at about 6:30 am and were back with a turkey at 8:30am.

5-year-old mind of JB

I was amazed at the depth of questions that JB was asking in the car yesterday, like "why does God send hail if it hurts things and people?" and "why does God make bad people?" and "why does God let bad things happen?" I did my best to answer these questions after a deep breath and short prayer. I think my answers were sufficient, at least that is my prayer as a young mind is shaped.

Thus, I had to laugh today when I was singing, "Our God is so good, so strong, and so mighty, there's nothing our God cannot do" and JB asked "can God see his own nose?" Although I chuckled at the question, I think this one was a bit harder to answer.

Tots on Their Spots

Benaiah was so happy to be sitting in a chair (without being strapped in), but was not very happy about his sister holding onto him. She can be protective of her little bro.

Tulip Time of Spring

Happy 1st Birthday Benaiah!

If you can't kill it, eat it!

That Could Leave a Mark...

Don't do it Benaiah...you're not that old!

Ooooh, fire!
Don't worry, he took his finger away upon feeling the heat from the flame.

More Seder

Natalie and Gloria

Ceremonial washing of hands before we chow


Gloria looking on as we read the Seder script together

A great backyard to have any gathering...we're going to miss it and we have been blessed with it the past 2.5 years!

*Thanks to our friend Natalie Wickham for taking most of the Seder pictures!

Seder

Gathering for the Passover Seder

Symbolically getting rid of sin by throwing the bread with leaven over the fence.

The Passover candles symbolize the presence of God and mark the Seder as a sacred time

Four Cups
The First Cup:The Cup of Sanctification and Freedom
The Second Cup: The Cup of Judgment (Deliverence)
The Third Cup: The Cup of Redemption
The Fourth Cup: The Cup of Hope

Karpas - the Green Vegetable - Symbolizes new life

The Breaking of the Matzah - symbol of redemption

The Passover Lamb

No More Head First

Benaiah has figured out how to go down backwards, but only did one or two steps this time before realizing that I was upstairs, not downstairs. JB has been very good about turning him around when he thinks about going down the stairs head first. He's turning out to be a very good older brother for baby Benaiah.

The 3-and-a-half-year-old mind of Gloria

Today we went to the Garden Botanica of Wichita. It had been raining for 3 days and this morning. Finally there was a break in the rain, so we fled for the flowers. Anyway, there was one garden there that had concrete statues of people. Gloria saw these and right away said "those are the statues that Adam and Jamie blew up!" ...on an episode of Mythbusters, which Max uses as a treat for the kids, to watch it with him on special evenings. I thought this was so funny.

Tonight while we were at home Gloria started putting her papers that she wanted to keep in my purse. I asked her why she was putting them in there and she said it was because she wanted to make sure we didn't move without them. I think the kids are starting to realize that we are moving and sort of grasping what it means.

I have to add one about JB...we have been working on reading EB White chapter books in the evening before bed. JB, when I asked him what he wanted to read, said "Horn Goose"...we were on the second chapter of Trumpet of the Swans.

Grandparents sure wear the kids out...:)

Refurbished toy tractor and two boys

Helpers on the Construction Site

"Trash Palace" to "Stuff Chalais"

Taking down the old trash palace...it housed trash cans and outdoor tools and toys

Spreading out the foundation for the new bigger shed

Putting up the first wall...

Two walls up!

The last couple of days in Colorado got pretty busy and I neglected to take more pictures...I wish I had. An employee of those who make these sheds said it would take one person who was fairly knowledgeable and experienced with power tools "about a day" to put this up. It took at least four (sometimes six) knowledgeable and experienced people 2.5 days (and many trips by Michele back to Home Depot - good thing there's one close to their house) to put up the shed. I mainly watched the kids, managed the inside of the house, and went for a run with Cami (and then hot tub!).

This shed now partly houses the stuff that Max and I do not want to move two more times in the next year-and-a-half! The rest of the space is for Michele and Duncan to fill up...I don't think it will be difficult:).

Behind Bars

Criminally cute

Benny and the bunny

"You mean you want me to pet the bunny, Gramma Shell?"

Benny thinking: How do I go about doing this?

Oh, perfect little handles on the top of his head!

Or maybe I just take the whole-hand approach...

Gramma Shell rescues the bunny...

"I want the bunny!"