LOTS of big Easter pics & Ben's (almost) 15 yr old pics . . .

After church I spied these tall grasses and great sunshine on the side of the road and everyone seemed game when I yelled..."Oooo, time for Easter pictures!"

 So, I walked away with . . . 

The Boys!

Oh my goodness, that William. Loving him at 9 and while I NEVER wish these years away, it's going to be fun to see him catch his brothers in size some day too...pretty sure he might be eager for that day. (-;

The Girls!

Awww...just love those sisters!

Oh my goodness...seriously, I'm posting ALL the girls?

(-:

Here's Liv still foolin' with the brothers.

 Only took us four hours to shop for the two girls' outfits the day before!  My outfit consists of a jacket that I used to conduct choir concerts in back in NY 19 years ago, shoes I used to wear in college and a skirt that before this day I never had a top I liked wearing with it, nothing ever went (I truly feel I have VERY little fashion sense, I couldn't figure out a match for that skirt for the five or so years I've had it).  I found the skirt folded up on a shelf in my closet at 8:30a.m. for an 8:45a.m. take off and everything else kind of fell together after that...even the shoes that I literally have not worn since before kids were born because they have heels, happened to know where they were since we recently moved and they've never found a home and were sitting out on a shelf.

Well...that was probably a boring read...haha!

 Ben was our photographer, thanks for the great shots Ben!

And I'm probably posting these because I'm glad to see myself still standing and that I haven't cracked, this year has not been a journey for the faint of heart that is for certain!

And now, for the main attraction . . .

The Kids!

One of my favorite thing about group shots is all the before and after business.

Those are the most fun and real pics.

And rarely, do I get the "nice" picture with everyone looking great.

Of course, it's finding the time and place to do something with all those pics.

So glad to have made the time tonight.

Love this sequence and LOVE these kids!

Reflecting now in 2017 . . . 

Since the May 3rd of 2016 came at the same time as one of the most difficult times in our family for all of us and especially Ben, I didn't get a birthday post like I had since 2008. So, I've chosen one of these last times of fun photos with Ben amidst his final six months of ups and downs before we lost him so tragically in November.

💜

Age 15

This evening . . .

After four hours of shopping with the two gals that have an 11 year age gap, of whom the younger of the 11 year gap is not accustomed to shopping for four hours (truth be told, neither is the gal with the 28 year age gap above either (-:)...got all that?...anywho...after all that, Alli and I took a 50 minute walk . . . 

Past the rows of green that I've been loving watch slowly pop up...

To an old Lutheran church a little further down the way.

Pretend with me if you will that you don't see the coiled, mercury filled, wacko lightbulb in this quaint picture. Imagine it with a flicker of gas lighting if you will. (-;

 I can NOT get over how much I LOVE being back in this neck of the woods.

It is an interesting position to be right now with a grieving heart but at the same time a heart can feel the joys of God's blessings. 

Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Just a little something . . .

4th Grade Trip to Lansing, historical museum & capital building.

I've always had babies at home for the other kids full-day field trip to Lansing so I was the first one to sign up when this boy's turn came around.  And...he was first in the door wanting me to sign up and turn it in the next day to be sure I could go...love. (-: Great day!

Whatdya think...sale price or no?

I'm thinking I'll take the regular price, thanks!

(-;

I couldn't not post the pinewood . . .

Ready to race...

 Lightning!

Well, no first place car again, and he was set on saying this was a solar car with the weights placed all such and so, and it being a cloudy day and all with little sun to propel ol' lightning...

Got a couple fourths, a third, a second, felt o.k. about it and was sure disappointed he wouldn't have another go at it this being his last year able to race.

Oh my goodness...this is the LAST pinewood derby post...ever...

oh...

my...

Let's move on to cake...

We had cake for our 13 year old the pine wood day a couple Sunday's ago. And, I even made the cake! It sounded right up this boy's alley but I wish the cake would have been a little more moist.  I think I baked it too long.  Should have had Lara do it.  Her cakes have been phenomenal every single time for the last few years! Found the recipe on facebook for this, the Buckeye Bundt Cake!

All in one breath!

This . . .

Is most profound this year.

I both shed a tear and give all glory to God!

13! . . .

Looks like this . . . 

"Um...you're still taking pictures?" (-;

This handsome fellow and I scooted out for a birthday lunch in the middle of the school day today...say what??!! (-:  He happened to have a band festival at my very own little university where he ended his playing about the time one's stomach just might be rumbling for some lunch, so, earlier this week, I emailed his homeroom teacher to ask if after the final cut off we could go out for some birthday lunch.  Harrison goes to a small school and gets great grades so as I suspected...it was no problem, and off we went!  So awesome!

And . . . a bonus for having such a smart 13 year old son and a little rain . . . we got to talk about how the brand new wiper on the passenger side of the car just didn't really work and how I fully intended to head on back to the oil change place to have them check out the situation because it actually was a pretty penny (one of those situations where they quoted me a price for these great new wipers, put them on, gave me the bill and THEN I notice the price was for one wiper, not two!! Scuse me...who just buys ONE WIPER!).

After about ten minutes of the ride (and two weeks since I bought it) this newly minted teen says, "What do you think that plastic thing is on the wiper?" "Uh, say what?" I reply..."You see that plastic thing kind of hanging off at the tip?" he says..."OH, WOW," I exclaim loudly..."Harrison, you solved it, I bet that's what's making it not clear the rain."

Yep . . . 

 Another teenager in the house, so awesome!

This morning . . .

I went to make an egg sandwich . . . 

And had forgotten that Livia said she and Lara colored eggs while I was in bed with the flu over the weekend.

And that William had said..."yeah, and only one rolled on the floor and broke."

They are NOT hard boiled!

None the less...they were great for a smile to get the day going.

(-:

My new screen saver.

So pretty I think and gives hope for our spring coming soon!

"You can plan a great picnic . . .

...but you can't predict the weather."

James - The guy who helped me at the Verizon store yesterday.

 Photos from a great picnic (Ice Cream Social) I plan for the school each year
 Photos by Elisa Schulz who can be found HERE.

The weather was just fine for the social last year my friends.

The pictures show the beautiful sunshine, green grass and children having fun.

But an unpredicted storm blew through my picnic just a few days prior to these beautiful images and I am beyond grateful for how our dear Lord has provided me every possible form of storm gear necessary to weather all the elements pounding at our lives throughout this year.

But here...in this little corner of our life...I like to record the Joys!

The weather's just about always nice here.

(-: