Month: April 2017

We adore them.

Manny and Lupita have been doing our yard and trees for years. Lupita does not speak English hardly at all, so we always try to practice our Spanish with her. Manny is much more fluent in English, however.

Today, Tatum spent some time outside with them shooting the breeze. Then, Lupita had her help cut the roses.

Gracias Lupita for helping Tatum manuever the clippers as not to get pricked.

Te queremos!

At least for some of us. Here’s the dealio: Momma is important. She should get many birthday celebrations, so Doug offered to take her and me out for a little dress-up op!

Tatum, of course, loves to get in on the action.

Some pre-event pics with my “bumpy.”

My beautiful mom. We need to love on our moms!

Then the doorbell rang and Tatum went racing toward the door. Doug came in hands full of gifts. They were sooooo pretty! He looked pretty nice himself!

So we took a few/million more pics

Tot wanted to join.

 

That’s a nice looking family. Who’s she looking at??

One more before we go!

I’ll miss you TOT!!!

 

She wanted to take a picture, so she snapped Coti with Doug’s phone.

This way it’s equal opportunity picture taking.

Coti is going to learn to take a picture next.

We had such a great time at Fleming’s. Steak, drinks, fun convo, and lots of laughs.

Thank you Doug for such a lovely dinner. You are a doll, and we love you!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Kelly got a dog!! It’s a big deal, folks. James would have had nothing to do with dogs, so the family getting a dog is huuuuge!
We got to meet Velo in all her puppiness last week.

Just call her squirmy!

Morgy took her to snuggle for a minute.

Then Tot got to feed her

And we ended with a story. Thank you Kelly and the girls.

Velo is ADORable!

It was not just another day. No, it was a day to be celebrated because truly the body was not there. JESUS had risen. The implications for this are immense for EVERYONE; it cannot be denied, ignored, or discounted. It means YOU/WE/I are/am forgiven, loved and adored. We can live victoriously with the power over sin yet not perfected not to sin. We can live knowing we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us. (Phil 4:13)

Now lest you think I forgot Easter baskets, you’d be right. Mama to the rescue with PEEPS!!!. (I had other ideas so more later)

Coti was the first to find his LOUD cow toy.

Did I say annoying? OK, Loud.

Mama found a dress for Tatum.

A bouncy light up ball

And off we went to church looking mighty spiffy and adoring

Now, remember, two days a year are “church” days. Easter was going to be a zoo, so Doug kindly got there early to save our seats. Mom, Tatum and I stopped at the cross and wrote our name and strung some string. Connections. Powerful.

The service was absolutely exquisite. I am reminded how fallen we are all and in such need of His Love. He took it all on for us. How humbling.

We came home to ham it up with some pics and then partake of some real ham.

 

After eating, Doug gave us all some Easter goodies.

Note: Tot couldn’t wait to don one of them since she is a DUNK queen (in the bathtub at least)

She also got some Peppa Pig figures. A classroom to play with. I think I bought it for me to enjoy!

Tatum was literally chomping at the bit to finish our Resurrection Egg activity. This is such a phenomenal idea from Family Life Today

Each egg has a significant story behind it that leads from the betrayal of Jesus in the desert to the crucifixion to the resurrection.

We then read the best book about THREE TREES.

The book describes a story of three trees and how their life truly changed to help a KING. It’s a surprise, so I cannot share it (it would ruin the book if I did!)

What a day of joy with my mom, my girl, my guy, my pup, and our Jesus. Family.

Part of the fun of Easter are the bright fun colors! The colors somehow wind up on the eggs with a little help from dunkin’ skills.

Tatum had to warm up with a bunny pop from her Easter bag from school. CANDY!!! She could not wait to get her little hands mouth on this bunny.

OK, now we are ready.

All lined up and ready to COLOR!

 

This little bunny whisky contraption did aid in the dunkin’ enjoyment.

 

Dunkin’ skills at work.

And attention to the dot details

Glittery, glowing and glamorous. The incredible edible EGG!

Eggsellente!

Now we get to look forward to enjoying them on the beautiful day of our risen Christ the KING. Happy Easter!

Today was Tatum’s Easter Egg Hunt at school. I was invited to come, so I got there early to help them hide eggs. It was in a dirt area with ZERO hiding spots, but we made the best of it.

I got there early while they were reading. Tot was right up front listening attentively.

Then she was ready to rally with her bag!

GO TOT!

Sneaky…..yes I did help her a bit. “What is that behind the tree hmmmmm?”

Hooray! Six eggs each.

 

The kids had a great time

Thanks for inviting me.

Yes!! We (I) did it.

These sticks can be quite the challenge. You can make anything from ramps to  animals and everything in between.
Well, Tot picked the dog picture and the pressure was on….

ME

to complete this assignment.

It required much attention and focus!

Voila: The back of the pup

The front!

We (I) did it! Thank you Jesus for your help with our steady fingers. Sheesh!