Jesus is Alive party!

My friend didn't actually name it that, but I loved her banner and focal point for this fun gathering on our 1st weekday of spring break!

 My girls were absolutely thrilled for their first egg hunt, as well as being pretty inseparable from their baskets prior to the party.

 It was a sweet time of fellowship with some sweet mama friends.

 Of course there were some treats...

 We think Abby Jane resembles her Aunt Betsy here...

 Then the hunt began.  Abby Jane and Blythe loaded up.

Joy, on the other hand, just got a few eggs and hunkered down with opening them. She needed much coaxing to continue to hunt and delay any gratification.

 Miss Ericka reading to Blythe some of the strips of paper included in her special prize egg: "Jesus is alive!" "The tomb is empty!"

 We thought that if we parked all the kids and their baskets, they'd be so busy with their baskets that we could get a decent picture. No dice. They were all pretty much done for by now. At least all the warm bodies under the age of four were accounted for.

This was the first day of many this week that the girls have needed a bath before their afternoon naps after a fun morning! Spring break makes me so excited for summer!

Plans

On Sunday morning, Blythe put on her necklace and butterfly backpack, grabbed Silky Bunny, and told me she was going for a hike.

 Joy told me she was going to put out a fire. In her bunny ears.

Class Easter Party

One of my favorite things about class parties is seeing sweet artwork!

One of my other favorite things is when they all sing a holiday-appropriate song. Usually Abby Jane hasn't mentioned it at home, so it's really cute to see what they have obviously been rehearsing.

I thought this was the cutest "food craft". The mom who planned this party made these little nests, then the kids got to fill them. This particular mom was one of the many former or current elementary school teachers amongst the class parents. I'm just glad to know so many of you teachers and learn from your creativity!

One thing I love about her going to a church preschool is that the focus of these parties is in the right place- Easter is about Christ being risen, Christmas is about Jesus' birthday, Thanksgiving is about giving thanks to God. I'm so grateful that she has had such a precious, nurturing environment for her first experience in school!

Cabin Extravaganza 2012

Last weekend was this year's trip to The Cabin with Mimi and Bop Bop. We missed the Gillies dearly, but it was still a sweet time of enjoying family, God's creation, and a precious pocket of land. These annual trips with Ken and Sandy are also fun opportunities to look back on the previous year and see how differently the kids enjoy the cabin as they grow up!

Blythe and Joy's official occupation of the trip was rock reallocation and movement. If you need any work done on a creek near you, call in my two-year-olds.

This is Blythe's consistent signature follow-through on her throw. She's honestly got the best arm of the three girls. Maybe basketball potential?

One of the best parts about the adult to child ratio on this trip was that each child was able to get individual time with adults. Here is big girl getting in some pre-breakfast creek surveying in with the grandparents.

We got in several walks and hikes.

The girls have this little joke amongst themselves where they sing about cows giving egg and chickens giving milk. They think it's hilarious to switch it up. So click here to see Joy singing uncharacteristicly shyly in front of a cow pasture.

We also met some friendly horses that actually let us feed them! Abby Jane named them Polly and Mrs. Polly, after Blythe's snuggly little bedtime friend... Polly.

Blythe and Abby Jane were keen on the horses... Joy kept a 10 foot radius.

Mimi and Bop Bop also brought the Gator, and Abby Jane and Blythe put a few miles in over the weekend on it.

The fruit of these guys' labor was one of the highlights of the weekend- The Cabin's first tree swing!

The twins' favorite swinging turned out to be "spider-style".

We also just enjoyed simply playing out in the field.

The weather was perfect outside, but it got cool enough at night to make inside feel snuggly. And the necessity for s'mores does not depend on the weather.

The key to dressing in the spring is layers... so there's nothing wrong with just a fleece and a diaper, right?

Besides, you can always take that fleece off.

And just go for it.

This lady has been a junkie for swings her entire life. She was almost inseparable from this one.

Here are Mimi and Bop Bop sitting on what Abby Jane has named: "The Storytelling Rock" after Mimi  told her a few good ones while they sat here.

On Abby Jane's suggestion, we took a "long hike in the woods" on our last morning. I didn't bring my camera, so this was during the after-hike creek party. We encouraged the twins to walk the majority of the time, and they mainly did really well. It was a beautiful morning in the woods. But here are a few phrases Jake said on our hike that made me laugh: "We are a non-fussing hiking family." "You got mud on your shoes? Yea! That's great! That means we're hiking in the woods." "OK, girls, you need to finish strong. That means no fussing. You need to persevere."

As always, we are so thankful for the opportunity to be so "away", in such a peaceful place, enjoying God's beauty along with our family.