Our Easter 2013

Easter sneaked up on me this year!!!  With snowfall just a few days ago, spring break, Addison's birthday and an early Easter, it was here before I knew it.  As such it was a bit of low key Easter.  I am thankful, yet again, for friends.  We do not have family close by so our friends are like our family and this Easter celebrations was filled with time with friends!

We started off spring break by heading to the Omaha Children's museum .  Since Caleb has only been walking a lot for a month and half I have not had many chances to go places alone with my two walkers so I was thankful to have two friends AND a set of grandparents (not our family, but close) to help me keep track.

TIRED TIRED kids after the museum...this is Caleb's first "video time"

Early this week, Addison decorated a box for the Easter bunny to leave her a few goodies and decorated her own Easter egg (egg dying is too messy with a grabby pre-toddler around, aka Caleb).

We saw the Easter bunny on Friday at lunch and had a sweet picnic with our friends The Risers.

 SHE WENT RUNNING up to the bunny!

Saturday Addison attended a birthday party for a classmate, Grayson, who is coming to her party Saturday! They had a big party complete with a bouncy house and a professional face painter!

Sunday we celebrated Resurrection Sunday with our church family followed by chicken cannelloni for lunch and a dinner with some church friends.

We do not have extra hands for a full family pic :)

Easter Lunch and Green bean casserole in the background for the dinner later that night with friends.

 Eating PEEPs, first one--they were excited!

  Eating PEEPs, first one--they were excited!

To top it off, tonight I said good night to my two year old and will say good morning to my big three year old.

The Easter Story as Told By My Addison

I love my smart little talkative girl.  The other night she informs me it is almost Easter. To which I respond "well yes, that is right Addison--do you know the story of Easter?"  Assuming she would merely respond with some mixture of several bible stories I was ready-ing myself to tell the story.  And this is what I hear back, almost verbatim.....

"Mommy (as if she was saying "duh, why dont you know this).  It is when Jesus died on that cross.  And the soldiers were mean.  Then they put Jesus in a TUBE (HAHA, I love when they mess words up and say them with confidence).  The angel said "come out".  And that angel knocked over the solider.  Jesus came out and now....now....(losing track of the story)...now...well Jesus came out of the tube and now He is in my heart of course."

Of course He is in your heart my little love.  I love you.  May we all have this sweet child like faith.  Thank you, Addison, for reminding me how special Jesus is during this season!!!!

Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom: A Peculiar Dream

I have a dream. Some people think it is strange, some may even think it is looney but it is still my dream.  I would be honored to be a surrogate for someone.  A surrogate for one special, loving and godly family.  Why?  Why oh why would I dream such a dream?
First, I find great joy in pregnancy.  Sure there are parts of it that are less enjoyable than others, but that's everything in life right?  I love the entire adventure despite the tiredness, aches, pains, weight gain, etc.  The kicks, flutters and knowing I am carrying a life outweighs all the rest so quickly.  Pregnancy is so unique; nine short months and you know that it will end.  Pregnancy always ends, that we know.  How can you not love it knowing that?  Admittedly I think I have had relatively easy pregnancies---I guess.
Also, I think my body must like being pregnant.  Both pregnancies resulted in inductions and even that barely coaxed them out :)  And I can hold a big ole baby in there--mine were both almost ten pounds.
I even found enjoyment in the long labors with both my children.  This is another thing we know will end.  You wont be in labor forever, although it feels like that sometimes!
And most importantly, I have experienced becoming a mommy and it is by far the most wonderful calling of my life.  Challenging, especially since I stay at home and live it 24/7, but wonderful.  As I said before, with anything good there will always be moments of not AS good.  I would consider it a privilege to help someone else in their journey to become a mommy.  And I am pro adoption too---this is just another alternative (side note, that's another dream--adoption).  What an honor if I could be part of growing someone's family.  Wow.
When I share this dream with others I am often asked some like "how can you carry that baby and not 'want' it?" I do not have a crystal ball but I think God equips us and that baby is no way genetically mine. I view it as I am babysitting for 9 months. This special family would be as much a part of it as me!!! It's theirs. Not mine. They are trusting me to care for their baby for those nine sweet months. Perhaps I over simplify.
This maybe one of those things that always stays a dream and that is fine. Yummy In The Tummy Dreams are sometimes intended to be just that, a dream not a reality.  But I cannot help but wonder if one day this dream COULD come true.  Maybe.  Maybe.  Call me crazy.  I call me a dreamer.

Addisons Royal Ball Party Preview

Addison's royal ball themed party is on April 6 and we are in full swing prepping! I won't reveal much but here is a sneak peek.


Making tutus and wands as favors. The blue accordion you see will be clocks set for nearly midnight!


Wands and tutus in progress



Pile of tutus ready from some toddler princesses!

We have made good progress while my mom has been here visiting. We are almost done until I get the RSVPs.

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What a difference no commute makes!

This video doesn't do it justice because I started filming late but it fills my heart with joy to see how excited Caleb is to see Matthew! The move to Nebraska gave us lots more time with Matthew including the occasional lunch date! His commute in dc was an hour and 15 min each way, sometimes longer. Now it's 20 minute each way. It's amazing. I can't describe it. Caleb has a level of excitement to see Matthew that Addison never had and I think it's because of the commute. Below is a video of Caleb and I meeting Matthew for lunch.