Gorgeous Summer Night

The weather right now in Michigan is hardly typical summer fare, with cool breezes and highs in the low 70s. And although the kids are missing all the pool and beach time we usually have each summer, it is the perfect weather for life with a baby.

Every night we have been eating dinner out on the deck. We all love to eat al fresco, especially when it involves fresh corn-on-the-cob and perfectly ripe Romeo peaches! After a family bike ride (in which Sebastian rode a little bike for the first time, rather than his trike), neighborhood kids gathered in the backyard for some soccer, girls vs. boys. They played 5 on 5 and I think the boys always won, but it was close enough that everyone had fun.

Sebastian and Drake and I enjoyed the show from the deck. Drake got the giggles and everything Sebastian did set him off. Of course Sebastian LOVED it, and so did I! I thought the night was as perfect as it could be, when I had this sweet little conversation with my two-year-old:

Sebastian (pointing): Look Momma! Moon.
Mommy: Oh yes! You are right, that is the moon. And look, there is an airplane way up high too.
Sebastian (after thinking for a minute): I want to get moon and give to you, Momma.
Mommy: That is so nice Sebastian! How about you go over there and jump really high and grab the moon? Then you can bring it to me.
Sebastian (with a a sincerely distressed look): But I can't! I can't jump that high!
Mommy (as another plane flew over): How about you ride up there in an airplane?
Sebastian (calling to the airplane): Come down airplane! I go in!
Mommy: I guess he's too far away to hear us. Maybe we'll just have to look at the moon tonight.
Sebastian: Okay Momma.

Catch-up Time: Easter with Grandma and Grandpa John

Since Grandma and Grandpa John were coming out to meet Drake and be here for his baby blessing, as well as help Jeff start building a deck, we also timed it so that they could be here for our Easter festivities. It was so wonderful to have them here!

Before they got here we started off the week of Easter making palm fronds and reenacting the Triumphal Entry, and then talking about what Christ did that last week of His ministry.

Grandma and Grandpa got here in time for our annual "Jerusalem Dinner" that we do in honor of the Last Supper on Thursday. Lamb chops, grape juice, pitas and crackers with boursin, salad with almonds, red onion and goat cheese, pistachios, olives, lentil soup and strawberries for dessert. Yum!

The kids went to two Easter Egg Hunts, once with our community and once with a group of church friends.

On Saturday the kids colored Easter Eggs with Grandma.

 

Then everyone went outside and ended up playing a spontaneous "sticker" game, followed by a walk around the neighborhood. 

When we returned we found that the Easter Bunny had visited our very own backyard, leaving a big present and hiding eggs all over the place!

 The present turned out to be a soccer goal!

 

We love having Grandma & Grandpa with us!
The kids especially loved that Grandpa freely shared his ipad with them!

On Easter morning the kids (and Grandma & Grandpa) were super excited to find presents from Mom and Dad.

This Easter Sunday was also Drake's baby blessing.

After church the missionaries joined us for a big Easter dinner. Great Grandma Call had sent us these adorable little bunny cups that I used to decorate our table.

Catch-up Time: March

St. Patrick's Day fell on a Sunday this year, so the kids all tried to find something with green on it to wear to church so they wouldn't get pinched (mostly by Mom!).

The leprechauns left us Lucky Charms and green milk for breakfast, and in honor of the day, we tried to eat as much green as possible for dinner. The menu was meatballs, pesto rice, salad, pears, kiwi, and lemon-lime kool-aid. The jasmine rice mixed with basil pesto became a new family favorite! Isabelle, in particular, keeps asking for pesto rice.

 My friend Joellen gave Drake this cute bib.

 Maya and I had a mommy/daughter achievement girl night where part of the activity was on styling hair. This sent us girls on a bit of a hair-do extravaganza.

My handsome boys:

Sebastian has become obsessed with Dora the Explorer. It is ALL he wants to watch. He loves this alligator chair too.
  
and reading books!

I have been taking him to storytime at the library and he did his first craft, gluing cotton balls on a paper bunny. He was so proud!

Catch-up Time: Drake, 2-months-old

In March Drake went for his first stroller ride. He could barely keep his eyes open because it was so bright. It had been so cold that he really hadn't been outside much, other than to and from the car in the carseat.

He started smiling before he turned 2-months-old. As soon as he did, my quest became to capture these precious and fleeting glimpses of amusement.

 A couple of weeks later we were enjoying the first little chuckles!

His happy, easy-going personality was starting to shine!

We love this little guy dearly!
The other kids still can't get enough of Drake.

 Grandma Fifield gave Drake this cute little outfit for church, as well as the "drake" dragon pin from Wales.

Grandma and Grandpa John came out to meet their newest grandson.

Easter was extra special this year because it was also the day of Drake's baby blessing.

The Easter Bunny brought Drake a little bunny that sings "Jesus Loves Me."

We are so blessed to have this new sweet little spirit in our home!