the egg hunt

We started our Easter weekend with an egg hunt at a park in town (with a bunch of foreign friends... few here would know why anyone would ever organize an event like this.)

Such fun to be there as a family (and one big perk of Matt working a more traditional Monday to Friday schedule is that we go TOGETHER to events like this one!)

Two first-time egg hunters in the family this year...

John Paul (who did get the hang of the whole egg-hunting game and is a professional candy eater) - 

 

 and Luke (clueless about the egg-hunting, but cute as a button)

and content to chew on his Easter basket, ignoring the candy.

 

Isaac was at the top of his game - no action shots of the speed hunter racing from one place to the next, but a happy boy with his treat bag after the hunt finished.

 

And my girlies, always loving to be a part of the fun.

It was a gorgeous sunny day and the morning just set the stage for our neighborhood party later that afternoon. 

gardening, Easter style

This is the third year we've made a miniature Easter garden. 

Tradition?  Established. 

This year I simply supplied the baking pan.... and the big three went to work. 

We start on Thursday, with Jesus praying in the garden.  Friday morning we move our Jesus to the cross, and that evening to the tomb.  By Saturday our garden is lifeless and somber. 

But oh Sunday!  That the kids know what surprise is on the horizon doesn't seem to matter.  They're already exchanging knowing glances, the "remember how Mom will take out all the dead stuff and fill the garden with new flowers and there will be an angel and the tomb is open?" kind of look. 

There's a lot to remember, a lot to celebrate. 

prepping for a party

This Saturday we're hosting an Easter party for our neighbors.  And we're all pretty excited about it. 

We made the invitations a few days ago and are busy passing them out.  The list of invitees is long and getting longer.... we're gonna have to limit the numbers at some point :)  All three of my big kids have invited a couple of friends from their school class too. 

Of course, we have no idea how many people will actually show up.  I'm guessing somewhere between 4 and 40.  Makes party prep a bit interesting, huh? 

Nobody, practically nobody, knows anything about Easter or why we would bother to celebrate.  And we're delighted to get to tell them.  

mugging for the camera

It might have been all the birthday pictures...

but sometime in the last few weeks Luke has learned how to smile for the camera.

 

It might be a few months before we get a picture without the squinty eyes and crinkled up nose. 

 

Luke is also using a few words, he hand-signs 'more', waves bye bye and claps his hands.  His first (and most frequent word) is uh-oh.  Luke got started on uh-oh a few weeks ago and he loves it - uses it all day long.  [I've never had a child with uh-oh as his first word.... wonder if this is some sort of indicator of many uh-oh moments to come!!]

He occasionally calls 'mama' and 'baba' (for Matt) and hollers 'do do do' every time he sees a dog.  I do love hearing him call for me, even if it's followed by an 'uh oh' (meaning he deliberately threw his cup off his high chair tray and needs me to come pick it up).

Growing up fast, my littlest boy.  

how Luke helps out

Luke loves to dismantle the house. 

Books on your shelves? No problem, folks.  Luke can remove every single book, and if you're committed to re-shelving he'll be back later that day for round two.  Luke likes an empty shelf.

He also loves empty drawers.  He is not agile enough to open the girls dresser but he's smart.... and happy to lay low while the girls get out their clothes and then move in for the big "drawer empty" while they're distracted changing clothes. 

 

As for the boys' room, I try to keep their cabinets "locked" with a strong rubber band looped around the drawer pulls, but it gets left open at times and Luke is happy to remind me of my error. 

I can clean up this "mess" in about two minutes.... I'm not real committed to folded clothing, especially when we're talking about my two- and four-year old sons.  The basket system works great - John Paul's stuff in the top row, Isaac's in the bottom.  One basket for pants (or shorts in summer), one for shirts, one for the extras (pajamas, swim suits).  Socks and underwear in the drawers up top. 

And Luke, he's just learning and exploring and having a grand ole time dismantling our home. 

Lydia's new numbers

Lydia's got some new stats around here.  She's down to just 19 teeth and a two-wheeled bike.   

You can't see the tooth gap too well - but the bottom left tooth is her first one lost! 

Over the past few weeks Lydia has gone from wobbly-and-needs-help-starting to confident-and-ready-for-the-road.  So fun to see her take this step :) 

Our road dead-ends at a river (just a block past our complex) and the riverside road is closed to traffic.  Perfect for biking!   

And if you needed evidence that Matt is the head of this family.... bike tricks.  Matt's love of all things two-wheeled is definitely trickling down to the next generation. 

Isaac is raring to get rid of his training wheels too.  I'm not sure when we'll have another new rider, but hopefully soon..... and in the meantime he loves to practice standing up on the pedals, riding with no hands, resting his feet on the bike frame and all the other fun stuff he learns from his Daddy. 

 Good times this spring for Lydia, and the rest of us too. 

Luke and the party

It's rare to have a group of people like this.... our local friends who surround us with love and support and care and compassion and fun.  I honestly can't imagine not inviting them to Luke's party. 

This last year was tough.  There's just no way around it.  The tough doesn't mean I'm not head over heels in love with my littlest, the tough doesn't mean that I'd wish away any of those days, the tough doesn't mean I'm not fully convinced that each struggle of Luke's is part of a greater story God is writing in all of our lives (because I am solidly convinced).

But the tough means TOUGH.  And it means we needed help, lots of it.  And these dear friends gave and gave and gave some more.  Oh how I wish I could include all the details here, but you'll just have to trust me.  And if you ever come to visit I've got a great group of people I would love for you to meet. 

We invited them all for supper - ordered pizza and had it delivered to one guy's workplace and he brought it out to the party.... because pizza doesn't deliver out here and didn't I tell you these people serve us like crazy? 

All of my children adore these uncles and aunties.  And it's clear the feeling is mutual :)  It's just a treat to be surrounded by friends who can't get enough of my children! 

They arrived with a gift for Isaac too (not to overlook our new 4 year old) - a battery-powered ATV that he is the current object of all his affections.  Surely his little tushy is still vibrating as he sleeps tonight, after riding this toy all day long.  It's charging now, gearing up for another day. 

Back to Luke.  He was delighted to be the center of attention.  Loved the cuddles, the chaos, the noise, everything.  I guess we'll never be able to pinpoint all of his personality (nature? nurture?) but there are definitely some unique aspects of growing up as #5 in a tight line of kiddos. 

He loved the cake, the candle, the singing.

... and the eating!

He's ONE.  Still a baby, yet not really a baby.  We love you Luke Joseph!  Happy 1st Birthday!

a ONE year old and his sibs

There is no doubt who Luke's best buddies are.... he's got four of them, built in sibling-friends.  I honestly don't think he has a favorite!  He loves them all and they each interact with him in such unique ways. 

Today, on his first birthday, I tried to get some photos of Luke with each of his siblings.  (I missed Luke and John Paul, so I'll have to get those tomorrow.)

Isaac chose this light-up bouncy ball for Luke.  He was so excited to give it to him, he didn't even bother to wrap it.  The ball was in Luke's hands moments after we walked in the house. 

Good choice Isaac, he loves it (we knew he would, didn't we?)

And a little pre-dinner cuddle/wrestle fest with Lydia is always fun. 

 

Yes, Luke is wielding a plastic sword.  One of the (many) perks of having big brothers is early access to weaponry. 

Julianna is usually Luke's preference for a good cuddle.  But she's also a guaranteed friend for a game of ball. 

Luke might be our athlete.  He's definitely got the build.  And he LOVES to play ball.  One of the few times he's still is when he's rolling the ball back and forth with someone. 

We celebrated Luke with a party tonight (invited a bunch of local friends - Luke's fan club, if you will -  and the people without whom we just might not have survived this first year of Luke-life!). 

I'll post some pictures tomorrow hopefully (waiting to get a few from friends).  It was a great time - and Luke took his first step, on his first birthday, at his birthday party, surrounded by a crowd of admirers.  How's that for good timing?!?!? 

4th birthday: Isaac

Isaac celebrated well this year.  The birthday party one weekend plus birthday-day the following weekend leads to a week of celebrating any brand new four year old would envy. 


Here we are starting the morning off right with big grins from the birthday boy :)

We were head-long into a Lego building session before Matt made it home from the airport.  {The question is no longer "Will Luke eat Legos?" but rather "How many Legos will Luke eat?"}  Isaac's favorite new set might be this one.... or maybe the safari set he got at his birthday party?  Hard to say, but Isaac is well on his way to being a Lego fan.  And Lydia is still my number one builder.  The good news is that the two of them work really well together on their building projects. 

With his new sleeping bag and pillow Isaac is camp out ready and the big kids are raring to go.... hopefully sometime this spring?!?!

Matt and his oldest son... to think that we were once "parents of girls"... and now three boys! 

The plastic warriors look pretty fierce when backlit with a birthday candle (or four!).  Isaac is still loving his warrior identity and dreaming of future hunts :)

Happy 4th Birthday Isaac!!!  You are such a gift, such a gift. 

the birthday boys

Isaac and Luke.  Born exactly 3 years, 2 days and 3 hours apart. 

I'm not exactly sure what this double-birthday will look like in future years.... but this year, oh sweet Luke doesn't even know he has a birthday so he's easy to impress, and Isaac still busy remembering last weekend's warrior party, plus the beauty of anticipation: a day of presents and fun tomorrow. 

Matt is due back mid morning tomorrow (oh please don't let his flight be delayed!) and we are hoping to wait to dig into the presents until Daddy shows up.  Although Isaac's left plenty of hints that we might need to open one or two before Matt comes.  We shall see. 

In our family the birthday kid picks every meal on the big day.  Lucky me, they usually love the easy stuff :)  Isaac's picks are cinnamon roll breakfast, noodle shop lunch, mac n cheese supper.  He claims the noodle shop as his favorite restaurant - even though he always orders fried rice.  Ha! 

So my cinnamon roll dough is rising, I've been picking out old pictures of Isaac for us to look at together tomorrow, and I'm wishing Matt was here to help blow up some balloons. 

This afternoon I thought a little photo session with the birthday brothers and my phone camera might be appropriate.

I didn't get the exact brothers shot I was hoping for, but this one of my crazy-haired baby might be my newest favorite.

Let the celebrating begin :) 

a letter from Lydia

This week we are writing letters.

Today Lydia chose to write John Paul ("even though he won't be able to read it" she pointed out)

It's pretty sweet, and though I can dream that I'll hang on to this piece of paper til they both reach adulthood that probably won't happen, so I'll record it here instead. 

Dear John Paul, 

Is yor malth all beetr yet?  I love you.  Your so spasho.   I am sore you wr born with a hol in yor malth.  I hop wiurgn I wil hav tim to play with you. 

And for those of you who don't spend a lot of time deciphering kindergarten script, here's what she meant:

Is your mouth all better yet? I love you.  You're so special.  I am sorry you were born with a hole in your mouth.  I hope when you're grown I will have time to play with you.  

I'm not sure how wiurgn becomes "when your grown".... maybe she was loosing steam there at the end?!? She had to help me decipher that part.