Backyard Blessing

I still feel amazingly blessed every day that I have been able to wake up in our new house.  It's almost been a year since we've been here, but it definitely hasn't gotten old.  One of the many things I treasure about this house God blessed us with is our yard.  Both the back and front yard are full of things that draw us out to enjoy them.  In the front yard there is a tree small enough for the kids to climb by themselves, a tree swing, a long driveway for the kids to bike and scooter on, a gorgeous tree for shade, and wonderful neighbors always coming out for a chat.  In the backyard there are beautiful plants and something is always blooming, our new garden, a trampoline, another kid's tree swing, two more gorgeous shade trees along with tons of other decorative trees and vines and ivy, a big 3 seat-er tree swing, a creek, a picnic table and fire ring, an arbor patio, and a hot tub I hope to enjoy more in the fall.  The previous owners did such a beautiful job of planting and landscaping.  There always seems to be a new surprise spouting up or blooming.  Personally I've never had fresh herbs and there are some great potted plant holders full of them now.  Here are some pictures of our fun in the yard.  P.S. Thanks God for supplying the fun!

  

Bluebonnets '10

We attempted to take pictures of the kids in the bluebonnets this year.  Skylyn did okay for about 2 minutes and then screamed and cried the rest of the time.  Aaris and Titus did great.  Aaris has always loved being in pictures and comes us with new poses all the time.  As of just recently Titus now is very interested in having his picture taken and is also trying to pose.  Sometimes this is very funny because he only has his sister's girly poses to copy.  They really liked when the pictures were done and they could run wild in the flowers.  Please excuse and bluebonnet lives that were cut short for the sake of these pictures.  We really wanted Skylyn to stop crying, so we each picked a bluebonnet to give to her.  Well, it didn't work, but the other two enjoyed holding them.

Easter Sunday started off rough, but got better...for us at least.  Saturday night at 11:00 pm and again at 3:00 am Titus threw up.  When I got up at 3:00 am to help him get changed and cleaned up I also had to throw up.  The next morning we were both feeling pretty good besides being tired.  So, we did the Easter Egg hunt and then Titus and I stayed home through bible classes.  We did attend worship though.  The kids had a great time doing the Egg Hunt in the morning even though it was a little cloudy and misty.  Skylyn found a total of two eggs and then spent the rest of the time trying to open them and eat what was inside.  Aaris and Titus both ended up finding exactly 28 eggs.  We had a mixture of real hard boiled dyed eggs and candy filled plastic eggs.  The kids also received gifts from the Easter bunny: two books and one Easter craft or toy.  Aaris and Titus also received cross wrist bands.

For lunch we headed over to Albert and Vicki's house (a.k.a. Poppy and Mamaw - Aaron's parents).  We enjoyed a VERY yummy lunch.  We had a good crowd of Ma, Pa, Memaw Mary, Alan, Kristina, Cosette, Kyle, Janae, Julien, and our clan.  After lunch the men hide the eggs and then the kids got to have another egg hunt.  We got to hang out the rest of the afternoon and just enjoy everyone's company.

That evening we finished the celebration at my parents house (Papaw and Mimi).  We savored another yummy meal and then the kids enjoyed their 3rd egg hunt of the day.  Oh my - what a great day!

Oh, and here is the after story.  Remember that little stomach bug that Titus and I had?  Well, starting Sunday night 9 of the other 14 people got it. 

Aaris, Cosette, Skylyn, Julien, and Titus

                                                            (Joe Aaron, Joe Carrell, Joe Titus and Joe Albert)

Easter Weekend Activities

We started having fun and celebrating Easter on Good Friday.  Aaris was off from school, so we slept in and stayed in pajamas for awhile.  Then, after lunch we headed to Kiddie Acres.  This was Skylyn's first time to participate in all the rides.  She was just adorable.  Everyone around just giggled and were amazed at how she just walked right up to the rides and handed the workers her ticket.  She loved every minute of every ride.  She was very calm on the pony and I could tell she was taking it all in.

That afternoon we headed to Buda and played with the Shelton's at their beautiful house.  They are some of our best friends and the kids all love being together...and even if they didn't, Karen and I do.  lol. 

We left in time for dinner and egg coloring just around the corner at my parents house.  It is a long standing tradition (since I was a kid) to color eggs with them.    The kids look forward to it every year.  They also get more creative and crafty each year.  With Aaris being able to read and write now she liked to write or draw on the eggs with the wax crayon and surprise us.  To name a few she did a cross on one, She did a drawing of a girl on another, but her favorite was the one on which she wrote "GOD."  I do adore her.  Titus tried writing his name on several, but he couldn't write hard enough so they didn't show up very well.  Skylyn was very intrigued and really wanted to participate.  She got VERY upset when we took the egg from her and dropped it into the coloring.  She wanted to go after it, but we didn't let her dunk her hand in coloring.  We then had to distract her with stickers.  Afterwords we went out for some pictures with all our egg artwork.  Super fun memory!

(This picture represents my kid's personalities so very well!)

Easter weekend also meant the arrival of more family in town.  Aaron's Ma and Pa (Albert's parents) came which was wonderful since we hadn't seen them in almost a year.  Also, Aaron's brother Alan with Kristina, and Titus's favorite cousin, Cosette, came.  We stopped by to see them late Friday night on our way home, but we got to spend all day Saturday with them.  We headed to Zilker park before lunch where we played on the playground and road the Zilker train.  Lunch was yummy at El Arroyo.  Then, after naps it was time to dye more Easter eggs.  Since the table was down low and outside where spills where okay, Skylyn dove full body into the dye.  She spooned it all over herself.  When it was time to clean up and I needed to take the spoon from her we had a huge melt down.  This girl knows what she wants.  Another great time with family!

                                                                                                  (Made mom took away her dye.)