A Gorgeous Easter Weekend

It is Middleton Unplugged this month, so life has been slightly different this past week--better! Our personal family rules have evolved over the years as we have seen what enhances our unity and what detracts, so we are allowing movie night on Fridays and made some exceptions for Easter, but for the most part the computers and Ipod's get turned off right after school and we spend our "entertainment" time in other ways. Lily and Sophie's teacher told their class that any night that they participate in "Unplugged" they get out of homework. Since we participate the entire month, the twins are excited; I'm concerned.=) We've had to come to some mother/daughter compromises (no matter what the teacher says) so that they don't flunk their spelling tests, and their reading levels don't suffer, but I do let them eliminate their "busy work", so they are happy--mostly. Last week the community events included a mother/daughter makeover night at one of the local spa's, which the twins adored, and the infamous YMCA night, which everyone enjoyed. There aren't any grand and exciting "events" planned for this week, but I so look forward to the serenity of radio-free days, happy kids playing outside, and quality family time. This month is always such a good tech withdrawal time for all of us. I think it helps us realign our priorities--especially during family hours.

Mikayla is home for 10 days for her Spring Break. Everyone just soaks in her company when she is here. She has transitioned to college so well--straight A's, except Spanish, which is giving her a little run for her money. She just got a job on campus driving people around in a 16 person mini-van. She'll start that as soon as she goes back and she's excited to have some financial resources.=) It will entail a lot of waiting-for-people time so she'll also be able to study on the job, which is perfect. We've all been praying for her and I know this is a blessing.

We enjoyed a beautiful Easter day--gorgeous weather! We were able to have our traditional Easter dinner out on the lawn and take our first official family Sunday walk, with Eden practicing her photography skills, which is what she has decided to study in college. This morning the weather was back down to 36 degrees, but we'll take whatever bits of sun that we can get. I'm hoping those bits become more lengthy soon, because the kids (minus Mikayla) are out of school on the 16th, due to the schools being out of money. Crazy! We're all ready to be done. I think we were all ready at Spring Break!

One of Jordan's best friends, who just returned from his mission, came over for FHE last night. It was fun to hear all about his mission experiences and just hang out like old times. These kids get into your heart and no matter where they go--or for however long--they aget embedded for keeps. It was an enjoyable evening and we had to force the younger kids into bed, while he was still visiting. They were only content when Luke and Mikayla consented to play them guitar lullabies until they fell asleep. Good times.

Quote of the week: 

“The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.” ― Barbara Kingsolver

Saturday Easter Egg Hunt

 

 

Dividing the Spoils

Easter Morning Basket

Easter Morning Breakfast

Easter Morning Clothing

Sun in Our Eyes--Feeling New Like Spring

Traditional Easter Picnic--Weather Permitting Roasted Fish and Asparagus, Pilot Bread, Olives, Grapes, Tamarind Pods, Broken Cheese, Nuts, Grape Juice--and Sun!

Pretty in Pink

The only pretty spot in our yard--but it makes me happy.

First Sunday Family Walk of the Season

Sisters

Sneaking a Peek

Picking Grass for the Horses

Feeding the Horses--Grass and Jellybeans=)

Proof of Spring

Abe Being "Gangsta"

Coming Back Home--Fred's Ingenious Carrying Tool