Cozying up to Eeyore

On Good Friday, I took the boys to Christ Community Church's Resurrection Trail.  We met up with our small group to share this special hands on experience that allows for children (and adults) to walk through the events of Jesus's last days.  The trail included depictions of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, Jesus' serving his disciples by washing their feet, the betrayal by Judas, going before Pontius Pilate, building the cross and Simon carrying it, casting lots for Jesus' clothes, Golgotha, and finally the empty tomb.  What a wonderful way to prepare our children's hearts for Easter and a very creative, scripturely sound, fun way to help them understand the last earthly days of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

This was the second year that the boys got to experience Resurrection Trail.  The weather was much, much kinder this year!  Last year, it poured rain and all of the activities had to be moved inside.  However, this year, we could not have asked for more favorable weather and a better experience.  The boys really enjoyed it, especially since they were able to see some of the stories we had been sharing with them come to life.  We had some really great conversations following the trail and it was so interesting to hear how their little brains comprehended what they had seen. 

One of the highlights was getting to pet a donkey who was appropriately named Eeyore.  Caleb went right up to him (or maybe it was a her) without hesistation.  Seth was not so sure.  But he did eventually come around.  Then it was hard to pull him away.

Of course, for my boys the best part was getting to use hammers to pound nails into a block of wood that represented the cross.

 

It was a beautiful day!!

Okay Darth Vader, Here's a Tip..

If you are planning to intimidate anyone, you better first put on some shoes.

Because when I see those sweet little feet, I don't want to fight you, I want to give you a big squeeze!

And that could really hurt that whole mean guy image thing you've got going.

Favorite Quote of the Day

"My brother is so much fun to play with. I have such a good time with him."

---Caleb Workman to his buddy, Noah

(overheard from the backseat today while driving home from preschool for a playdate at our house)

Just a Trio of Guys Hanging Out and Eating Pizza

It is hard to believe that Caleb is now old enough to have sleepovers.  But he is, and boy, does he love having a buddy spend the night.  Jack was over a couple of weekends ago for his first sleepover!!  What a great time the boys had!  And they actually got some sleep, too, which was quite surprising.  Jack came over for a bit to play yesterday, and I had to laugh at his response when I told him that since summer was coming, we would get to have more playdates.  He looked up at me and said, "No Mrs. Amy.  More sleepovers." 

Oh.

We are looking forward to it, buddy!

Conversations in the Car

Biz:  The bigger your brain is the more smarter you are.

Momma:  Really.

Biz:  Yeah.

Sethie:  Biz, where is it?

Biz:  Where is what?

Sethie:  Your brain.

Biz:  Oh, it's in my head.  It is pink and looks curly.

Sethie:  Oh. Mine is not in my head.

Biz:  Yes, it is.  Your brain is in your head.

Sethie:  No, it's not.  Mine brain is on my arm.

Biz, lauging hysterically: No, silly.  It's in your head.  See (pointing to little brother's arm), there is no brain on your arm.

Sethie (who is one to never give up an argument):  No, it fell off.  It is under the car now between the tires.

And yes, once we got out of the car, we all had to stand in the Kroger parking lot and inspect the tires, so Sethie could attempt to show us his brain and Biz could prove him wrong.  Of course, the argument was forgotten once the car carts were in sight, and a new argument insued: Which color of car to ride in?  Green won out this time.  2 for 2 on this trip, Biz! 

Biz Art

If you had told me at Christmas that by Easter Biz would be an avid artist, I would have laughed.  Not because I didn't think he had the skill, but because if you have been around him for more than five seconds, you know that sitting still is not his thing.  Biz has never been one to quietly sit with his crayons and color pictures.  He has been much too busy for that.  It has really been like pulling teeth to get him ot sit down and draw or write.  He just had no interest.  Zero.

Until a couple of months ago, that is.

We have noticed a new desire for art and writing take shape in our first born and it has been really neat to see Biz develop his skill and to see how much he enjoys his creations.  There is a drastic change in how he drew just a few months ago and how he draws today.  I give a lot of credit to his buddy, Matthew.  Matthew and Caleb have been in the same preschool class for the past two years.  Caleb has always told me what a great drawer Matthew is.  Over the past few months, Matthew has been helping Caleb with his art and what a great art teacher he has been.   Biz will even come home with drawings that he did during free play time at school.  Yes, free PLAY time.  That is something that I never thought I would see happen...Biz choosing to color/draw over playing.  I often find him sitting at his little table at home just drawing away without any prompting from me.  He is eager to draw pictures for his friends and family...anyone who would appreciate a little something to adorn their walls or fridge.

Biz's creations are usually scenes from Star Wars.  It is funny how Star Wars was a big motivator in both his reading and writing/drawing.  He has been getting more and more creative with his drawings. It is so much fun to see what his little mind comes up with.  And there is always a couple minute story that goes along with each picture.  I know for most, it isn't that big of a deal to have your kiddos draw.  Isn't that what kids do?  Not our kiddo.  So for us, this little transformation has been HUGE.  A few weeks ago, Eric and I rewarded him for all of his hard work in learning to draw with an art supply kit.  Let me tell you, he has cherished it and taken such good care of it. 

I guess it is more confirmation that my little man is growing up.  *Sigh*

Artist Biz and his model, Buzz.

Here is a sampling of his recent artwork:
                                                                                                             

                                                      

 (above left) Darth Vader fighting Luke Skywalker

(above right) Caleb, escaping from a volcano and hot lava in an escape pod

                                                                                                        

(above left) An airplane for me  (for some reason this picture would not rotate.)

                                                                      

(above right) Various Star Wars light saber scenes; The bottom right picture is Caleb and his friends playing on a big party boat

                                                                                                       

                                                                    

                                        

(above left) To practice his writing and memory verses, he has been writing scripture and hanging it above his bed.  This is one of his favorites.

(above right)  Eric and me

(above center)  A picture of what I looked like to Caleb last night     (It was probably pretty accurate.)
                                                          

                                                                                                                 

And this is my very favorite picture.

Biz gave it to me a couple of weeks ago and asked me to put it in my bedroom window so that no matter what the weather was like outside, there would always be a rainbow in my room.

I love that kid!!

The Great Bike/Trike Race

On your mark...

Get set...

Go!!!

Seth may have had a slight disadvantage on three wheels verses two.

And that whole big brother has been riding for at least two years longer thing.

But he didn't seem to mind.

He was just glad to be a part of the race!

Hot Shots Soccer with Aunt B...

...makes for a great Saturday!!

Score!!

And big brother was not too caught up in the action to run over to the sidelines and give his super hero little brother a big hug after scoring a goal.

Celebrating with the Fam!!

What is the next best thing to having a spacious home to accomodate a big bunch of visiting family?  Having overly generous friends who offer to allow you to host your crew at their spacious home!!  God is good and oh, how He has blessed us with loving family who travel here to celebrate the special events in our lives and wonderful friends (who are like family) who live here, love us, and offer up their home so we can all comfortably celebrate together. 

   

Both sides of our family made the trip down to celebrate Sethie's birthday a couple of Saturdays ago.  The McLaughlins not only offered to allow us to have the birthday party at their home, they also graciously offered to lodge some of our family, so that no one would have to get hotel rooms.  Now that is true friendship!  Memaw, Uncle Greg, Tammy Sue, Jeana, Bret, Bret's girlfriend, Megan, Granny, Aunt B, Uncle Bill, Papaw Larry, Miss Sheila, and Unkie Dew and Miss Ticia (who just set their wedding date for September, 11th.  Woo Hoo!) all joined us at Tante and Uncle Tim's house to celebrate our Sethie.

We started the day off with a little Hot Shots soccer action and then made our way to the McLaughlins for a BBQ lunch and delicious Costco birthday cake (my favorite!).  When I had asked Seth what he wanted for his birthday, all he said was cake. Easy enough. A Star Wars cake.  hmm...not quite so easy.  I didn't get the Star Wars cake, because Costco didn't have those and I didn't think about putting our own Star Wars figures on the cake until AFTER the party.  Maybe next year. But I think the multitude of Star Wars gifts made up for it.  Thanks everybody!! 

It was a blessed time with family and friends and we were grateful to have so many people that we love under the same roof.  That doesn't happen very often, but it means so much to us and the boys when it does. Plus, all of the fun we had, made Kentucky's Elite 8 loss to West Virginia later that evening, a bit more bearable.  Only one thing was missing--Pepaw! We really missed him, but his work did not allow for him to make the trip this time.  It wasn't the same without him, but thankfully, he had gotten to visit a couple of weeks before.

We were all ready for a big rest after all of the festivities, but before that, what third birthday celebration would be complete without a spin around the yard on a lawn mower with Uncle Tim?