Pickin' Strawberries

Last week I met my mom to go to the Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls. They have strawberries ready to pick. The kids had a great time.

The first thing we did was pick strawberries.

The kids did a great job finding ones that were just right.

Here's a picture of the strawberry plants.

We have been studying ladybugs, so it was fun to see real ones. I later learned that they are friends to the farmers. Their diet is the bugs (aphids) that like to eat the plants. Joshua discovered he has no fear of bugs. Ever since this picture, he lets bugs crawl on him. I have had to make sure he doesn't let spiders crawl on him.

A place to take pictures.

Then the petting zoo. Tabitha has no fear. She loved feeding them. Joshua let Gigi do it for him.

Tabitha summed it up well!

Easter

For Easter this year, I wanted to teach the kids more about Jesus, so we made an Easter lapbook.  Here they are coloring some crosses to place on the front. 

For the remainder of the book, we made flashcards with words like heaven, Jesus, cross, saved, etc.  We also made a puzzle from the number three so they would remember that he rose on the third day.  I was absolutely amazed at how much they learned.  And they enjoyed it as well.  It was our bedtime book for at least a week.

I also did an arts and crafts project, and let them color eggs.  They did two apiece.  We would never eat a dozen eggs!

On Saturday before Easter, we did a treasure hunt to find their Easter baskets.  Easter day is so busy for us, and I didn't want to take away from it.  The kids had so much fun finding the baskets and then playing with their new toys.  Josue and I both agreed that we had never seen them play with toys for so long.  Joshua got the Scooby characters, and Tabitha got Cinderlla to dress up.

This is my lovely family at church Easter Sunday.

Here we are outside my grandmother's house.  Every Easter we go to her house to celebrate with my family.  The kids really, really look forward to it.

Of course there is an Easter egg hunt.  Joshua and Tabitha are by far the youngest, and every one treats them so kindly.  They placed many, many eggs in one location for them, and they didn't allow the older kids to search there.

Confetti eggs were included.  They told Joshua you crack it on someone you like.  Papa was on his list!

My two babies!

Fiesta Texas

I found a couple of things I hadn't yet posted.  One was a trip to Fiesta Texas in San Antonio.  We took a mini-vacation to get away for one night.  We visited a kid friendly hotel first.  Joshua got his face painted.

I wish you could have seen Tabitha.  Even I missed it.  She got into the chair to get a princess crown, but when the girl began, Tabitha wanted nothing to do with it.  I didn't realize it because she wasn't saying anything.  Josue however was watching her, and he called it to my attention.  When I looked at her she was looking at me saying, "Mommy, mommy" and then sideways glancing at the girl.  I asked her if she wanted it, and she said no.  When I asked Josue what he saw her doing, he said Tabitha was giving her a look like, "What are you doing?!"  Girls.  How we can get our point across without actually saying anything!

We then headed to Fiesta Texas the next morning.  What surprises we had waiting for us!

Scooby Doo is a character there!  I don't know who was more excited, Joshua or myself.  When I come across things they really like, I get so excited for them! 

Tabitha did get a little sleepy...she still naps.

Surprisingly, the kids had many rides available to them if a parent was to ride.

Josue didn't care for the teacups.

One of the last rides was a Scooby Doo Haunted Mansion.  It really couldn't get any better for us!  It might even be more exciting than DisneyWorld.  (Probably not, but we didn't have to travel far or spend a lot of money to go.)  We had so much fun!

Visitors from Oklahoma

Grandpa, Auntie Jayne, and Peanut came to visit us last week.  The kids had a great time playing with them!

Here are the kids with Grandpa and Peanut.

I joined them.

Tabitha loves the princesses, and she got a few gifts from them.  A set of books.

And pajamas.  (The pajamas were on a chair in her room when she went to nap.  When she awoke, she came out looking like this.)

Joshua got a castle, and now goes around the house telling me, "I have always wanted a castle!"

He enjoyed it even more when Grandpa played with him.

How the little things are so much fun!  Joshua is really enjoying his new whistle.

Bubbles

Cowboy hat

Of course toys are fun, but what the kids enjoyed most was spending time with them.  The next morning after they left, Joshua woke up asking when he would see Grandpa again.  We are looking forward to the next visit!

Dance Recital

I taught a neighborhood dance class for the months of January, February, and March.  Just sharing a skill I spent 15 years of my life practicing.  When I began teaching, I didn't know the end result would be a recital.  But these kids are awesome!  They learned 3 dances (two ballet, one jazz).  Our church has a stage, so I reserved it and began planning the costumes with the other moms.

Here are the jazz costumes.  In the first picture, leading the train is Joshua, then Sarah, Grace, and Tabitha.

Here is a picture of them doing the ballet dance.  It was the best one I have.  Maybe the other moms have some I can post later.

This is Grace.  She brought me the beautiful roses.  I felt so special!

These are pictures of my family.  I had lots of fun putting on this production!

Spring Break

My children aren't in school yet, but that doesn't mean we couldn't celebrate spring break!  Our neighbor friends Grace and Lucas with the help of their mom planned some exciting events for us.

On Monday, the kids created a book all about themselves.  We made them using a lapbook.  (I didn't know what this was until then, but since have used the idea here at home.  Google it...you will get tons of ideas.)  The book included where they lived, their birthdays, their favorite food, book, etc.  They really had a great time doing this.  In fact, both Joshua and Tabitha slept with theirs for a week!

Here's Grace and Joshua working hard.

Where are Lucas and Tabitha?  A little sidetracked, but having fun!

That evening we had a Bible study with some people from church, and Joshua began by teaching us a lesson. 

On Tuesday, Grace and Ava came over to begin a vegetable garden.  The kids each got their own seed pack, an egg carton, and soil.  They were pros at this.  To finish we started a journal to keep track of the growth.  They really did a great job.  In fact, Joshua and Ava both have seedlings now.

Wednesday we celebrated St. Patrick's Day.  Really just an excuse to do more arts and crafts and play games.  Here the kids are making Blarney Stones.  I had never heard of this before.  

They also played Bingo, made clover crafts, and ate green food.

Thursday was a unique day for Joshua.  He went to work with Daddy!  I took him at lunch time so he would only be there a few hours.  Josue said he was so good.  He colored and met some co-workers while he was there.  Joshua seemed very content when he got home.  Sorry, no pictures of him.

And nightime...ahhhh.  Kids in pj's on their way to bed.  All is silent for a few hours...

Now spring is officially here!

Happy Birthday, Buela!

We celebrated Buela's 60th birthday on Saturday, March 13.  It was a surprise party!  We waited until the evening before to tell the kids about it.  On Thursday they did learn that we would be celebrating the birthday of a girl.  Joshua did wear me down with the questions as to who it was.  With each question I found myself closer and closer to telling him when I finally had to say, "Enough.  This kid is going to drag it out of me."   When Josue got home on Friday, they found out we would be celebrating Buela. 

Evelia (Buela) did know that we were going to take her out to dinner to celebrate her birthday.  The rest of the story was unknown.  Here's what we came up with in the end.  Josue and the kids would pick her up saying I was at the church building for a shower.  They would then arrive to pick me up and go eat.  So off I went to the building to finish setting up.

The kids and Josue went to get her.  During the car ride, Josue prepped the kids.  They were only to ask her "How are you?"  "How was work?"  but nothing was to be mentioned about the party.  To their credit, Josue says they tried really hard.  But here's Tabitha...

Tabitha: Buela, how was work?
Buela: Oh, fine.  Thank you for asking.
Tabitha: Turns to Josue with confused look on her face.  What else, Daddy?

Then Joshua.  (Earlier that day Josue and Joshua went to her house to get pictures for the party.)

Joshua: Buela.  We were here to get pictures for your party.
Buela: Oh really, baby.

Nevertheless, she said she was completely surprised.  Walking in...

These are her grandkids in Mesquite.  (Andrew, Adam, and Analisa)

Joshua (Ryne) with his cousin Joshua Alan.  We have to use middle names when together.  These two are one month apart.

Here they are as babies.  So sweet!  (Joshua Ryne left, Joshua Alan right.)

Here's the happy birthday girl.  (I was wondering why the picture was slanted, then I remembered that Joshua took the picture.)

Joshua helps her open presents.

Joshua and Tabby.

And all the grandkids!

The only missing from the party was Tia Marissa.  We can't wait to celebrate with her in July or August!