Hunting Eggs at the Farm

The day before Easter, we went to my Aunt Sissy's house (um...her name isn't actually Sissy).  She always has family, church family and friends over, makes baskets for ALL THE KIDS.  (this is a BIG deal)  They have food for everyone, do a presentation of ressurection eggs, have the hunt and just hang out.

Nina and Lu going on a hayride :)

Daddy's girl...at least for the moment.

Sissy's incredible buffet...

Stephen and Clyde on the 4-wheeler...

Family and friends singing to my cousin's little girl, Taryn.  Haven't seen her in YEARS!

Papa and Clyde.

All the kids listening to the Resurrection Egg story...

Lu opening her basket and hugging her new bunny :)  She's decided it's a boy...no name yet.

Iris eagerly opening her basket...

Couldn't resist this extra one of Lu just because she's so lovely in it :)

Good times!

Resurrection Sunday

We spent Sat night and Resurrection Sunday with Grandad and Grandmom :)  We had a wonderful time!!  They stuffed us full of good food and the kids played til their hearts content.

We woke up Sunday morning to go to worship service...here are the kids in their Easter outfits.  They are VERY proud that they picked them out themselves.  Especially Iris who asked several adults....

"Do you think I look beautiful in my Easter dress?"
"Yes, you look very beautiful."
"But do you think I did a wonderful job picking it out?"
"Yes, you did a wonderful job."
"And did you see my sweater that matches?"

They had an egg hunt after worship....

We went back to Grandad's and I tortured every one by taking more pictures :)  (these are all with Grandmom's camera....as mine is still sick)

Then, after lunch, Grandad put together a kid-sized "train" and drove them down to where Grandmom's eggs were hidden....so they could get MORE eggs!

here they are taking off over the creek

picking up eggs in unison...

It was a lovely day!  Good fellowship with family :)

HE IS RISEN!!!

Soulea

I wanted to give Soulea his own post.  There are so many friends and family who remember him, love him and ask about him.  He has grown so much since he was here with us!!!  Sorry, I don't have better pictures...these were taken with a disposable...I'll try and do better next time.

And for those of you who have lost track of time....he turned 11 on March 5!

Pictures from NC

Sooo....

I've just now been able to put some pictures up, readers may remember, my camera is broken.  Some of these, Stephen's Aunt Paula took and have been loaded on Stephen's work laptop and some I took with disposables.  I MISS my camera!!!

First, this is Nana, with half of her grandkids.  These would be all of the offspring from her twins (Stephen and Charity)  Soulea, Nana and Clyde in back.  Devonne, Mirzanna and Lucy in the middle.  Then, Makayla and Iris up front.  Sweet kids, all of them!  And they just adore being together :)

Here are Stephen and Charity,

a bunch of the men folk, out with the grill.  Stephen's cousin, Joey, Stephen, his Dad (Brice) cousin Steve and uncle, Milton.

Charity and her fiance, Kevin, helping Mirzanna with a pogo stick.

A bunch of family eating.  Stephen's cousin Joey and his wife Tammy were precious to let us invite ourselves and everyone else over :) 

Stephen's dad (aka Papa) with Devonne :)

bunches of cousins.

Lucy and Courtney swinging across the creek.

Clyde with his VERY favorite cousin EVER, Summer.

Soulea and Dawson, playing what boys play ;)

 

We had such a great time!  Thanks everybody! Especially Bobbi, Brice, Joey and Tammy!!!  It was awesome seeing everybody!!

I'm sick of projects that HATE me.

So is it okay with everybody if I just burn down my house and live in a tent?

The Wise Old Manchild

Clyde and Iris stand on a chair to hover over me and watch the fascinating act of me boiling eggs.

Iris-* sniffle*  *sniffle*  *cough* *cough*  *clears throat for LONG time*  "I do not like spring!"

Clyde- "I understand, Iris, I do that a lot too."  He gives her a profound and knowing look.

She looks at him pitifully with watery eyes and buries her face in his chest.  He wraps his arm around her bitty shoulders, sympathetically pats her shoulder, then leans over and gently kisses the top of her head.  She pulls her head up to give him a woeful look, drawing from her wiser and older brother, an encouraging smile and assuring nod of the head....for this, too, will pass.

Trip to NC

We arrived at Stephen's mom's one bedroom apartment Thursday around 6:30 pm and had chicken & dumplins with Nana, Nana's friend Bill, Aunt Charity, her fiance, Kevin and cousins...Soulea, Mirzanna, Devonne and Makayla.  The mass of cousins played legos cheerfully for a LONG time.  It was delightful.  Next day we hung out with the same crowd and the kids played more legos, hide and go seek and many other creative activities in and around Nana's apartment.  The sheer mass of us, somehow, did not knock her walls down.

Saturday, we drove to Stephen's cousin, Joey's house.  There were at least 5 aunts and uncles, 1 Papa and four grown cousins...each with their spouse and passle of children in 1 house.  It was SUCH  a good time.  Lots of cousins going berserk together.  The rain held off so that the kids could have a good chance to get dirty, fall in creeks and scream at each other before we forced them to play inside. :)  Then piggy back rides, rock star competitions and spying games insued.  The food was WAY to good during the whole trip.  I think I gained 10 pounds.  Guess I'll be doing a lot of dance, dance revolution.

We were supposed to spend a cozy Saturday night hanging out with Stephen's dad at his house.  I rudely interrupted this arrangement when some nasty abdominal pains struck.  I was trying to tell Stephen I was fine.  But then I couldn't walk and there was no convincing him.  I DID manage to talk him out of an ambulance...because what always happens to me is this.  I hurt badly.  People rush me to the hospital.  Pain goes completely away once in a room.  They send me home.  We get bills.

Well, Stephen drove me to the hospital leaving the kids with his dad.  He was WAY nervous about me.  As the pain increased and weird pressure feeling things started happening, I started freaking out some, myself.  His mom met us at the hospital and obtained me a warm blanket since my teeth were chattering.  (I'm sorry, but hospitals are COLD.)  They couldn't find anything wrong, except a mild bacterial infection.  I'm laying there in the hospital bed feeling great!  NO PAIN!  What the eggplant?!

They give me an antibiotic and send me home.  I'm thinking I'm all better.  Only to discover that when I stand up, the pain returns.  Next day, we leave to come home via all of the major cities possible so as to pass many  hospitals.  To say Stephen was anxious to get me home would be a VAST understatement.  He made me promise to make a Dr apptment.  I did.  They can fit me in NEXT Tuesday.

Today, I was fine.  This seems to be a pattern? 

I'm just going to be grateful....and we really had a WONDERFUL time with his family.

Thanks to everyone who was praying!  So much!!!