Tobin's 4th Birthday: The Morning

Our boy turned four on April 10th!

We were getting them ready early because they were going to school that morning for a water splashing festival event. The official festival started the next day.

He asked for waffles, but didn't eat much. In the end we determined he doesn't really like them. He definitely does not like pancakes either. Interesting. He loves oatmeal and french toast.

He wanted a real motorboat for a gift and spiderman on his cake. Once again, as always, my cakes never turn out to my liking, but the kids LOVE them and that is all that matters.

Sophia was impressed with the signs. She stayed home with me that day because her school was on a field trip and she had a high fever.

7:30 a.m. ready to go to school in their Minority outfits.

The older classes were the greeters.

Tobin was one of the first to arrive in his classroom. Here he is with a friend.

While they were at school I started in on the cake. I really wish I had taken pictures of it in my oven. I can never get my oven to a good even temp, These cake layers looked like a volcano, It was so weird, I had never seen a cake do that before. I really had a time leveling it out before I froze it, and even then it wasn't quite even as you will see.

What we have learned here on this blog, year after year, is that cake making and decorating is not my forte, I do it because I love my kiddos. And they have no idea either. Sophia said: 'man, I will never be able to make a cake like that'. She was so encouraging. Thankfully I had not shown her the pinterest page I had seen of Spiderman Cakes.

I wanted red icing with a black web, but did not have enough, so I switched it up.

It really is lop sided.

I got out every Spider man he has and added a new one...

I let them eat lunch at school this day because Bella always begs me to and it was a busy morning. Our plan was for a post-lunch one hour party, to fit right smack dab in the middle of David's work day, it worked out well.

Legos!!

'Mom will you take pictures of this and put it on the blog right away!'

They have no idea who all reads this blog, they would be so disappointed...

But here it goes...(it did not happen 'right away' either)

The kids got a few little lego people for Easter and spent all of their free time making a little 'lego city', Sophia, Bella, and Tobin all worked on this and had so much fun, and literally did not fight for hours....blessing.

 They cleared the pillows from their window seat and set up their own legoland.

This was this girl's house, with flowers on the window sill and all.

This girl is on stage with a little audience (clever)

This 'castle guy' is guarding his keep, next to the motorcycle garage.

Below is an ice cream shop right next to a gun salesman, he had quite an assortment you wouldn't wan to see on the streets.

Of course, the beauty salon...

and Tobin's motorcycles.

Easter Events

The weeks leading up to Easter we tried to prepare our hearts for the celebration. We don't always do a great job of this, and even this year we felt a little late and rushed, but nonetheless it did become a very meaningful time of reflection and looking forward.  We were trying to focus the kids' thoughts on the magnitude and weight of this holiday while at the same time reminding them that we celebrate the resurrection every day.

Two weeks out we started reading 'Amon's Adventure,' an excellent book that convicted me deeply and the kids really enjoyed. The questions at the end of the chapters really helped us dig a little deeper into our hearts.

We also slowly read in Matthew the passages leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection.

On Thursday night we had a fire outside, roasted marshmallows and did our nightly reading out there. It started lightening and thundering and then the rains came. How fitting.

yes, these are our gardening beds/fire pit. lol.

We had never done Easter Eggs. I am not a real Easter eggy kinda gal, but Poppy and CC brought dye kits and I boiled a bunch of eggs and got them out. This proved to be lots of fun! Really. I have no idea when I last did this.

 The kids all loved this, including G:

 OHHH...Dangerous...sit down girl.

And look at our eggs! They were beautiful!

Saturday night we dressed up a bit and went out to a nice restaurant. 

Tobin shows Gabrielle his muscles.

Then he loves on her...


Sweet Bella..


That night before our reading, we did 'Easter Cookies' The kids all had a part, and each ingredient or action represents something having to do with the Easter story and has scripture to go with it.

They break up the pecans, and we read about Jesus' being beaten...

This is a meringue cookie. So we put them in the oven (tomb), sealed it well, and left them there until morning. The cookies are hollow/empty inside, just like the tomb!

Sunday was exciting as we opened the oven and finished our Bible story as well as 'Amon's Adventure', it was raining so we stayed in and sang songs together as well.

In the afternoon the rains cleared and we spent about a half hour hiding and finding Easter Eggs.

As we celebrated our Risen Savior, our neighbors and friends were offering sacrifices to their ancestors during 'Tomb Sweeping' Festival, The contrast of these two holidays is quite significant and affords us so many opportunities to share real hope and real joy and the real love of a God who gave His only son so that we could have life eternal with him.

EASTER Eve Snaps

School Field Trips

Right after Poppy and CC left, Tobin and Bella's classes went on field trips. Since I had never been on one with Bella, I decided to escort her up to the Pagoda.

Stairs all the way to the top, it is a decent climb, not bad though.
 I had better pics but my phone+computer=issues I can't deal with right now.

pretty hazy. Gorgeously tall mountains are the backdrop to this picture.

We really had a good time, but had to hike down early to pick up Tobin from his field trip. I did have pics of him too...but...

Walking around the pagoda/Buddhist temple, Bella's teacher, and one of my favorite people, started reading from her phone about the temple, meaning, etc.

Later as we walked she chuckled to me that she really didn't understand it all. This sparked a very good discussion where I was able to share much truth with her. She knows us and she has been in our home more than once, but it was great to be out of our normal context and able to put some meat to what we say and do as Christians as we looked upon people lighting incense to Buddha and a monk texting on his cell phone.

All that we saw that day also gave Bella and I some great conversation topics. She is a sweet, precious girl, with such genuine faith!