He is Risen!

We celebrated our Savior's resurrection this Easter for an entire week.  The kids participated in several eggs hunts, we went to two Easter services that were both awesome, we went through the Easter story at home with resurrection eggs, dyed Easter eggs and visited with family.  What a great celebration it was!

We went to a beautiful farm to celebrate Easter with family from Leeds.  It was such a beautiful day and the kids had a wonderful time.  They had a petting zoo.  Houston loved these little piglets.  They were two weeks old.

Hollyn was most fond of the chicks.

Our sweet girls pick flowers wherever we go.  

Hollyn was proud of these gems she found.

Aidyn loved the chicks too!

Aidyn found a prize.

Houston found some prizes too!

Houston would have no part of meeting the Easter bunny.

Houston had an egg hunt at his school.  We hid inside because of potential rain.  He was so bashful!  He stood like this for the longest.

He perked up before we left.

Later the same day, Houston help Mama hide eggs for Aidyn & Hollyn's class at school.  He was a big helper.  Each of the kids were to find eleven eggs and stop looking.  It was a lot more fun than we thought it would be.  The school has just added a small pond and sitting area so we hid around it.  The kids had a blast.  

Our cuties--they had a group hug after the fun!

We went basic on eggs this year. 

Easter morning.  The girls got mini American Girl dolls that joined in the picture.

We went to our neighbor's yard because it is beautiful...but our photographic attempts were not very successful.

Our final egg hunt....

Dad was a great searcher.

And then the day was over....our shoes told the story.  

We have so much to celebrate each day.....

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.'  Now I have told you." 

Matthew 28:5-7

Just Dance!

Our dance recital was this past Saturday.  It was very sweet and well executed considering the dress rehearsal was cancelled due to inclement weather.  This year's title was "The Joy of the Lord" and the theme was a circus theme.  We were the ringmasters and kicked off the show......

Beautiful ballerinas

the circus scene...

Very concentrated on the performance...

Grand finale!

Girls, you did a great job!

When I Grow Up

The girls have been studying community helpers for the past few weeks at school.  Each week they have had a guest speaker to talk to them about their career and their focus for that week has typically been around the guest speaker.  This past week they wrapped up that unit and the kids were all to dress as what they wanted to be when they grow up.  The girls decided what they wanted to be and never wavered.

Hollyn wants to be a chef and Aidyn wants to be a ballet teacher.  I thought one would change their mind so they could dress alike, but it didn't bother either one that they were totally different.  Hugh and I have been studying about identity in Christ in our small group the past couple of weeks.  We always try to bring what we're learning onto a level that we can share with the girls.  We don't want them to be identified as "twins" or have their identity with the world.  They are great girls and it is such a blessing to  be with them each day.  I hope you do become a chef so you can cook for us and a ballet teacher so you can help us stay limber and toned in our old age!

Houston wants to be a handsome and Godly man like his Daddy!

(notice the cell phone in his hand--like Daddy already)

 The girls wanted to practice dancing one day in front of an audience....I don't know if the real audience will be this large!

Our sweet girls love to play.  They typically watch no TV during the week and they don't own any video games.  They know how to entertain themselves.  One thing they have never had a huge interest in playing with is baby dolls.  I have never understood this because I loved to play with my babies when I was little.  Anyway, Mama Ann & Papa gave them these beautiful porcelain dolls several years ago and the girls have really started playing with them lately.  They decided to dress them as "old ladies" the other night.

Aidyn with baby Aidyn.

Hollyn and baby Hollyn.

Now back to the subject of growing up.  We had the privilege of visiting with the kids' great great Aunt Hazel this weekend.  She is 94, lives independently, and still occasionally drives!  She never had children of her own, but has loved on so many children in her life.  She is a wonderful example of who we all should aspire to be when we grow up.  She still attends church every Sunday and is a Godly woman who can still be counted on to help others at 94.  We had a wonderful visit!  Did I mention she is 94 and was pulling weeds from her yard?