Easter 2013

Happy Easter!  We have beautiful weather, which always helps refresh that new beginnings feeling Easter brings for me and mine.  Easter makes me reminiscent -- Just last night my sister had me cross-legged giggling over the Aunt Sue skunk year.  Easter is full of family memories.

Our pastor had such a strong message about how Christianity isn't about what Jesus taught.  Christianity isn't just about sermons, even though Christ had some great ones.  Christianity is about Jesus rising from the dead.  Anyone who prophecies their own death and resurrection, and then follows through with it, is someone to faithfully follow.

Indy Excursions

 We love Indianapolis.  It's only an hour's drive to one of the coolest cities in the United States.  Chicago is only an hour and half away, but hands-down, we pick Indy.  Everything is so easy to get to and much cheaper.  The art museum is free, and what a great photo op (or proposal spot for anyone without a ring on their finger * ).

Indy is also home to a huge variety of diners.  We try to hit a Guy DDD when we are down there.  This time it was Three Sisters' Café.  Everything is over the top homemade and in the crappiest old house.  I mean bear-face pancakes -- what's not to love?  Also super-heart the blueberry goatcheese pie, Claire give the chocolate bacon pie a thumbs up.

Paige and Claire's Spring Concert

So, they are super cute, right?  I don't mean to be biased, but my girls are cute.  They don't look a thing like me, which may be why I think they are so darn cute.  I love when they get gussied up for events.  Claire goes full-on hair and make-up (6th grade style -- Bonnie Bell lipsmackers and some blush).  Paige is a minimalist.  I quote, "make-up feels so gross".  We will see how long that lasts.

Sweet 16!

 I have been married 16 years, and I am now 36.  One number seems more of an accomplishment, whereas the other gets less and less fun to publicize.  The kids made me deluxe brownies for my birthday.  Each set made their own creation.  Brownies covered in frosting, sprinkles, M&M's, pb cups, etc.  Nothing better.

Wrestling

Ike joined a wrestling clinic over the winter.  The coach was very relaxed, yet intense about the sport.  Isaak loved it.  He has rated wrestling as his second favorite, only under football.  I find it amazing that the boys can wrestle so aggressively on the mat and then, win or lose, remain friends.  Boys can pull this off.  Girls can't stand each other if they accidently wear the same hoodie on the same day.

Orange Belt

Ava is now on her second belt -- the orange belt.  I like the orange.  It matches her hair.  Each belt is becoming a bit harder and harder to earn, but she loves it.  Sparring, which she used to hate, is fastly moving up to her favorite part.  Especially if she is paired against a certain nemesis boy in her class.  They are equals on every skill level -- which makes competition between them so exciting.  Boy vs. girl and neither wants to lose.

It's a Cake Walk

 Claire and Paige offered to help out with the elementary school cake walk for the fccla (formerly FHA) group.  Well, when your bff neighbor is the head teacher in charge of fccla and the cake supply is short . . .

Your kitchen becomes a crazy cake factory.  Our kitchen and van smelled like vanilla from storing and transporting all the goodies to the cake walk.  It was a hit though -- not a single treat left at the end of the night.

Hobbit Hole

Ike and Ava spent most of December reading The Hobbit.  Pretty wordy stuff for third grade.  This is what Hillsboro does in front of their theater for major premieres.  They decorate full force.  The Hobbit hole actually opened and everything. 

Good Clean Fun

This is what happens when you put Ivory soap in the microwave.  There is a sciencey reason to do with air bubbles trapped in the creamy bar of soap, heat, blah, blah, blah.  All I know is it is a completely awesome sauce way to spend a quarter and two minutes in front of the microwave.  Much more impressive than watching the popcorn bag expand.

Paige and Ava's Feast

 Feast season again.  We missed the Christmas break mark, so feasts were postponed until January.  Paige and Ava choose to do a "Pitch Perfect" theme.  I'm not proud to say that this movie has been played over 20 times in our house.  Paige and Claire heart this movie.  They can quote every line.  It takes me back to my days of "Sixteen Candles". 

There was music and plenty of quotes from the movie.  Everything was in a purple and yellow color scheme.  We feasted on burritoes (the Fat Amy drive-by food of choice) and French fries (because don't French fries go perfectly with burritoes?).

Family Picture Attempt

 I had a dream of these awesome, snowy family pictures for my front room.  I had planned this for over a year, but no snow last year left me crazed for a phot shoot this year.  I don't want to name names, but some goober kept ruining the shots.  Hint - she's the dork in the middle with her neck craned in this impossibly weird position.

 Claire and Paige looking way too old.  Don't they almost look like women, almost.  I can see what they may look like in a few more years and it breaks my heart. 

 Ava and Ike.  Forever my little guys.  Ike tried to be so cool during the photo shoot.  too pose-y, but ever so handsome.  Ava, the skinny bones of the family, was having a hard time smiling through the cold. 

I just think it was a bad hair day for me.  I wish it would snow again, so we could have another shot at this.

Happy Birthday, Ike and Ava!

 Ava and Ike turned 9!  Ava choose to make her own flavor of homemade ice cream -- "Peppermint Hot Cocoa".  Creamy vanilla with hot cocoa mix and peppermint mini marshmallows.  Super yummy.  Ike choose to make chocolate chip cookies with Mom.  Melt my heart, little man.  I started to make the cookies, and he quickly came in and said, "I wanted to make chocolate chip cookies for my birthday."  I explained that I was.  Then he shook his head and said, "No. I want to make chocolate chip cookies with you for my birthday."  Gosh, I love that kid.

Lego Helms Deep showed up for Ike.  He thought there had been a misunderstanding with Santa.  Ava received a crazy cool scooter and rode it all afternoon.  Nine is too close to double digits.  Yikes.