Lucky!

I remember searching for hours at a time when I was a kid, in hopes of finding a four-leaf clover.

I never found one.

I figured they were just mythical.

Wes told me he was going outside to look for a four leaf clover.

I was really surprised when he came back in a short time later with this:






I think it's pretty amazing!

Springtime pics, etc...

Some of the pictures I put on here today are a month or more old, but better late than never...right?

the very first crocus:

the 2nd crocus:

Cute girl admiring the daffodils:

And finally the tulips bloomed! ~

Monkeying around...

Baby swinging,
on a beautiful spring day...

Faith pointing up to a nest discovered!
up in the corner of the fence~
(No eggs in it yet)


Speaking of eggs...
here's some interesting ones:

Nope, they aren't green Easter eggs, (but I'll put some Easter pics on here in a bit) We've started buying free-range (pastured) chicken eggs from some friends who are running a CSA farm. Ever eaten green eggs and ham before?
Here's a comparison next to regular store eggs.

Free range eggs are more nutrient dense, so the yolks are darker in color than the white ones. Can you see the difference in the yolk color (not to mention the size)? They also really taste way better than store eggs!

Here's a big one...

...it had a double yolk!

Visiting the chickens who lay our eggs:

Petting the new baby chicks:

...if you can catch one, that is..


Now on to the Easter eggs...
I decided to minimize the sugar content this Easter and use real eggs instead of plastic ones at our house. The kids didn't seem to care a bit and they enjoyed dyeing the eggs~


This year I tried more to keep the focus on Jesus, and to help the kids understand that Easter bunnies and games and treats are just for fun, and to not forget the true meaning of why we celebrate. (But we did still put a little bit of Easter candy and some toys in their Easter baskets.) I woke Faith up when it was still dark to let her have a turn playing Easter Bunny by helping to hide the eggs. I thought this would be the easiest way to gently solidify to her that there is not an actual Easter bunny. She loved it, especially because I let her wear bunny ears while hiding the eggs and she felt so sneaky! And she knew right where to go to get the eggs in the morning:
...while her brothers had to search a little harder...

I loved how the pictures turned out blurry because they were dashing around so fast looking for the eggs...reminds me of dashing around doing the same thing when I was a kid...good memories...


We also attended the annual egg hunt at the library, where they searched among the books for Easter treats...


Preston caught on to the idea:


We are enjoying spring!

Preston's 1st Birthday!

Preston turned 1 year old a few weeks ago! How did a year go by so fast?!!

Party time:

Opening a card~

and presents...


Eating CAKE...

(The cake happens to be a sugar-free, sucanat-sweetened, 100% whole wheat, carrot cake. You can see up above that I made it in the shape of a teddy bear in an attempt to make it more appealing, but I'm happy to say that my kids willingly devoured it!)


Watching how fast Preston grows constantly reminds me that my time with my children is NOW and that I need to make the most of it now before they are grown!

Preston has been such a blessing, and a constant reminder of what is really important in life. Babies are amazing that way. They are so fresh from Heaven that I can't help but feel closer to Heaven. They are so innocent and they lack the worldly influences that inevitibly change us over time. Preston is such a huggable, cuddly sweet little guy. I love his warm little arms squeezing me and hearing his cute little baby breath noises while he is right next to my ear. I love to see him cuddle up to Daddy, rest his head awhile, then go off and play again. Preston, you are so loved by your whole family.