Our Special Easter

Our Easter weekend looked like a pretty typical Easter weekend, with egg-dying, opening Easter baskets, going to church....

.....but with a few very special exceptions. The first exception being the great idea below, which I stole from a dear friend. Keep in mind, I had to adjust some of the steps to fit our family's...um...needs.

Step one: On Good Friday, build a tomb out of boxes.

Step two: Let the kids play in it for a while. I know, it sounds slightly morbid. Fortunately, they know this story has a happy ending. Don't worry, I don't let my kids play in tombs very often.

Step three: Roll up some stuffed animals (in the shape of Jesus) in a white sheet and put "Jesus" in the tomb.

Step four: "Roll" a HUUUUGE stone (i.e., draw a stone with a sharpie on paper & tape it over the hole) in front of the tomb, sealing it for the rest of the weekend.

Step five: Have fun dying eggs & doing fun stuff all day Saturday. 

Step six: Try to keep cats from leaping onto the weak-paper-roof of the tomb.

Step seven: Rescue, from the grave, cats.....who have leaped (i.e., may possibly have been thrown, by certain angelic boys) into said weak-paper-roof, and onto the resting, stuffed-animal-Jesus.

Step eight: Put the sweet, angelic, kitty-throwing boys to bed Saturday night, tomb & seal still miraculously in tact.

Step nine: After said angels are sleeping, roll away the HUUUUGE stone (i.e., tear the paper & tape off of the entrance), throw stuffed animals on the floor in the living room, put sheet back into linen closet, and watch TV with hubby while filling Easter baskets.

Step ten: Sunday morning, show kids the empty tomb, ask them where Jesus is (and try not to laugh when Gideon says, dead-pan,"He's over there by the couch."), read them the Resurrection story, and celebrate that Jesus is alive & that he loves them!!!

Step eleven: Let kids open their baskets.

Step twelve: Turn tomb into a play-fort.....which is not sealed in case flying-kitties need to escape.

Goofy kids enjoyed their Easter morning loot: stuffed animals, KJV New Testament Bibles, Bible-story-books & candy....all from the dollar store....cuz I'm just that cheap. I must add that Seth was such a very good sport. He tried to tell me (being that he is almost sixteen years old) that he did not need an Easter basket. But he played along very sweetly, which is good because I only have 2 years left, give or take, to share Easter with him still living at home. And I plan to give him a basket both of those years.

The next special Easter-thing we did was go to Grandma's house for an Easter-dinner-birthday-party. Of course, she cooked a delicious meal (Rara made a delicious banana cream pie), and gave Jarod & I some awesome birthday gifts. She was even kind enough to provide a rock wall for the boys to climb during the Easter-dinner-birthday-party.

The most special "Easter thing" that happened was at church in the evening. Justin baptized Micah John into Jesus Christ. I am one proud and happy mama & wife. I'm so thankful that my children are coming to understand the deep love that God has for them, and that they want to say "yes" to Jesus. Of course, all of our local family was there for the event, including Cousins Abi & Yaya.

 This was the most civilized Easter picture I could get of them all together. Please excuse the scary eyes. 

From our family to yours, hope everyone had a Happy Easter!!! God bless!!!

I also want to tell my sister, Gloria, who's birthday was on Easter, "Happy birthday, sis!!! I love you & miss you."

PS. No kitty-cats were injured in the making of this blog post.

Birthday Grimaces & Doughnut-Cakes

April 4th was my birthday and April 5th was Jarod's. Last year, I wrote a sufficiently long and sappy blog post about our almost-shared birthdays, about how I was in labor with Jarod on my birthday, about how much I love him & all that good stuff. (Read here: http://boycra-z.blogspot.com/2011/04/almost-shared-birthday.html to refresh your memory.) So, this year, I'm posting some pics & calling it good.

These are the gorgeous flowers my man spoiled me with. He also bought me a gift, and took me out to dinner. Aunties Rara & Memmy babysat the boys. It was a lovely evening.

This is the birthday kiss that Jarod allowed me to give him, with only a small grimace. He loves me!!!! 

The boys spoiled me with sweet, homemade birthday cards. (Except for Seth, who did, however, post, "Happy Birthday, Mom!" on my Facebook wall. Seth acknowledging me on Facebook is HUGE....so that was almost as good as a card.) Gideon's card was the largest.

This is the handsome, 12-yr-old birthday boy, whom I adore with all my heart.

I was also spoiled with hugs & kisses & snuggles. I don't think any mama ever felt more special or blessed.

Yes, that is a stack of doughnuts. I was too lazy to make a cake....and too cheap to buy one. I also forgot a #12 birthday candle (if they even sell those?)....so I had to use a votive instead.

But the boys loved it, so I win!

Guess I did something right.

With this many brothers, there's always a party! Coming soon (may or may not blog it): on-going birthday celebrations with the extended family party & a friend-sleep-over for Jarod.

The end

Birthday Visit

Auntie Melanie & Auntie Jubilee came to visit a couple weeks ago. We celebrated Isaac's birthday, as well as Grandma's, Auntie Deborah's & little Cousin Aiden's (he just turned one year old!) birthdays.

Little Cousin Aiden giving Jarod some love!

Seth & Aiden

Auntie Jubee & Cousin Aiden getting ready to blow out candles

Boy cousin wrestle time!!!!

Auntie Melanie holding Birthday Boy Aiden & Birthday Girl Deborah holding Birthday Boy Isaac

Cousin snuggles

One of Grandma's big tough Newfoundlands hiding from the horrible scary noise of kids blowing into some little party party favor thingies. The horror.

A Mr. Roger's Field Trip

I knew that Krispy Kreme made good, fattening, sugary doughnuts that I should never, ever, ever...ever....eat. On occasion, I've had one (or two, or two and a half, or two and three quarters....but never three.....OK....yeah.....sometimes three....) when someone else has bought some and shared with me. I knew that they were yummy, soft, squishy, moist and best avoided at all costs. But I had never physically visited an actual Krispy Kreme establishment before this last Thursday. We were broke, as it was the day before payday, and we wanted to do something special, as a family. Something special....but cheap. I had free doughnut coupons for the kids, so off we went to Krispy Kreme. I found out some really cool things about Krsipy Kreme. I found out that the boys could actually watch the doughnuts being made on a conveyor, Mr.Roger's-field-trip-style. The boys absolutely loved watching all those doughnuts floating by in the oil, as if living some wonderful, fluffy, sugary, doughnut dream, and then going through the frosting curtain to be glazed. It was doughnut heaven. I found out that the nice Krispy Kreme people just come right up to customers to give them free doughnuts!!! And then they still let said customers redeem their free doughnut coupons. They even give away FREE HATS!!!! We bought coffee so they wouldn't regret being so nice. Yes, I realize that this was a guilt-inducing-ploy that they used against me so I would actually, you know...pay for something.....and I fell for it. And, yes, I realize that these are all things that everyone, but me, already knew about Krispy Kreme. I don't get out much, ok? But..Krispy Kreme is SO COOL! Kids get an educational experience that they can use later in life (in case McDonald's won't hire them in this economy....you know...) and parents don't have to pay for diddly! I think I know where our new favorite "field trip" outing place is............

No, I did not wash Isaac's finger before he ate his doughnuts. But I should have.

The Sweetest Words

In this house, there are 3 sweet little words spoken often, which promote affection, love & emotional bonding. And it's not "I love you". Well, ok...it is "I love you." But the other 3 sweet little words are the call to "DADDY WRESTLE TIME!!!!!!" It is all the boys' favorite past time. Justin's been wrasslin' those lil' cowpokes since the beginning of......Seth. Little did he know how outnumbered he one day would become. I sometimes wonder if he needs a little help. That's when I get out the camera.

Spooks

Sunbeams through the window,

orange juice in my cup,

drip coffee brewing,

and a lil' barking pup.
Smiling and dancing,

and soft, clapping hands,

bubbles and washing

and marching in bands.

Joy runs through the hall

and plays in the grass;

sits in the lawn chair

as squirrels skitter past.

Sunflowers reaching



a sparkling sky,

pinwheels spinning,

a sweet lullaby.

Jesus loves me,

and gruff billy goats,

gingerbread running,

and tub sail boats.

Giggling and snuggling

under rose-budded sheets,

stroking my hair

as I give in to sleep.

Growing and distance

as time travels by,

talking and tears

and wondering why.

Pictures and letters,

visits and calls,

children, new joys,

and spooks to recall.

One last reunion

with giggles and tears,

loud voices straining

for beautiful ears.

Last time to sing,

to hold her soft hands,

go now to see Jesus

and march in his band.

Written and copyrighted by me



Birthday Toast & Sap

Gideon turned seven whole years old last month.

Isaac, my very last baby ever (unless some act of God occurs), turned three whole years old this month.

His brothers made him birthday toast. Different, yes, but sweet.

I wrote this poem a couple of weeks ago. It hit me as I was tucking Isaac into bed one night, but it's how I feel about every single one of my boys, as they are growing into such amazing big boys and young men. Yes, I know, it's terribly sappy. The older I get, the bigger a baby I become.

Mine

Aching, longing

Sighing, wishing

Joyful, fullness

Tender, squishing

Baby's face

I still can see

Chubby cheeks

Astounding me

Can't you stay

Forever mine?

Will grasping tightly

Pause Nature's time?

My little warrior

My angel sweet

Mountains climbing

With Future's feet

I'll not keep you

Nor make you stay

Loving, fighting

You'll go your way

written & copyrighted by me

Lazy Christmas

Christmas 2011 came and went at lightening speed. I kept things pretty simple (aka: "Heather was lazy"), with decorations, this year. After the big trip to WA, the sadness of Grandma's funeral, and all the catching up with school lessons that was needed, I just couldn't muster up the emotional or physical energy to go all out for Christmas this year. I dragged out my sad, fake, little, twelve-inch-three-dollar-Big-Lots-bargain-tree from the attic, and used that. I did miss the real tree smell, so I sprayed a can of pine-scented air freshener every so often. You know, the good stuff. Yeah, um....not as "fresh". Anyway, I've been feeling very nostalgic recently, probably due to the death of my Grandmother (on my father's side), in November. Also contributing, is the fact that Isaac (my very last "baby" ever) is almost three stinkin' years old already, the fact that my oldest baby will be sixteen this year (and may leave me in just two short years).....and the fact that I am almost thirty-gasp!-seven and I have no idea, whatsoever, where all the time has gone. I have had feelings of incredible thankfulness and joy, as well as some of sadness and loss. Bittersweet visions of my own childhood, memories of lost loved ones, as well as all of my children's infant-toddler-hoods, have been floating gently, and persistently, through my mind and heart. So, even though I kept things "simple" this year, of course, I still had to bring out the "special" Christmas things, such as:

1. The ceramic nativity set that Justin's sweet grandmother, who passed a couple years ago, gave me for (if I recall correctly) a wedding gift.

2. The St.Nick tree-topper that my grandmother, on my mother's side, gave me, (which was the size of this year's tree, so it sat on a desk instead) when Seth was little. A year and a half ago, she also went to Jesus.

3. Various ornaments and paper angels that the boys have made for me in Sunday school over the years.

4. Sesame Street ornaments that Auntie Rara gave Seth when he was in his "I love Elmo" stage. Of course, they were a little too big for the tree, so they were hung....elsewhere. 

5. The beautiful, wooden, advent calendar that Nanny and Papa gave the boys a couple years ago.

6. Mine and Justin's "First Year Together" ornament.

7. The Disney tree skirt that my Aunt Violet made for me several years ago. Granted, I had to stuff most of it behind the bookshelf, in the above picture, due to the petite nature of my tree, but, gosh-darn-it! I made it work!

I felt a little like Mr.ScroogeMcGrinch, not stringing lights, garnish, and tinsel on a big ole, fresh-smelling, real tree....and wreaths around the house, but let me tell ya......clean up afterwards was a breeze. I may do it again next year. It saved money, it gave me more time to sit around and snuggle my babies before they grow up and leave me, and clean up was so much easier this year. By the way, did I mention that clean up was easier? Still, it was a trade-off. The real tree smell is also very nostalgic for me. Maybe I will have the motivation to decorate more thoroughly next Christmas. Or maybe I'll just try a different brand of air freshener.

Christmas morning consisted of Daddy reading the Christmas story to the boys, which is our tradition, anxious wiggling, giggling, and waiting to open presents, and the excited unwrapping of the many lovely gifts that Grandma Colleen had given them, and the few cheap gifts from Justin & I.  Because we're cheap. Of course, they got several lego sets & lego-related items, since they are all fairly obsessed with such things. My poor mother-in-law wishes that they would learn to be obsessed with something that isn't always out of stock, in every single toy store, during the holiday season. But she did a bang up job of getting them what was on their wish lists anyway. The coolest gifts, though, in my opinion, were the Ukuleles that Jarod & Micah received. They were horribly ecstatic in opening them, and have since learned to play several songs, as well as some that they have written themselves. I am quite proud to say that I, myself, have even learned to play the very difficult tune, 'Row Row Your Boat'.  After present-opening, we got dressed for church, ate Justin's delicious Christmas breakfast and loaded up into the van. I'm not sure why we got dressed before eating, but most of us, oddly, did not spill ketchup on our clothes. A true Christmas miracle.

During the Christmas season, we had a couple different Christmas dinners with the in-laws, and went to see Abigail and Olivia's Christmas musical. On stage, Abi was a perfect little lady, but Yaya stole the lime light with wee little bit of microphone-hogging. But she sure had soul up there and gave it her best shot. I was very proud of her. My nieces sure were pretty in their Christmas dresses.

So was Gideon, at one of our family Christmas dinners. Having girl cousins certainly helps him to express his.....um.....individuality.

A little late, but, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us, to all of you!