On the Lookout: April 2012

Monday, April 9, 2012

Happy Easter

We had a wonderful Easter weekend with my parents. They came into town to help us build a new swingset/playhouse. Costco had a deal we could not pass up, and the kids are super excited about it. Kenzie says she has always wanted to swing in her own yard. Brooks says he wants to climb up the rock wall and slide down the slide. Jackson says he wants to use it as an airsoft gun fort and hideout. Whatever the function of the playhouse, we will all be forever grateful to Eddy and my dad (and Mark Ellis) for spending two entire days building it.

And we did something a bit different this year. We have never been an Easter-bunny-brings-you-toys-and-candy kind of family. But I do love giving gifts to our kids. So, this year we decided to hold off on giving any gifts until after church. So, when the kids woke up, there wasn't a focus on what they were getting. They didn't come running down the stairs to see what they got. They came down slowly, and we had meaningful conversations about Jesus dying. Jesus raising from the dead. Just Jesus. Just the resurrection. Just HIM. It was really special.

On a more practical note, I also loved not having to decide how much candy to let my kids eat at 8 AM!

So, we worshipped as a family, then we came home and had lunch. Then, we sent the kids on a scavenger hunt for their baskets and gifts. And it is so fun to give them gifts just because we love them. And we finished up our day with some easter egg hunting outside. It could not have been a more beautiful day!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Celebrating our "Fresh Water"

B R O O K S... his name means fresh water. And that is exactly what he is to our family. When we all get stressed or upset with each other, he comes in, pouring the fresh water of his delightful, grateful, precious spirit over our souls. If we get thirsty, we just get ourselves a little-bit-of-Brooks and we feel much better. =)

Our FRESH WATER:

thanks me for wiping his bottom.

tells me I am the best mama ever.

shares graciously with his brother and sister (most of the time). =)

speaks expectantly of being a big brother to Kervens....telling me he can't wait to teach him this or that.

loves his daddy with a vengeance!

is passionate about baseball (thus, the baseball birthday below).

is pleasant almost all of the time!

is easy to correct and requires very little discipline.

is a gift to us!

We love you Brooks! Happy Birthday!

Baseball cake!

The Birthday Boy!

brothers....

Cousin Lacey (and, of course, Kenzie's new pet Sandy the Caterpillar)

The family photo... missing one little black face, though.

GG and Jackson

Zac Efron? or Jackson?

Cousins Hanna Ray and Heather

A big hug for sister after he opened her gift

His first Phiten necklace!

I absolutely adore these boys!!!

This birthday was all about guns!

Cousin Lindsey

This year, we had our first annual family cup... in honor of the birthday boy. His greatest desire was to play a real baseball game. So, all grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunts, siblings, and parents graciously obliged his dream. We played three innings of "REAL" baseball. Can you believe it? Brooks hit four homeruns!! He was also awarded the MVP trophy at the end of the game (compliments of one awesome thrift store).