Project 365, Week 17

This week had it all...appointments and work and vacation and sadness and excitement. Entertaining and relaxing. Hurt and happiness, fun and frustration. Typical week... ;)

April 22

The kids tried out the new game we got Shaun for his birthday. Still I marvel sometimes at how far we've come from the endless, painful games of UNO and Memory. :)

April 23

I took Avery to my hairdresser for a trim. She was super happy to get her haired thinned out a little. Gosh, she's growing up!

April 24

After seven (SEVEN!) years with braces, she is free of them! Understandably, she was ALL smiles!

We had a small office party, celebrating the end of the season. The evening got chilly fast but we braved the cool air to have toasty marshmallows.

April 25

First baseball game! The last two years we'd discouraged baseball because oof...its so long and boring! But he really wanted to play this year with his new friends and from everything we've heard, our new town has a great program.

This particular evening I was thankful for the long and boring as I tried to process walking through tough stuff with someone I love. Life is hard and this world is so broken. But there are also sweet little boys playing baseball. I don't understand it all.

April 26

While Shaun napped before having to drive through the night, I got this crew out of the house on an outing to get the oil changed and drop the dog at my sisters. They made a quick party out of free snacks and piped music.

April 27

We passed from Georgia to Florida with the car windows down, playing Cruisin' by the Florida Georgia Line band. It just happened to be playing on the radio last year right as we crossed the border, headed north from Florida into Georgia so now its a tradition! :)

Screens, headphones and sleep made the 21 hours a breeze. I drove from 5-8am, Shaun did the rest...he's got some Superman in him. I grew up on roadtrips, so part of the fun for me is the car time.

We arrived! SO good to be on vacation...warm sunshine and water and nothing to do. Our house was named "Absolute Paradise" and I was filled with so much gratitude to have made it there.

April 28

My view from the balcony I started each day. Just wow.

We were joined by Shaun's brother and his family and Shaun's grandparents. My kids adore having little cousins to dote on.

Project 365, Week 16

This week worked out nicely...it was the end of tax season, school vacation and Passion shows all at the same time, which made what could have been a crazy week feel much more doable. So thankful for the chance to exhale!

April 15

Big day for our family! The LAST day of tax season and Shaun's birthday (lucky him!). At 9pm, we changed our clothes and headed out to dinner. The kids did a nice job with cards and cake...he is dearly loved!

Still a little shell-shocked and not really believing its over. :)

April 16

We declared a family day, since the kids were off of school. Some of it was sweet and lovely, some of it was not. Typical family day. ;)

April 17
These two!

I found a few Passion photos from years gone by....the sweetness!

One year Z was in the cast...I sent him this picture and we both agreed it feels like a long time ago!

Both great-grandpas came to see the show one year.

This night I stayed home from the show because J arranged to have a sleepover with a group of girls from school. They cranked up Mission Impossible music and had an epic nerf gun battle....hearing the giggles and squeals made me so happy.

This is the picture that comes up on my phone when the baby's mom calls me, which she did this night, in tears. I mostly listened, thankful that she felt like she could call me. It left me wrestling with the ways of the world. There's so much I don't understand.

April 18
Yard work! Sienna and the kids stopped by and she was so generous to roll up her sleeves and work along side me. Amanda found a frog, which drew a crowd.

April 19
Good Friday. Jay has a new "interest" and he came to church to serve alongside J, and it was also the first time I met him. The baby charmed everyone he encountered. :)

April 20
Our Easter family photo has been eclectic for many years, which I guess is appropriate since Jesus had an eclectic group with him all the time...Jesus made it look a lot easier than I do though!

We got to sneak in the back and watch Amanda lead worship for kids church, something she enjoys doing and is all her own.

April 21
Our first Easter at the new house. So grateful for the Resurrection, for family.

Project 365, Week 15

This week was grueling with taxes and Passion and a 12-hour stomach bug that hit several. But we were so close to the end and Opening Night came and we pulled out the blessings.

April 8

For the last two weeks+ of tax season, I wasn't able to be home when the kids got home from school. I tried to leave lists of chores and things to get done. Sometimes they went above and beyond, sometimes they fought, sometimes they did too much time on screens and sometimes I came home to find them happily playing together.

April 9
Shaun and I snuck out to see Aiden do his wax museum project. He chose Winston Churchill and did nearly all of it on his own. His poster was my favorite...just the facts sir, just the facts.

April 10
Rehearsal 3 of 4 for the week.

April 11
I was sure God made the sunrise just for me this day. As I talked myself through pushing back my exhaustion and facing another day,  I drew strength from sensing His presence and love.

April 12
Going through photos of dress rehearsal the night before. This one part got changed and its my new favorite. These voices, this scene...so powerful!

April 13
The kids had been at home alone all day, so after work we all went with Shaun to collect rent money and find yummy ice cream.

April 14
Show 2 of 5 and Maddy was home for the week. Always so fun to see her!!