Diggin' our chicks

Well folks, it's official. We are country folk.
Today we headed down to the feed store and got ourselves some of them there chicks.
Six to be exact.
Grace is loving the new additions and has been quite enamored with the chicks.

The prospects

Checking out the chicks

"hello, baby chickens"

Arriving homeI want to hold the chickens

That's my girl

Easters dresses

I can't believe this is Grace's third Easter. She is getting so grown up! Hopefully I will have this couch for years and years to come so I can keep taking her picture on it every Easter! :)

Happy Easter!

We had a wonderful Easter yesterday. Exhausting, but wonderful. God is so good to allow us to be a part of what he is doing.

Yesterday morning started bright and early for Gunnar. He had to be at church by 6 for the sunrise service at 6:30. Grace and I decided to pass that one up as we knew it was going to be a long day and I didn't want Grace to be cranky. We got to church around 8 and hung out there for a couple hours until the 10:30 service. While we waited, we hung out with our friends, Grace helped moved some furniture and we took some pictures.

Church went really well. I hear Gunnar did a great job as always, but it was my week for Sunday School, So I wasn't actually there to hear him speak. The kids are not dismissed until after the song time and announcements. Grace is so cute during the singing, she stands next to me and holds her hymn book and sings. After church, Grace rushes out every week to see Baby Jane. Now as anyone who knows Grace knows, she is absolutely in love with babies. So she sits next to Jane and talks to her and holds her hand.

After church we headed home and had pizza with some friends. We took a nap once they left and then headed down to my parents house for Easter dinner/Michael's birthday dinner.

We hadn't all hung out as an extended family since my birthday in December, so it was a treat to get to spend time together. Grace was really cute, talking to and kissing Ann's belly. She can't wait to be a big cousin. I am sure Ann will post more about Birthday dinner, so I suggest checking out her blog later.

All in all, we had a busy, blessed Easter. I am so glad that I serve a God who is alive! I am so thankful for each day of life he gives. :)

Happy Birthday Michael!

Today is my favorite big brothers birthday! He turns 28 today! Although I have only known him for 25 of those years, I am so thankful for him. He has been a huge blessing in my life! I have so many great memories from growing up in Spain together, walking downtown with our friends, riding in the '71 Pinto, going to see Miles, Rock small groups, Bon Fires, Coffee shops, game nights and more. He has always been able to make me laugh and I know that I can always count on him to be there when I need him.

I am so blessed to see how he has grown into a man of God. I am blessed to see how he interacts with his wonderful wife and can't wait to see what a wonderful daddy he will be to his daughter!

He has always been big on style!

He's a great Uncle to Grace!

Happy Birthday Michael!

Good Friday

Today we celebrate the death of Jesus. At times it seems like a strange thing to celebrate, but had he not died, we wouldn't be able to celebrate the resurrection. The resurrection is the foundation and distinguishing aspect to Christianity, what sets it apart from all the other religions in the world. So it really is a good Friday as we remember what Christ did for us on the cross.

Good Friday is also the anniversary of my mom's trusting in Jesus as her savior. Today marks 32 years since this important event. It has dramatically affected every aspect of my parents and consequently my life. I am so thankful for what God has done in my moms life and how that has enabled her to be the mother and wife and godly example she has been to me. I think I have taken my mom for granted, but the older I get the more and more I realize what an amazing gift from God she has been and continues to be!!

On a different note, my grandma sent Grace a bunch of dresses this week. Grace graciously modeled them for me yesterday. It was rather dark so the pictures aren't that great, but the kid and the dresses are adorable. Also this week, we spent time with our friends, the Tani girls, and Grace and Lilah both had their try at flip flops. So cute!

More Grace fun

While sitting on the potty...

"mommy, you sing twinkle twinkle little star to me while I go potty" (who doesn't want to be serenaded by live music while doing their business)

"i'm just sitting here eating hot dog" (she then proceeded to bite my finger!)

While touching my nose:
"Mommy's nose big. Mommy's nose soft"

Where does she get this stuff?

My buddy

Me: "Grace, do you need to go potty?"
Grace: "No, I'm doing okay"

Me to Gunnar: "Did you just see what Grace did?"
Gunnar: "Amazing"
Grace: "Amazzzing GRACE"

Grace (100x per day): "Mommy, what do babies cry?" (answering herself:) "because they poppy in diaper, and hungry"

Grace on the phone with Grandma: "Grandma, please put Grandpa on"

I love that girl!

Spring is Here!

Well, It's official. Spring is here. The tree in our front yard have started to bloom, it is staying light later (thanks to daylight savings) and Easter is in a few days! I have been keeping busy this last week trying to get my Easter cards up and ready to mail out. Why Easter cards, you wonder? Because I like Easter better than Christmas. I love what we remember on Easter, because the resurrection is so central to our faith. Besides, I like being unique.

Signs of life are popping up around here. Gunnar is quite the gardener, he is loving this country living! He takes good care of all the trees, plants and has started a garden, so hopefully later this year we will have some homegrown veggie fun. :) He finds subduing the land to be quite Biblical, plus it is a good excuse to be outside enjoying the sunshine. I am not allowed to touch his plants (due to the fact that when I touch green things they tend to die) but he graciously allowed me to take some pictures.

Strawberry plants

Gunnar checking on his Asian Pear tree. Behind the tree and to the right you can see the areas where he planted his seeds.

A couple more of Grace and Gunnar. She is such a daddy's girl! (As I write she is supposed to be sleeping but instead is in her bed yelling "Daddy, wheres ares you?")

Giving daddy hugs

Happy Spring Everyone!