Our Dude

Owen, right now you love using the word, dude.  We are working on you only calling guys, dude and not girls.  :)  But I love the way your lips pucker out when you say dude.  Daddy said that he has visions of you when you are 16 ish saying, 'hey, dude!' when you see your friends.  Little one, you are growing up -thanks for all the hugs and kisses.  We LOVE you O!  

Oh and all the "I Lvu You's" you tell us...we are keeping in our hearts forever.

And Dude, your lookin' dapper!   

(Justin captured this on his phone and we cherish it!)

Washington DC

Washington DC.  

It was windy, fun, filled with walking, walking, walking, jumping on air mattresses, heated pool swimming, seeing sights, catching up with friends, visiting the zoo, riding the Metro, playing in parks, smelling flowers, drinking coffee, attending a conference...

It was a blessing to be able to travel to DC with Justin!  He went to the Q conference and thoroughly enjoyed it....and we toured around seeing friends and the sights!

The kids did great in the hotel room which was just off the mall. And even though at the kids ages they couldn't understand or appreciate all of it, it was worth getting them out to explore the city and introduce them to our country.  

Enjoy our first batch of photos!

Air and Space Museum

The Wright Brothers first airplane!

I think know watching construction machines was the highlight of O's week.

We visited the National Zoo with our friends Page, Sayde and EllaKade.  Thanks SO much for spending time out and about with us. :) What a blessing your family is to us!  And it has been a neat journey to hear what God is doing in your church in DC!  

Hi Sayde!  You sure are a cutie pie!

"May I hold your hand?"

"Please?"

"I think I can grab it, I think I can, I think I can..."

Katie's thoughts on the Monkey house.

Yummmmm, FROZEN  YOGURT...Delicious!

I don't think the kids wanted to share their yogurt with me at all.  They LOVED it! :)

Page, thanks again for meeting us at the Zoo!  We are thankful for the time with you and Joey (while you were in WF) and will be praying for your work in the city.  Press on friend and keep living wide open for Jesus.  :)

Our two sweet adventurers

Easter

Our Easter was great!

But if I am being honest, holidays are hard for me...I really do want to do traditions and things that the kids will remember, but often I run out of time and simple tell myself, 'the kids will never know that I wanted to do something, but didn't get to it....it's okay-do it next year'.  And while this is fine I realize that the kids are growing up each day (Katie will be 5 next month!) and I must decide to start some traditions or at least plan a few things to continue making memories.  I love that a lot of memories just happen-ones that aren't planned...But I also want to be intentional about what our kids remember.

...Especially with Easter-I really want to make this special.  After all if Jesus didn't rise from the dead we as Christians would be without hope.  The fact that He is ALIVE is reason to celebrate!

Easter buckets...filled with treats and Easter clothes

Only one boot was in their bucket...the others were 'hidden'.

Excited and waiting for the hunt!

Garden Gloves!  

The much anticipated rain boots!

Isn't he the cutest??

Owen and Katie both told me that Owen was her best friend and Katie was his.  

Love. It.

on the hunt...

telling the Easter story with Resurrection Eggs.
It amazes me how much Katie can tell me of this story. And how much she has learned from hearing the Bible read to her each and every night.  :)  

The Beavers (our new neighborhood switching on and off each week for Mommy Time/Date night, fun, fantastic friends!) invited us over to a neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt...Owen came prepared in case there was an emergency...

Hearing the Easter Story again!
Owen, waiting for an emergency.

Both our kids had full buckets by the end.  Really...there were hundreds of filled eggs!  What a treat to be invited to celebrate-thanks Beavers!!

And the house we were at had a Bounce House...Oh. My. Word. I think our kids bounced for almost an entire hour!  They LOVED it!

Hi Noah!  We have certainly ENJOYED getting to know this guy.  He is the oldest of the Beaver kids (new baby coming soon :) and as sweet as pie.  

Happy Easter...we celebrated-did you?

Old friends....new friends!

Hi friends!!

Meet Amy and her cute kiddos.  :)

It is hard to believe that Amy and I were ADPI 'sisters' way back in college. 

Now she lives in Maine with three kids and her hubby and we live in NC with our two peeps.

Whew...where does the time go?  

And it is hard to believe that our kids are almost the same exact age-with in a few weeks of each other!!  

Hannah and Katie & Benjamin and Owen...then there is baby Sammy too-of course we don't have a third, in case someone was wondering.  :)

Dear Amy and kiddos, 

Thanks for spending time with us while you were visiting your grandparents!  We LOVED it!  Wish we could do it more!  

Loyally and Pi Love, Gi

And if you are wanting to read a fun blog, head over to "Putting Down Roots".  Amy gives a wonderfully fresh persecutive of farm living in Maine with her family.  She is trying new things everyday and you might find something to give a try too!

But this was quite the trip to have all four of them riding something!

Sorry Amy that your eyes are closed!!  

I love this photo....both boys stopped and were watching our neighbor do yard work and work with machines.  :)

Amy, remember all those times durning Rush when we smiled so much our mouths hurt????  Ohhh, the wonderful memories!  Thanks for living 3 years of life with me and encouraging me to stay at where the Lord had placed me.  :)  Hugs!