Our royal wedding

You can hardly have 3 little girls who love to play princess and not watch the royal wedding. : )

In the spirit of the day, we thought we'd "dress up" a little

While Ava and Olivia liked watching here and there, they weren't overly impressed and would run off to play. However, Kate became my little buddy and sat and watched a good chunk of the wedding.
In fact, after a little while, I think she decided my seat wasn't good enough.

All I can say is that I'm glad my kingdom is in heaven (as my grandma maibach used to say). Being a royal on earth would be exhausting. It was pretty to watch but I can't imagine it'd be fun to live. I love my simple life.

In case I forgot to mention . . .

Olivia REALLY liked her Easter baskets and candy she got.

swimming lessons

To say Ava has come far in swimming lessons is such an understatement. While Ava always loved swimming, was strong and pretty good for it at her age, the whole concept of new things, new people and short time frame had become so big in her mind and fear would take over. It got to the point where she would scream and cry for most of a swim lesson.

After talking with the swim instructors there, we decided to bite the bullet and pay to put her in private swim lessons. It has allowed her to develop a relationship with her teacher, find the fun in swimming again and cement a skill we thought was important. So thankful we decided to do it.

I can't say enough what a blessing her teacher, Mindy, has been. God put her in Ava's path at the perfect time and she's been so good for Ava. It's been so fun to watch Ava's confidence grow and to see her make huge strides. Ryan took Ava to her lesson one week last month and snapped some pictures of our emerging fish.

Practicing her back float

Jumping on to a noodle in the deep end by herself

Swimming to the side by herself

She keeps swimming further and further on her own - so fun!

The day I thought I'd hear my daughter tell me her favorite parts of swim lessons are "jumping and going under water." I think we'll be having some fun this summer!

The best part? That night at dinner we were talking about Ryan taking Ava to swim lessons.

I jokingly asked Ava, "Did daddy embarrass you?"

Ryan and I both chuckled until Ava looked at us in complete seriousness and said, "Yes."

In shock, Ryan asked her, "How did I embarrass you?"

"When you took pictures of me Daddy," she replied immediately.

And so it begins . . . : )

Easter Part Two

Easter Sunday after church we headed up to Grandpa and Grandma Prevo's to spend the afternoon. Since Olivia's fever had been gone since morning, she got to come along.

Grandpa and Grandma hid a TON of eggs and malted balls for the girls and "big" kids to find. : )

Ava on the prowl

Olivia getting some help to reach one

Kate busy looking

Olivia was quite pleased with her stash

Ava had gotten some princess swimming toys in her basket. Here she is playing with them with Charlie the cat (another love of hers)

Kate and Olivia walked everywhere with their baskets that afternoon.

A better look at Ava's princesses. They've been a hit!

Easter????

What, you mean Easter wasn't in May?!?!

The girls were all excited to decorate Easter eggs this year (well, Olivia came around . . .)

Ava ready to go

Watching mom get everything together

Kate trying to figure out what was going on

First egg in! (pink of course)

Kate was amazed by it all - too cute

patiently waiting

Daddy and Kate

Pretty quickly, the girls figured out that glamorous egg dying might be a few years away yet. : ) So we pulled out some paint the girls went to town.

Olivia hard at work

Kate diligently painting her eggs

The finished products!

Since Easter morning was going to be early, we did our Easter egg hunt after baths the night before.

Olivia showing us her "blue" eggs

Their finds

And they wasted no time digging in.

Kate showing me one of her prizes

Olivia didn't bother. Too much candy to be eaten. : )

Who knew a bunny's ear could be so delicious?

Nothing like winding down before bed . . .

Turned out it was a good thing we had already done our Easter baskets/hunt. Olivia came down with a temp of 103 during the night. So mommy got to celebrate Easter at home for the 3rd year in a row. : ) Olivia seemed much better that morning but we didn't want to chance it. She was SO sad to stay home so I let her get her church clothes on still.

Olivia at "sunrise services" : ) . . . listening on the computer

(By the way, Olivia loved her Easter eggs so much she slept with the one you see, clutched in her hand all night)

A quick shot of all my girls after church

A righteous man . ..

An incredibly special man went home to be with Jesus yesterday. It's painful to watch a family you love hurt so much. And while we're so thankful that Brad's pain and battle is over, his absence is clearly felt.

Yesterday, as I sat and prayed for Brad, LuAnn and the family, I picked up my One Year Bible and read through the day's assigned passage. As I read through the New Testament portion, my heart stopped on two verses as I prayed.

"Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." Luke 23:46 - 47.

Brad's absence in painful. And I know we can't begin to understand the grief felt more intimately.

But as I thought on Brad, his heart, and his life, I thought how true these verses were.

Countless prayers have been uttered. Lives have been touched. Many have turned their eyes and seen so much of Christ's love reflected in Brad, his family and his life. I believe they too will be able to look on Brad's life, see Christ's reflection and say "This was a righteous man."

How thankful I am for the hope that is real in Jesus!

Oh sunshine . . .

We miss you!!!!!!!!