What a Busy Week It's Been!

Wow, for having been on break from homeschool we sure were busy!  This year I was super excited for Easter and was determined to make it a celebration in our home.  I think that happened.  : )  The girls seemed to truly rejoice in the miracle of our loving and powerful risen Savior.  Here's a recap of some of the events of our week...

The girls filled treat bags with jelly beans and attached a poem about the meaning of each color to hand out to our family on Easter.

On Wednesday we went to an Easter party with some moms and kids from church.  The kids painted crosses, listened to the Easter story, hunted for eggs, and ate a yummy lunch.

Here's a group shot.  Notice Annie is hanging on to Joey with all the strength she can muster while Bekah is pouting because Annie gets to hold Joey and she doesn't (not uncommon).  And see that little guy in the red overalls on the very right?  He's just such a cutie!!  I hope he and Joey become friends.  : )

Later Bekah did get to hold her Joey (kind of)   = )

I didn't take any pictures on Good Friday but what a wonderful day it was!  I was able to attend the noon service at church and it was beautiful, although so very difficult to hear the account of the crucifixion.  I will never be able to hear it without my heart being broken.  I watched the evening service online and it was so amazing to see the cardboard testimonies.  What amazing stories our family in Christ have of how He alone rescued and transformed them, all to His glory!  He is so good to each one of us and His mercy endures forever!  What blessed me so much was that everyone's heart seemed to be bursting this Easter season.  Facebook was overloaded with the message of the cross and the resurrection...praise the Lord!!!  I can't wait until we all see Him face to face, bowed down and worshipping our King!!!

Saturday morning started off with much excitement for my Annie and her dear friend, Sarah.  They had been planning to get their hair cut together and donate it to Locks of Love .  Here are some shots of the whole process...

Before...

 Snip snip

 Good bye hair!

 10 inches

 After...

Later that day we headed to my dad's to celebrate his 65th birthday with dinner and presents as well as Bekah's half birthday which my dad does for all the kids in lieu of their actual birthdays (just for something fun and special to look forward to for them!)

 Bekah loves her new Rebecca St. James CD.  We now have #1 on repeat.  Oh my.

Sunday morning was just a beautiful service at church with fantastic worship and a truly Christ-centered message.  The gospel could not have been presented any clearer.  I was overjoyed to have my brother and cousin there with me.  After we attend 2nd service, we stayed for 3rd for the Spanish service and the girls enjoyed handing out bulletins and serving the breakfast burritos and pan dulce with their Auntie Leti.  Joe was ready to go...

On we went to our traditional Easter celebration at the Delgados and we also celebrated my dad's birthday.  His favorite pie is pumpkin so that's what I made him...

We ended our Resurrection Day celebration with our own tradition at home...resurrection rolls!  The girls love doing this every year and even though they know the story, they still get all excited. The marshmallows represent Jesus, the melted butter is the embalming oils, the sugar and cinnamon are the burial spices, and the crescent rolls are the cloths He was wrapped in.

Then He is placed in the tomb (the oven) and a large stone is rolled in front (the oven door slams!)

 When they look to see if Jesus is still there, it's only His cloths!  He is not here, He is risen indeed!

And last night the girls starting laughing uncontrollably.  When I looked this is what I found...

 Who did this?!

 "Me, Mommy, me!!"

 

Start of Easter Break

This week we are on Easter vacation from home school.  I have some Easter crafts and activities planned for the kiddos but since today is Jose's day off, we decided to take them on a little outing.  We went to the L.A. Arboretum.  It was cool and drizzly, but not very crowded so it was nice.

Above is Bekah hungry and as she says "feeling floppy".  So we ate lunch...here's a pic I love of Daddy and Joey -

When we came home the girls starting painting some flower pots...

And here's a cute pic of my Super Hero Joe, just because.  : )

Aside from the cough I can't get rid of, it's been a nice day!

Hello Again

Oh my. Am I really re-starting this blog?  So my last post was almost a year and a half ago and I said I would stop this blog to scrapbook and do other things.  I haven't scrapbooked.  : (  Let's see...so much has changed since that last post...

 I am no longer pregnant.  That was the quickest, yet toughest pregnancy yet.  I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes two days before Christmas.  I was put on a strict diet telling what and when to eat and checking my blood sugar 4 times a day.  Oh boy did the Lord use that to show me how self-serving I really am.  I did NOT like not being in control, but by God's grace He helped me stick to the plan and I've never felt so rewarded as when Joey was born a healthy 7 lbs. 13 oz. (my littlest baby yet!).  He was born February 23, 2010 and he brings huge joy to all of us.  He is walking and babbling and just so. much. fun!  He actually has 3 mommies - me, Annie, and Bekah.  : )   The girls are FANTASTIC helpers and love Joey to pieces.   To date, Joey has 6 teeth, gives high fives, feeds himself with a fork, loves peek-a-boo and patty cake, dances when Daddy makes a beat, and is refusing to stop nursing.  : /   He also is allergic to wheat, peanuts, and milk.  So one of my summer projects this year will be to research what he actually can eat and re-vamp some recipes.

Jose is ALMOST done with his bachelor's degree...praise the Lord!  He is taking one of his last 3 classes and is scheduled to be done August 19th.  I am so very proud of him.  It has been such a long haul and he has excelled and grown so much through this journey.  I know he feels more than ready to be done but he is a trooper and is still doing well through the home-stretch.  The Spanish ministry at church is going well and while his weekly sermon preparation is no easy task, we see the Lord moving and it's a blessing to watch the people grow and fellowship.

Annie and Bekah are doing so well.  They are healthy, beautiful, and smart and just enjoy life.  They are both excellent students and have done a great job with school this year.  We are determined to finish our last quarter of homeschool well.  Annie is involved with Girl Scouts this year and LOVES it!!  They have already held a food drive and visited a food bank, camped out in the leader's backyard, sold tons and tons of cookies, and this week they are packing backpacks for underprivileged kids.  These are exactly the kinds of activities I was hoping for when I signed her up.  Bekah is counting down the months until her Daisy troop begins.  She can't wait to do all the fun and exciting activities Big Sister has done.

Oh yes...and we bought a house last year!  After spending 3 years in our tiny 2-bedroom rental, the Lord blessed us with a little more elbow room about a mile away.  He did miracles for us with the timing of our purchase and working out the money.  He is so good and when He is in something, He gives that perfect peace that can only come from Him.  We love our home.  It isn't grand by any means, but rather average, yet it suits us perfectly.  Of course there are a million improvements and changes on our wishlist but overall we are very happy here.

I think that's a pretty basic summary of the last year and a half.  I hope to be more faithful to this blog because I know there is so much I want to remember, but if I don't document it I'm afraid I'll forget.  Be back soon!