May-April 20017
Three kids in a tub
April began with General Conference. The kids love it so much it rivals Christmas.
Eliot's 5th Birthday
Abryn, Kaden, Andrew, and Zeke (under the table?)
Primary Easter Activity!
This was the all consuming project of the Season, and so worth it. The theme was Easter in Jerusalem.
Each Family got a map. It includes the Americas for reasons I'll get to soon.
We started out in they Gym, all together, somewhere around 130 of us, if I remember right.
We snacked on pitas, hummus, and grapes, as Bishop Christensen told the children and families about the Last Supper. He played the part of one of the apostles.
Demonstrating the washing of feet on his daughter.
Then we broke up into 3 groups and rotated.
This is the Garden of Gethsemene room with President Ward and his councilors playing the parts of Peter, James, and John, speaking about the suffering that happened there. They sang Abide With Me, which was gorgeous. We had musicians in each room to play music as the children entered and exited to help with reverence.
I was hesitent to ask President Ward to participate because he's so incredibly busy, and it was kind of a miracle that he was available this day at all. His response was, "There's no place I'd rather be."
Rebecca playing the part of Mary (the mother) on Calvary, telling of the crucifixion.
Charlotte playing the part of Mary Magdalene by the garden tomb, telling of the resurrection.
We had a couple of craft rooms...and it seems so long ago, but I think the main purpose was to help with the flow of rotations, and have some hands on engagement. It makes me a little tired to think about now. One room was making "palm leaves" with ideas written on them for how to follow Christ.
Then little empty tombs.
We ended with Brittany talking about Christ continuing his mission after His resurrection, and specifically about Christ's visit to the Americas. She's a part of the Cayuga tribe from the Iroquois Nation. There's a belief among the Iroquois that a man came to visit the tribes, a man born of a virgin. He taught the tribes to live in peace, and told them that He would return again one day when the wampum shell became abundant again. When Brittany was growing up, the shells were scarce and very hard to find, but they are already becoming noticeably much more abundant!
She and Rachel sang This is the Christ while showing a gorgeous slideshow of images of Christ. It was all so beautiful.
Volunteers made the costumes for us, which was a huge help. And the painting behind was done by a member of our ward for a Christmas activity. I made a fat paper moon to cover of the star of Bethlehem. Gotta be resourceful with a budget like ours.
Then Easter Egg hunt at the park. With all the details, turns out I didn't give clear instructions to the helpers. Kids were going to find empty eggs, and exchange them for little bags of candy. Instead our helpers just hid the little bags of candy. Haha! A few grownups seemed a little bothered, but the kids didn't seem to care.
Easter Day
(And not Easter: Ira and Anthony "trading places.")
Esther wearing Aunt Lynne's hand-me-downs from 1980ish.
James and Pamela
Fish and honey
Lemon Cheesecake
The Rest of Life
Ira's art chosen for a display at the downtown library. Very Jackson Pollock-y.
Checking in on Gina and Steve the day after I helped with the labor. Man is that baby cute.
10th Anniversary celebrated at Seva's
Flashback to 2010
Eliot's field trip with Esther
Calder Dairy
Esther said "cow" for her first time this day
Last Day of International Neighbors before Summer Break
My Primary Presidency and I were released in May.
I love these women, and my other 5 presidency members who all moved or got snagged for other callings. I learned a ridiculous amount of goodness from them.
Anthony's Scout trip
Wild Kraats Live...
Because we're so classy that way. Mom and boy date at the Fox Theater in Detroit.
Eliot's Last Day of Preschool
Miss Mieke is the best!
We have been blessed by these women in the classroom as well! Grandmas Eileen and Virginia.
Ira's buddies Mazzy and Edison
Memorial Day at the Arb
I was learning to use a pressure washer, our neighbors were nice enough to let us borrow, and the tire blew out on my leg which was about 2 inches from it. I'm writting this 6 months later and my leg still looks mildly brused and the shin still feels...like there's a dent in it. Is that weird?
Tiny pies, just because.
Mother's Day. Heart...throbbing...
We bought a candy thermometer and everything, so Ant could make real fudge. The Elder's Quorum united culinarily to gift to the women in the ward.
Eliot made himself a laptop. 6 months later, it's still going strong. That's duct tape for ya.
Ira making sushi
Visit from Josette who had the nerve to move to Chicago
Esther and her friend Jane
Anthony made this boss compost bin, which also looks like a really fun...torture chamber?
sigh...
Cuties
