He is Risen!

He is risen! He is risen!  Tell it out with joyful voice.
He has burst his three days' prison;
Let the whole wide earth rejoice.
Death is conquered; man is free.
Christ has won the victory.

Cecil Frances Alexander, "He is Risen," Hymn 199

The official final punctuation is a period, but I think it needs a few more exclamation points.  Rejoice!  Conquer!  Free!  Victory!!!

Today was so lovely.  It started with a wild thunder and hail storm, which brought four little girls (and later, two boys) into our bed, but we just talked until the storm blew through and it was time to get up.  We had done the Easter baskets and egg hunts on Saturday, so after Ben fixed us a delicious egg breakfast, we just lounged around eating Easter candy and watching old family movies.  Did you know we have church at 2:30 pm?  We do.  Definite pros and cons about that time for a family with small children.  It worked today, though, because we made a big lunch of ham, potatoes, fruit salad and green beans, and had enough time to clean it up and get ready to go without a rush.

Ben played his viola with the choir at church.  Sometimes I forget how much I love to listen to him play.  I was worried about Primary.  It is a tricky thing already, with our meeting time, and with candy and holiday excitement and two missing Presidency members, I was not sure how it would go.  It was, truly, nice.  The kids were so well behaved, and the Spirit from the Easter messages was there, and I believe that the children believe.  And about a quarter of the kids we have were gone. :)

By chance, for our scripture reading last night, Ben and I read 3 Nephi 11.  For my own study today, I was on 1 Corinthians 15.  Reflection and rejoicing!

He lives!  All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

Samuel Medley, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives," Hymn 136

Spring Play!

We promised our kids a trip to the zoo over Spring Break, and Ben had work off one day, so we headed downtown.  Once we got there and saw the line of cars stretching across the freeway overpass, we opted for a different adventure.  (Since we have a zoo pass, we re-promised that trip for a less-crowded day.)

We decided to go to the Fair Park to see the aquarium they had updated a few years ago.  It was pretty sad before, but we had heard great things, so off we went...

Since we had packed a lunch, we ate first.  There is a pond with some interesting artwork of arches and curves along the edges where we ate, and then, of course, played.

(These are cell phone pictures--I didn't get them turned around...)

 There was no attendant at the swan paddle boats, or we might have tried those out.  

 Scott is in the blue shirt.  Note that the turtles on the arch are real, but the mammoth in the background is not.

Caytie helped to prove my existence.  I am no good at taking self-portraits.

So....after lunch and lots of playing, we went to the aquarium where the line had blossomed.  The kids were complaining about waiting, so we did the next logical thing--loaded up and headed to Bass Pro Shop.  You know, because there's a big fish tank there.  And it's free.  (Well, if you don't decide to play the laser shooting game. Which we did decide to do.)

To round off the adventure, we stopped off for Slurpees at 7-11, and the day was declared a success by all.  We will save the aquarium (and the zoo) for another day.  

Spring sleep

Tessa takes a nap on the couch almost every day, about an hour before the kids come home from school.  I like it, except that it means she is up late at night...  She doesn't do it often when the kids are home on weekends or holidays, but a couple days over Spring Break she just couldn't keep those eyes open!

During a Spring Break afternoon, Caytie said she wasn't feeling well, and fell asleep on the couch.  She didn't want dinner, and slept all night there, but felt just fine the next morning. 

The next day, the same thing happened to Gracie.  Some strange, quick sleep bug that got the two of them.  (Gracie did go up to sleep in her own bed, though.)

This is often how Benson takes his naps.  He doesn't think he needs them anymore, and sits and plays until he falls over exhausted.  Doesn't look very comfy to me.

Saturday afternoon--after a Spring Break campout in the back yard, Ben got some much deserved sleep!

Scott's favorite spot to relax.  OK, so this is posed.  I can think of about three times he has actually taken a nap in the last eight or so years.  (I am sure this will change soon enough.)  He did spend a fair amount of time with various electronic devices on the bean bag this last week.

Also posed--once she saw we had pictures of all the others sleeping, Emma had to join in.  While she didn't really take a nap afterword, she did have an early morning doctor visit in Dallas with an endocrinologist.  They decided she'd benefit from daily thyroid medication, and we're deciding about growth hormones.  She's a good sport.

My boys

I didn't have a theme to this post until I realized all the random pictures I was choosing were of my boys.  Here's a short update on their lives...

Benson loves to play on the piano.  When the kids practice, Benson crawls over, stands up and stretches to reach his little fingers up to the keyboard, and plays along.  On this morning, Scott indulged him and let him sit on his lap to play.  Two happy boys.

 Scott played basketball again this year; it's the last year for the city leagues for him.  He had a fun team with a good coach who got him to hustle like he never has.  He's playing against his friend Andrew from church here.  (And that is one of the best refs in the background.)

 Here's the "behind" picture of Benson getting into mischief with buttons.  His chubby legs make me smile.

 Here he is after he realized I had the camera.  He always has to come investigate.

 (Sorry for the bright light...)  This pair of overalls was Ben's when he was a baby.  Scott wore them, too, and now Benson gets to.  Thanks to Grandma who saved them all those years to pass on to our little ones!

 Ben is still the Cubmaster, and the theme for the Blue and Gold Banquet was pets.  These fish are Ben's little hobby, and he included this picture in the pet slide show they made.  Poor Benson is sporting a scab from getting behind Tessa as she was swinging a toy around, and also a scratch he gave himself when his fingernails got too long.

I love, love, love these boys.

A Letter

Dear Mailing List Makers:

I understand that I have several birthdays under my belt.  I appreciate that you think of me as a "mature" consumer.  I am glad that you are willing to send me coupons for products that I might enjoy.

However:

I really, really, really hope that I am on the wrong list.

For future reference, I do not need hearing aids.  I am not a candidate for medical insurance "for those over the age of 65."  I am not interested in retiring soon.  And, although it may be wise to begin my search, I will not be completing the survey you sent me today about burial plots.

Unless you know about something that I don't know.

Thank you,
Someone who is not quite YET over the hill