Easter Baskets 2015

 I had bought some clearance items after Valentines that worked out great for Easter!!!!

 And we had to do baskets at the bar since our puzzle is still taking up the table (more on that in a future post).

 The teenagers are loving pictures these days!!!

Resurrection Egg Hunt

Some traditions cannot be broken....by Daegan.  I am all about traditions and I try really hard to push that on my children.  Then, it bites me in the butt sometimes.

Mac had a fever on Friday, so he was not going to be able to go to the Egg Hunt this year.  Doctor said it was virus (could last 24 hours, could last many days?).  In my mind, really the hunt would be mainly for Mac this year.  It does go up to 5th grade - so Daegan and Capps can participate if they want and Mollee and Tavis are too old for the hunt, but the youth helps with it.  

So, Saturday morning, I'm assuming, we aren't going.  Mac is sick.  BUT --- it is tradition!  And it is Daegan's last one!!!  We have to go!!  

But, Capps, being Capps, says he will stay home and keep Mac company since he isn't able to participate.  Because that is just what the Monkey does.

This year, Mr Jon read the story.

 And I only went to one field.

 Tavis was a line/buffer for the field.

And, their off!

 Daegan enjoyed it!

 His last egg hunt!

 Sorting his loot!

...no stitches this year....phew...

Aquarium with Rachel and Rheya

We went to the Aquarium today with Rachel and Rheya.  So did everyone else in town.

Since we were waiting for Rachel and Rheya to come after Rheya's morning nap, we decided to take our lunch at eat there.  The kids were not too thrilled about pictures.

 Except Mac, always willing.  (*please note his clean shirt from his stitches incident - and he is still wearing his hospital bracelet)

 Rheya loved the water!!! :)

 Oh, yeah - the stingrays too!

 Mac got a butterfly!

 Always the orange one, never the blue one.

 Goofy with the penguins!

 They were entertaining today!

 And, again, Rheya liked the water - even tho it was FREEZING!

 Mac and Mommy "under water"

 Rheya too!

 Tavis didn't want to put her down - he is so sweet with the babies.

 Gretchen and "Skip" - friends for a LONG time!

 Photo Shoot - Rheya and her bodyguards!

 Mac constantly pretending he is stuck under water.

Celebrating Mommies Unemployment

Not really celebrating, but just trying to "end on a happy note", especially since Mommy has been stressed out and lots of tears have been shed.  

What isn't happy about this box sitting at your dinner table?

 Waiting to see what the Lord has next.....

And telling the kids it may be a LONG time before we get to eat out again.  Ha!

April Fool's by Daegan

Of all of my kids, Daegan seems the least likely to be a practical jokester, but he is always reading/exploring for his next joke.  April Fool's or Not?!

His favorite one is switching cereal boxes/bags.  He will put the Cheerios bag in the Froot Loops box and the Froot Loops bag in the Cheerios box.  And so on.  Daegan does this often and thinks it is hilarious every time!

So, today, Daegan switched cereals.  The big boys were prepared, but Mac dumped out his Oatmeal Squares and got Ohs instead.  And he ate half the bowl before he noticed.  And I think that was more enjoyable to the big boys than anything else.  Poor Mac!

But, Daegan's big practical joke this year was against Daddy.  Jason loves his soap.  He always need a good, fresh bar of soap in the shower.  He likes lots of suds!  He doesn't ask for much, so I just go with this guilty pleasure.

Daegan painted Jason's soap with clear nail polish so it wouldn't get sudsy at all.

Well played, Daegan!  Well played!

Another Chapter

As I've shared before, in my "One Word" bible study this year, my word is Resilience.  I knew I was asking for it when I picked a word about being stretched.

Sometimes, we are stretched to help us grow and sometimes we are stretched because we aren't listening to God.  Sometimes it is a little bit of both.

For four years I have worked as a Closing Coordinator for a real estate team, similar to work I did prior to getting married/having kids.  When I started, Mac was not yet in school and this work was less than 15 hours a week.  I could do most everything from home and it was the perfect job for me.

The team I work(ed) for has expanded, and expanded.  During the off season I work about 30 hours a week and last Summer I averaged about 50 hours a week - often juggling 30+ contracts at one time.  Still all from my home office, which is awesome, but a lot for a Momma of five with many different school schedules to keep up with.  With my phone buzzing at all hours, paychecks not consistent and a differing opinion of responsibilities, it was time for me to turn in my notice and pray about what was next.

I love this job.  Real estate is what I know.  I am really good at this job.  Clients like me.  Lenders and title companies rely on me.  I LOVE having a home office.  This is my comfort zone.  But, the Lord had made it clear there was another chapter ahead in my life.  Another chapter that I did not know about yet.

I fought with myself for awhile, for months even.  But the Lord made it very clear and when I turned in my notice two weeks ago, a burden was lifted off of me instantly.

Today was my last day.  My last day with my dream job that I've had for four years.  It was an emotional day for many reason that I will not get into here.  But, as I move into this next chapter, I am asking, no I am begging the Lord to help me be resilient during this time.  My income paid bills, it wasn't just extra, and things were tight already.

I know the Lord has not forgotten me and I must remember to trust Him.

As I sit here this evening, unemployed, I know he has a plan - he just hasn't chosen to reveal it to me yet.  I must be patient.

And I don't do patient very well.  *sigh*

Greenway Late Lunch

With two days left at work, I was trying to finish some files and then do something fun with the kids on their first day of Spring Break.

We took Jason lunch at 1:30, saw him a few minutes and then picked up lunch for ourselves and headed to a park near his current work site.  The weather was beautiful and it was a great was to burn some energy and enjoy the sunshine!