"And Then I Did Limbo"

Hang on folks, no telling where this might end up!
There is so much here in my head and so little time to get it all into this blog.
Easter was fantastic!  We had all four kids here, our son-in-law and daughter-in-law, the grandsons, Marathon Girl and assorted friends.  The long Lent was truly over and there was good reason to celebrate! 

The whole family! 

I did not write a Lenten post this year, I figured I had been there and done that.  The thought did cross my mind a few times though.  Especially on those nights when I was regretting giving up drinking for Lent and just wanted to rant!    TJ joined me in my sobriety... we were very quiet and boring for about 6 weeks but felt much better in the mornings.  The hardest times were when we were finally blessed with springlike weather and we sat on the back patio in the evening sipping our water or ginger ale.  We really missed that nice glass of wine.  Yes, giving up drinking was a real sacrifice and boy am I glad Lent is over! We did save a lot of money!  Going out to dinner is so much cheaper when you don't drink! 

Our weekend was full of talking, cooking, eating, drinking, running around(after the kids) and general joy and happiness.  Daniel and Christopher are at a really cute age, the one where they are busy, curious, enthusiastic and are able to speak and tell you what they are thinking.  They are also boys....which means they do a lot of active playing with great enthusiasm!  One afternoon as we all sat on the patio, Daniel disappeared around the side of the house.  When he reappeared he was very wet.  He breathlessly exclaimed, " I got all wet with the hose....and then I did Limbo!"  Yeah, I do that all the time too! The hose provided hours of entertainment for the boys.

Daniel's favorite part of the zoo....the water fan and the misters!  He loves the water!  Forget lions and tigers and bears.

On Good Friday I went to the 3 p.m. service.  I left the entire group behind at the house thinking I would be home to make dinner at a reasonable hour.  Two and a half hours later I was walking to my car in the parking lot dreaming of the food that I would soon eat and satisfy my growling stomach when I could not find my car.  I walked to the end of the row...no car.  "Hmmm, maybe I am just delirious from lack of food and two and a half hours of church."  I walked back up the row...no car.  I had a little conversation in my head with God, "Really?  I spent two and a half hours in church and come out to find my car was stolen?  Not fair!"  I reached for my cell phone and noticed several calls and messages.  My car had just been car napped by my family.  The message said to start walking and call them to come pick me up.  I love my family...glad I did not wear heels!  That was the moment I declared Lent to be officially over and had a glass of wine when I got home!

All the kids at the zoo!

One of the best parts about being a grandparent.  The post zoo nap on Gigi's shoulder!

We had a family field trip on Monday.  We went to Brenham, Texas.  It is where they make Blue Bell Ice Cream, the best ice cream in the country!  According to their commercials.  We also went in search of fields of bluebonnets to pose the kids in and take their picture.  We had a nice tour of the creamery and it ended with free ice cream!  A big hit with kids of all ages.  On the way to the creamery Christopher and Rachel had an amusing conversation.

R- "Christopher, we are going to go see them make ice cream.  Do you know what ice cream is made from?"
C- " Water?"
R- "  No it's made from milk.  Do you know where milk comes from?"
C-  "The refrigerator!"
R- "No, it comes from cows."
C- "Animals don't make milk!"
R-  " Yes, it comes from cows."
C- "It comes from the refrigerator and it goes on Cheerios."    Take that, Mom!
The world according to a two year old!  I almost ran off the road laughing...clever kid.

We did manage to find the elusive bluebonnet field, it was right next to a football stadium and rec center in the middle of town, guess beggars can't be choosers.  Cute picture though!

Bluebonnet boys!

All that ice cream can make a boy tired!  I am a sucker for a sleeping kid, they are just so cute and so still.

Kind of loses some of it's allure when you see the surroundings.

The kids are all back to their real lives and TJ and I are back to our quiet days and wine filled nights.  Until we all meet again in Nova Scotia this summer!  Marathon Girl is heading to Boston this weekend to run the Boston Marathon on Monday...shout out to Marathon Girl!  I will run 2.6 miles that day in solidarity. 
God is good indeed.  Happy Easter!

P.S.   I managed to work my way all the way from the Limbo to God.....that my friends is a long road!