Family Fun

We went on a family hike over spring break in the park across the highway from us. Caleb caught a fish and it was a beautiful day.

Bluebonnets in our yard

Caleb planted bluebonnets in our front yard last year and they are beautiful. The girls enjoyed them (and their bug specific rain jackets) on a rainy day.

Animal Fun

We went to our local feed store (to get seeds for our garden!) and there were babies ducks and chickens and some rabbits. Both girls loved it.


We have some friends from Saudi Arabia and Caleb and the husband went to the rodeo while I took the mom and girls to the Arboretum. The girls fought the whole time but enjoyed climbing on the cows!

Pretty dress

Good thing for digital cameras we took 40 pics to get a couple of good ones. Gloria doesn't like to sit still but she does love baby dolls.

Easter Egg Hunt #2

Our Sunday school class had an egg hunt at the UT grad student housing. Caleb was at a meeting (again) so my mom came to help with the girls (again). It was great fun. Both girls got a lot of eggs and we got to give out fliers about our SS class.
I have a ton of photos I need to put up when I have free time on the computer :)

Egg Hunt #2

Our church had an Easter egg hunt at our church park by a pond (where we do VBS every summer)
Gloria only got two eggs but she was happy! Lydia got a good number and we let her eat all of the candy when we got home because we are starting a sugar free week during Passion Week.

Sunny girls at the picnic. It was sooooo windy so I was glad to have their sweaters. Gloria ate nonstop for about an hour.

Booksneeze!

Saint Patrick
In honor of Saint Patrick’s day I read a book about the real man: Thomas Nelson’s Christian Encounters Saint Patrick by Jonathan Rogers. All my blogger friends check out Booksneeze.com, where you can get free books for reviewing them on your blog like I just did! I also review everything I read on Goodreads.
The Christian Encounters series aims to make Church History more accessible to a wider audience. This little book did just that. It includes lots of historical and factual information in a book that is easy to read and enjoy. I had read (the much weightier) How the Irish Saved Civilization and am fascinated by Saint Patrick. This book upfront tells you that not a whole lot is know about the man, and what we know comes from two letters written by Patrick (which wonderfully are included at the end of the book). Rogers fills in gaps with informed speculation (admittedly) and historical information. And he also includes lots of the myths and legends surrounding Patrick. I learned some new things; Patrick was not the first to bring Christianity to Ireland, there were already some British believers there; Patrick, though a bishop, was against the hierarchy and took his orders straight from God (which can be dangerous or earth changing). It shouldn’t be surprising, but I was, in how much scripture Patrick quoted in his letters and also how the faith has remained true over 2000 years. Patrick lived in the 400s but one could take his words as a modern day frontier missionary.
This book is great for anyone who is interested in Patrick. Because it is quick read, it would be a good choice for a student biography review. And it is a wonderful encouragement to keep listening and following God. Patrick gave up everything, except his faith, to return to the land of his former enslavement. God rewarded him for his zeal. His boldness and dedication to reaching the ends of the earth for Christ is amazing, and it makes me wonder, who will be the Patrick for some countries in our time!

Gloria's bow holder

I spent time with my high school friends who are very artsy, home ecy, and crafty. They have letter bow holders for their girls. Well Gloria wears bows so she should have one too, so they got me a G. I had a couple of types of bright ribbon but none of the paint I had matched. I decided to go with leopard print with spongy black paint and gold puff details, this is because I didn't have to make a trip to buy anything new. Not really girl but still kinda cute. As it was drying, I flipped it over and totally messed up the puff paint, even Lydia said-Mommy your dots aren't very good. I tried to fix but, but at least it holds bows and if you squint its cute. Maybe I'll start over and buy girly matching stuff and let it dry better!

Fun times

Gloria likes to hold on to things and isn't happy when they are taken away, she also needs lots of things to help her sleep :)
Book time with Daddy, this is a rare instance when Gloria doesn't run away.
We've pulled out the Easter decorations, so our little bunnies are hopping again.

Snow Day

While I was on my trip to Oklahoma City (and driving home in sunshine) it was snowing in Salado where Lydia and Gloria were with Nana & Grandpa. Lydia LOVED the snow: threw snowballs, made snow angels, a snowman, caught them on her tongue and rode in Grandpa's box sled. Gloria thought it was okay but napped through a lot of the fun. I am glad I packed their heavy coats and hats and gloves but we don't have boats so plastic bags worked just fine.


this field will have bluebonnets soon!

I was a little sad that I missed it, but I don't don't like cold weather and nothing stuck in Del Valle so if we would have been at home we won't have had the great experience any way.

Fat Tuesday Party

Our neighbors and good friends from church are from New Orleans and she hosted a Mardi Gras Cajun night, we ate great food and then did a Second Quarter march with umbrellas!