Egg Hunts

 Our Sunday school class had an egg hunt at an apartment complex on Palm Sunday.  It was cold, windy and sunny!  A nice group from both our class and the apartments (which are 40% refugees) came.  We had over 700 eggs and they got picked up in about 5 minutes!  Then we stood around and talked while the kids ate their candy.  We also had snacks to share.

 Two Iraqi families who initiated the picture taking, they both had two girls too.

 Lydia and friends with their loot (we practiced being gracious hosts and they did great).

 The food table.  A teenager went through the Resurrection Eggs.  Our location was in a soccer field by their community garden and a neat mural.  A great time was had by all and it was great to be a part of the community and introducing Easter, our class and Friendship (we had flyers) to people, instead of it just being us at a park.

An egg hunt practice in Salado.  I love the action shots of them running.

Cousins

 Jonathan & Lucy were there too (Bill was busy doing taxes!)  What we got them to do for a minute.....

 ....but what they really wanted to do!

They also sat still for this.

Family in Blue

  Caleb went fishing with my dad so the girls came along to Salado and we tried to get some bluebonnet pictures.  The bluebonnets were spread out and small but we still had fun.  It was chilly but as they ran around they warmed up.

When Caleb got back we dressed up for Easter pictures.

Can you hear me...?

Quiet:  The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

I got this book free for agreeing to review it on my blog from Waterbrook Maltnomah Publishing’s Blogging for Books.

There are introverts all around us and though I couldn't really ever fall into that category, they are in my family and I really want to make my organization (Friendship International-classes for international ladies in Austin) more introvert friendly.  So I picked this book up.

I felt the introduction was quite anti-extrovert so I was put off but I was glad I continued, as Cain, in the rest of the book, talks about the benefits and contributions of both, while saying those of introverts are not as valued or talked about as much in our culture.

There are great stories of inspirational introverts throughout and the history of how America got to the Extrovert Ideals is outlined.  Cain discusses nature versus nature including sensitivity which taught me a lot about my daughters.  Different cultures are examined. The book ends with how introverts can be their best in our society and how family members, bosses and teachers can help introverts to do the same. 

This is a great pep talk for an introvert who needs one to be happy with themselves and find places/situations that work for them, as well as, knowing when to stretch.  There are great ideas to make places where introverts are required to be (families, schools, jobs) workable for all.  Great research, great stories, great pointers.  This is a book I am discussing with lots of people and I highly recommend it no matter where you fall on the E-I scale!

St. Patrick's day

 We got home from camping and the next day was St. Patrick's day.  We all slept in green pjs so we could wake up ready.  Caleb put green food coloring in our pancake mix (and the girls are crazy are like to eat it uncooked while he is making some).  They also had fun shamrock straws.

 Super fun that it was on a Sunday so we all put on our green best and headed to church where we (gently) pinched not green friends.  We listened to The Chieftons in the car and retold St. Patrick's story.  Back home we read a couple of books, watched a couple of Riverdance clips and enjoyed a restful day before Lydia went back to school today.

Spring Break - camping

We camped at Palmetto State Park with a few firsts-first time to camp for longer than one night with the girls, and first time to bring the dog.  And all was great.  The weather was perfect-cool to cold during the night and warm during the day.  We enjoyed the nature and walks and water.  At our campsite were some hard working harvester ants taking new leaves from a tall tree to several holes.  Both girls also enjoyed studying them with the discovery scopes.  The CCC had several structures in the park including this water tower.  The girls enjoyed climbing.

 The park is on the San Marcus River.

 Hot dogs and s'mores from the campfire the first night.
Breakfast tacos!  Caleb got up each morning and ran the trails.   We all slept great and stayed in bed until 8ish!

 Day two-we walked around the lake and fished some.  Gloria is holding worms.   She always walks a fine line between scientific exploration and animal cruelty.

 Fun hour on the lake with a paddle boat (including Flower).

 Caleb caught a catfish in the river by our campsite and brought it up.  The fillet supplemented our Ramon noodle dinner.

 More marshmallows, this time in between Oreos.

 The girls resting in their own tent.  Ours was grown-ups, Flower and stuff.  We are getting really good at car camping and bring everything but the kitchen sink :)

 We brought the girls' bikes.

 Day three-another hike, since it was cool the girls stayed in their pjs for this one.  Gloria was tired of the walks so we bribed her and told her that if she didn't complain we would get ice cream and she was then great.  They started picking up 'sticky weed' (see their shirts) and by the end of the walk Gloria's arms were full of the stuff.

 Back at the campsite, one of Caleb's science professional friends and her daughters came.  The other sites were full and she discovered (over Facebook) we would be there, so he invited her to join our party.  Our girls said their favorite part was hanging out with the new friends!  We went down to the river and waded, caught a frog, skipped rocks, played in the mud and did other fun river stuff.

 As promised-ice cream.  We went to nearby Buc-ees which was an experience in itself, wall to wall people on the Friday afternoon of spring break.  The family also brought hula hoops and we all hooped.  Lydia is pretty good.

 Another fire and after the little girls went to bed we told lame ghost stories.  The next morning we said good-bye to our new friends who had a track meet to go to, then packed up while the girls played with left over worms.

 The scenic overlook (I tried using the self timer on the camera but it was too windy and it kept falling over.)  Lunch stop in Lockhart- BBQ & Bluebell.

Early Easter Party

 Lydia really wanted to have a Valentine's party for the girls in her class but we didn't have a free weekend so we settled on a early Easter party.  She has 10 girls in her class but only one rsvped so we also invited other fun neighborhood girl friends.  It was a chilly morning but that didn't stop the girls from playing outside.  After all came, they decorated bags for the egg hunt which was the highlight of the party.

The gang-Lydia, Mia (from school), Gloria, Summer, Kirinda, Lucy & Maddie, (Amber from school also came later).  My mom came too because she is a super party planner!
After the hunt, we ate and girls played in Lydia's room.