Westley's Little League had a "Diamondbacks Day" where the Diamondbacks invited all the Little Leagues in Arizona or Phoenix (not sure where all they were from) to come and watch the game for a discounted ticket price, with a percentage of the ticket price going back to the league for a fundraiser. The kids got to walk in a parade around the ballfield. The last picture is from the field, but they wouldn't let us stop to take any pictures, so I did the best I could, and it came out blurry. All I had was my phone because I had left the digital camera in the car on accident.
We had originally bought 4 tickets for Corey and I to take the two older boys and leave the younger two kids with my mom, but Corey was unable to get that day off from work, so I took the boys by myself. I'm sure they would have had more fun with Daddy, I was more of a grin-and-bear-it parent for this event.
Westley by the big baseball in front of Chase Field.
Caleb by the big baseball in front of Chase Field.
Caleb in his seat, Westley was having a bad attitude right then because I wouldn't take him to the line-up for the parade, because I wasn't supposed to yet but he wouldn't listen to me long enough to hear that we couldn't go down there yet.
Westley in line with his teammates who went (only 7 kids from his team of 12 went to the game), waiting to go into the ballpark.
Travis, having a rough time (as usual), was on the floor crying (screaming at the top of his lungs, really) because I told him he had to wait until I was done helping them brush their teeth before I would read to him. I have been dealing with this day in and day out for several months--Travis' temper tantrums. Nothing seems to quiet them except him getting his way, and since that doesn't happen, he often lays there screaming for a really long time. Often, I move him to his room and tell him to stay there until he calms down, but usually that just escalates the tantrum.
While he was having this tantrum, Eliza happened to walk by. Travis was sitting there, holding the book in his lap, just screaming, when Eliza stopped, looked at him, then put her hand on his shoulder and back and started patting him. She bent down and puckered up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Travis looked up at her, looking like he was going to sock her in the face, but I said, "Look, Eliza is helping you feel better!"
So Travis stood up and gave Eliza a big bear hug, during which they both collapsed, laughing, and Travis was screaming no more, his tantrum forgotten. They hugged and kissed a little while more.
It was so sweet to see Eliza reach out to him. She still isn't really talking, so she did it in her own special way. I love it when my children are loving and kind toward one another!
For Easter this year, we did this cookie recipe that I got from my sister-in-law Allison a few years ago. I will copy and paste the recipe to the end of this entry. Anyway, we put the cookies together on Saturday night after dyeing Easter eggs, then we left them in the oven overnight, as per the recipe. This is the kids on Sunday morning, examining the cookies and tasting them. The kids also hunted for Easter eggs on Sunday morning before church (which was at 8 am!). We used plastic eggs filled with candy. Westley helped Eliza so much that he didn't end up with very many eggs in his basket at all, but she got a lot. We combined all the eggs and divided them out evenly after the search was over--it's what my parents used to do for Easter and Halloween candy so everybody got the same amount. And these are the kids in front of the church in their new Easter clothes. We got the boys each a nice new shirt and Eliza got a pretty new dress. Recipe for Easter Cookies:
EASTER COOKIES
This hands-on activity with your children helps them understand the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Savior.
To be made the evening before Easter.You need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
Wax paper
Zipper baggie
Wooden spoon
Tape
Bible
Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important—don’t wait until you’re halfway done with the recipe).Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.Explain after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar.Put vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to vinegar.Eggs represent life.Explain Jesus gave his life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand.Let them taste it and brush the rest into bowl.Explain this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.
Add 1 cup sugar.Explain the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us and died for our sins…He wants us to know and belong to him.
Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.Explain the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet.Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.
Read Matthew 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.
Read Matt4hew 27:65-66.
GO TO BED!Explain they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.The cookies are hollow.On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
"Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this day. Please bless Westley to be Spider-man when he grows up. Please bless Travis to be big and strong like Daddy when he grows up. Please bless me to be Superman when I grow up. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
These pictures have been in the digital camera for about a month now, and Corey finally uploaded them for me. I really need to figure out how to do that! So here is our life in pictures for the last month.
The boys eating at the zoo, Monday, March 16th, first day of Spring Break.
Mommy and Daddy at the zoo (Westley took the picture--third try he finally got both our heads in the shot!).
Eliza and Travis doing their favorite activity while we prepare dinner--stacking the canned food and other food storage items.
These next shots are pictures Westley took. Every once in a while, I let him have a turn with the camera. Maybe someday he'll be able to take great pictures!
Eliza trying to grab the camera from Westley.
Me just being silly for the camera.
That's all from Westley's artistic point of view!
Daddy and Westley practicing baseball in the backyard.
"What's this?" I ask, pointing to the puddle on the floor of the garage. Corey shrugs and says, "Maybe Gatorade?" Hmm, I think to myself. Travis was drinking a Gatorade earlier and it was Lemon-Lime, so that's probably what it is. Upon looking around the garage, I can't see an empty Gatorade bottle anywhere.
I study the puddle. The thought crosses my mind that while I was gathering up my glasses and phone and a magazine to read at the dentist, the kids had run out in the garage and I thought I'd heard Snoopy run out there too. Now the garage door was wide open, and there was no sign of Snoopy.
"Snoopy!" I yell, running out of the garage toward the street. I look up and down, no dog in sight.
"I'll find him," Corey says, heading toward his car. I run back into the house and look in the backyard. A curled-up Snoopy lazily looks up at me through the glass door from his sunny spot on the back patio. I run back out to garage.
"Nope, Snoopy's in the backyard!" We both shrug our shoulders. I buckle Eliza in to her carseat and help Travis and Caleb into theirs.
"It was me," a little voice says suddenly, breaking into my confused thoughts.
Westley by the big baseball in front of Chase Field.
Caleb by the big baseball in front of Chase Field.
Caleb in his seat, Westley was having a bad attitude right then because I wouldn't take him to the line-up for the parade, because I wasn't supposed to yet but he wouldn't listen to me long enough to hear that we couldn't go down there yet.
Westley in line with his teammates who went (only 7 kids from his team of 12 went to the game), waiting to go into the ballpark.
In the ballpark during the parade
From the field.
