Happy Easter

As promised, today's post includes Easter photos I've taken over the past week. We start with Charlie's Easter party at preschool. As usual, his favorite part was the snack. During games and crafts, he repeatedly told me he was hungry. He's been around the block enough to know that themed parties come with themed desserts. This time it was bunny cupcakes. Mmmmm...

Morgan made some friends with some of the other younger siblings who accompanied their mommas to the party. One of them even shared her Easter candy with her.

A few days later we went to an Easter celebration at a local church. We started the fun with an Easter egg hunt. As you can see, they cleaned up!

This was Morgan's first egg hunt and she caught on very quickly, although she saw no need to move quickly as she delicately and deliberately placed eggs in her basket.

This particular church went all out with face painting, crafts, free lunch, games, bouncy house, puppet shows, and of course, the Easter bunny.

Morgan was not a fan.

Last week was Charlie's spring break so he and Morgan got to attend the MOMS club Easter party and practice their egg hunting skills once again.

After school one day, we decided it was time to color some eggs. The kids did such a good job this year! They took their time and really worked on each egg. Taylor enjoyed helping out her younger brother. Anytime I'd try to help him she'd gently tell me "Mom, i've got it. I'll help him. You just take your pictures."

I got a kick out of the color schemes that emerged from each individual.

Again, their music therapy momma, came through with an Easter playlist to add to the festivities.

**WE INTERRUPT THESE EASTER PHOTOS TO BRING YOU MORE IMAGES CAPTURED THIS WEEK THAT WERE JUST TO PRECIOUS NOT TO SHARE.

**WE NOW RETURN TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED EASTER PHOTOS

The children were very excited for Easter morning to arrive. Ah, how sweet it is to experience so much joy from one basket of goodies. Amongst the favorites were their magnifying glasses, candy and Morgan's color wonder markers.

Before heading off to church, I corralled the family into the one place near the house that wouldn't elicit harsh shadows from the sun. Unfortunately, I got flustered by everyone's impatience and messed up a setting on my camera resulting in a less-than-sharp image.

Luckily, they indulged me after church by letting me try out some of my new equipment in the basement. Still a far cry from perfect, but hey, perfect is dull, right?

After church, the big kids went with Mark to hang out at Grandpa's house for a bit while Morgan napped and I cooked. Then it was time to head to the Well's house for an Easter feast and yet another egg hunt.

There was no shortage of eggs in this hunt either!

There you have it. Our Easter in a nutshell. Or should I say eggshell? Hee, hee.

My next post is going to be packed full of fun images. At least I hope. Tomorrow, I've got quite the photo shoot scheduled. I'll deliver the results along with some exciting announcements so stay tuned!

Little Gems

Raise your hand if you've had a rough week.

I feel like I was in somewhat of a fog for two weeks while my grandmother was in the hospital and the time leading up to her funeral. I blame that fog on Morgan's accident falling off a chair (that I put her in) which led to this black eye.

Some things that helped lift my spirits and remind me of life's beauty:

Sweet music at the hands of my little ones. Charlie started piano lessons yesterday (taught by yours truly.) Something tells me he's going to learn it very quickly, just like his sister.

Visits with good friends. We drove 75 minutes to see my dear friend while she and her THREE kids were in town in Toledo, visiting her parents.

She had her third baby (first girl!) last December and she's just precious.

Charlie's enthusiasm. Charlie started soccer again this spring and scored all three goals for his team at their first scrimmage.

Sibling love. Last week Charlie told me quite matter-of-factly that he and Taylor meet in the bathroom after I put them to bed, and she reads to him. It's one of those things that I kind of wish I didn't know. I don't want to encourage them staying up late (Taylor has to get up insanely early for school), but it's just too sweet to forbid.

So this weekend, I decided to honor their repeated request to sleep together on the pull-out couch.

I mean, come on. Does it get any better than this?

New dreams. I have made some huge decisions about what direction I want my photography to take me. I'm not ready to share them all, but it's pretty exciting.

And it's going to be fun!

A beautiful life

I'm really not sure how to write this post. This week has been very long. I have spent most of it at the hospital sitting with my grandmother as she lived her final five days.

I experienced time differently within the walls of that hospital. Time slowed down and I became saturated with so many emotions. First, I felt hope. My grandma had lived eighty six years in good health until last Wednesday, and initially we thought she might recover from this setback. When we learned that this would not happen, I felt sorrow. I was so saddened by the knowledge that my grandma would not be walking out of that hospital, knowing that she would not see this spring or any spring to follow. Although my feelings fluctuated, I felt one constant- a deep sense of pride and gratitude to be a part of such an amazing family. This feeling continued each day as I talked to, prayed with, and even sang with so many of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and of course, my sister. I also experienced my grandma's fear which led me to experience a bravery I'd never known. I sang songs of comfort to her. I spoke to her about heaven. I relayed messages from my sister in Chile that were both beautiful and spiritual.

Although time slowed down for me, it continued its steady march outside of those hospital walls. As I'd head home, my children so easily reminded me of that.

There were flowers to be watered.

Territories to investigate.

Babies to be read to.

Rock piles to explore.

Balls to be played with.

So each day I'd come home with a smile on my face and be a mom. Only to return that evening and be a granddaughter, a daughter, a music therapist, the voice for my sister in Chile, and whatever other role needed filled.

I will forever remember those days with my family as a sacred time. I experienced God's presence so intensely. I felt the love that permeates generations. I felt the peace that comes with accepting God's will and letting go of your own.

Of course, when faced with death so intimately, it shifts your perspective. We say it all the time, but life is short and fragile and oh so precious. I want to make the most out of the time God blesses me with. I want to take time to appreciate and give thanks to all the beautiful moments that make up my life.

Today I am grateful for Morgan's strong personality and tenacious spirit.

I am grateful for the Charlie. He couldn't stop being adorable if he tried.

I am grateful for Taylor's creativity and independence. She designed a new hairdo all by herself.

She also built a swimming pool for her fairies using a watering can and aluminum foil.

And her precious freckles are already beginning to make an appearance this spring.

Life just keeps going. Everyday there's something new to be celebrated. Like Mark's solution to the messy taco eating dilemma.

Or Morgan's solution to the boring shopping expedition.

And there's nothing like a baby niece to remind you of the beauty of life.

I can only hope to be as lucky as my grandma who lived eighty six healthy, happy years. I love you Grandma. Give Grandpa a hug from me.