Practicing the Discipline of Gratitude {April}

During the month of April, I was grateful for:

1.  second chances

2.  Jesus IS King!

3.  he's all boy

4.  free fun with help from a friend

6.  listening to them enjoy our family photo books together

7.  I resisted the urge to pack up the snow boots

9.  The way she delights in making a card when I let her use my "Mommy pens"  

10.  I had some time by myself, but maybe even better was the time my girls got to spend with dear Mrs. Cameron.

11.  sunshine and silly boys

12.  garage sales (this had been on my wish list for a long time!)

13.  the way she slowed down my to-dos with a request to "listen to Jesus music and do a project"

14.  getting to go to her gymnastics class, just the two of us

15.  the people who lived in this house last year planted something that is sprouting again!

16.  hearing them giggle as we soaked in some fresh morning air

17.  mornings when I get to go to "stroller fit" (strollers not required!).  I get a great workout, and my girls can either hang out and play with the other kids, or do burpees with me.

18.  weather that demands eating lunch outside

19.  time to build legos with my boy

20.  hand-me-downs from a thoughtful neighbor

21.  she still fits into the baby swing

22.  three successful dental appointments for three cooperative and happy patients.  

23.  the quietness of a short drive by myself.  It doesn't happen often, and sometimes I'm tempted to turn on the radio, but most of the time I choose the silence.

24.  my dear Jessie arrived with her precious Paige in tow to love on me and my kids!

25.  sharing one of my favorite joys with my kids

26.  almost losing my voice from the amount of talking Jessie and I were doing

27.  a drab and rainy morning turned into a warm and sunny evening, just right for watermelon!

28.  the opportunity for my baby girl to feel like the big girl

29.  no more payments on our van . . .  the title is in my hands!

Outside

Spring weather has definitely arrived, and we have enjoyed the sunny days to be outside!

The girls creating a story and set-up together, complete with props.

Watermelon!!  Or, as Bridgette likes to call it: materwelon!  You know it's a good day when we end with a big plate of watermelon on the back patio.

Look at those freckles!

Easter Weekend

Saturday morning, we had "Fancy Nancy parfaits" for breakfast. =)

We spent most of the morning at Hone Depot, constructing and creating.  I'm so impressed by all that is included in the free kid workshops (happening each month at a Home Depot near you!).

I was grateful my friend, Patricia, joined us, and was Bridgette's special helper for her building project!

Thanks to a gift from Jo last year, we had daily activities for the week of Easter that helped us focus on the weeks' events leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection.  The soldiers put a crown of thorns on Jesus' head, but we made celebratory crowns which reminded us that Jesus is God's chosen King!

The Camerons joined us on Saturday for dying eggs and then stayed for dinner.

One dozen finished!

Special Easter morning breakfast of nutella french toast and sausage. =)

We celebrated the baptism of a friend during church!

Christ is Risen!

He is Risen indeed!

More Random Fun

My organization for blog posts seems to have flown out the window.  I'll need to come up with some better titles besides "Random", "More Random", "Random Fun". . . .  but nothing else seems to fit with the photos I'm grouping together these days.  So, I bring you, more random fun from the past few weeks:

The girls and I enjoyed free cone day at DQ after lunch, but felt it only fair that the guys get in on the treat, so we all went back after dinner!

I finally got to have lunch at school with my boy.  He played it cool, but was willing to snap a quick photo before running out for recess.

He is usually happy to help in the kitchen, especially if it involves licking a beater. =)

She LOVES her daddy!

She even lets him fix her hair with his "hair junk"

Holding hands with herself . . . 

. . . then she drew Rooke holding hands with her 

Gretchen's music class was learning to play "Hot Cross Buns" just before Easter, so the girls and I made some hot cross buns for Gretchen to take to class and share.

  

Her amazing music teacher, Mrs. Cameron.

Trying out Bridgette's new playdough set from her birthday 

 Making crowns to remind us that Jesus is God's chosen King!

Video Serenade

There is a lot of singing that happens in the Payne home.  I've been trying to capture some of our family's "top ten hits" right now, but it's usually just the girls who are willing to sing for the camera! =)

From February: yes, I agree that singing while eating dinner isn't the best manners.  Just trying to get her sweet voice when I can!

My mom used to teach this song to her fifth graders, so I learned it from her.  I guess I sing it often because one day, out of the blue, Rooke sang the whole thing on his own!  I had no idea he knew the song!  His accomplishment prompted Gretchen to work on learning it for herself, which she did in just a couple days.  And with a little help and encouragement, I am proud to say that all three of my children and I often sing the "state song" together! =)  If you need subtitles for this video, just get a list of the states in alphabetical order.  They're all there!

I got tired of listening to the kids sing the state song, so one day in the car I decided to shift our focus and we made up this little melody:

Serenading those waiting with us at the DMV (as a bonus, you get a glimpse of some of her newly-three-years-old-attitude-spunk as well!)

Rooke likes to sing, too, but isn't much for performing.  So as not to leave him out, here's a snippet from a couple months ago when shoe-tying was finally starting to click.  I love the look on his face at the end!