The Hunt

And we're back online!  I'll catch up on email eventually, but first I wanted to share some pictures from our fantastic Easter weekend with my parents.  We spent Saturday and Sunday at their house, enjoying walks in summer-like weather, a lively Sunday morning celebration that Christ is ALIVE! and an afternoon of dying, hiding, and hunting for eggs.

She just had to know what was inside.  I finally gave in and let her go for it.

Rooke hung in there for a while, but eventually it was just my mom and I left to the decorating.

Meanwhile, Gretchen was practicing for her senior pictures . . .

The hunt was on . . .

Luke 24.1-12:


But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.  And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead  He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”  And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.  Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.  But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

He has Risen!  Happy Easter!

On Base

Next on our list of transitions and adjustments was to move out of my parents' place and go to temporary housing (read: hotel suite) on the base where Ryan is stationed.  One step closer to being settled.  It was a short stay as we are already in a permanent home (without internet yet, so my posts will be limited for a while), but we can get to that later.  Here are some pics of our days getting a feel for the base where Ryan goes to work every day.  He has a job!  We're so grateful.

The weather has been absolutely perfect.  We'll try to send some your way, Seattle.

This playground was right outside the hotel door.  

We love getting mail!

Fun Day

It's hard to resist this face!

Rooke is into "doing work".  He'll stop at pay phones or ATMs and announce that he has some work to do.  He was sending an "important email" while we were shopping for cell phones.  And Gretchen wants to do whatever Rooke is doing.  Always.

Ryan actually fell asleep before Rooke did.  I had to wake him (Ryan) so we could go on our date!

My parents offered to keep the kids and we headed into the city for an afternoon/evening of just us.  It was perfect.

And our grand finale for the date was scoring half-price tickets to a show!!  We thought Legally Blonde was appropriate.  You laugh, but it was a great production and my husband enjoyed it as much as I did!  He's the legal one, after all.  

My Parents

I'm pretty sure I will never reach an age when I will stop needing my parents.  For the past two weeks, my needs for my mom and dad have been on high-demand.  And my parents have responded with grace, love, and patience beyond what I even thought I needed.  For the past two-plus weeks, my mom and/or dad have been: an overseas flying partner, host for myself and two crazy kids, chauffeur, laundromat, babysitter, cook, book reader, tour guide, child entertainer, frazzled-mom encourager, backyard adventure guide, and so much more.  They haven't been able to get much work done and their house is certainly worse for the wear after our visit.  But I didn't hear one complaint or sense for even a second that we weren't welcome.  What a blessing it is to call this incredible couple my parents!  

Thank you, Mom and Dad.  Thank you.

My parents have a lovely reading spot where they like to begin their days.  They were almost always interrupted by two little red-heads wanting to snuggle and put stickers in KayeK's journal.

We got to celebrate my mom's birthday together!  We spent the afternoon soaking up the sun at Hampstead Park.

 And had fried chicken and strawberry shortcake for the birthday dinner!

Aren't they cute?!

Into the City

My mom led the kids and I on an adventure into the city last week before Ryan was here.  It was a gloriously sunny day and Rooke finally got to ride the Tube.  We picnicked at Green Park, walked passed Buckingham Palace, played at James Park, ate ice cream, and did more walking along the river. 

Green Park picnic

The massive tents behind us are going to be used by the media who will be covering THE Royal wedding.  Just the media!

It's everywhere . . . "Royal Wedding Team 2011"

After passing the Palace and playing at James Park, Mom treated the kids to ice cream.  It was Gretchen's first taste!  

She was using her sign and her words to communicate that she wanted MORE!

Our first freckles of the season!

We're tucked in there in that massive crowd

One of KayeK's educational breaks.  She knows so much about the city and Rooke's inquisitive mind takes it all in.

While Gretchen loved hanging out on my back in the Ergo, Rooke got to ride in the stroller and finally decided to take a little nap while we finished our walk and headed home.