New things and experiences

What an interesting week..

Jesse was off from preschool as it is school vacation week. I guess it was a perfect time for him to be progressing through a bad cold. We all are excited to see him off to school tomorrow. Looking forward to catching my breath and recuperating a little bit.

We had a cool Easter week-end. Went to a family-oriented Good Friday service at our church on Friday, where the death of Jesus was really driven home to Jesse. He saw some pretty harsh video clips (it wasn't known to us prior) of Jesus being nailed to the cross and he was very sad to see Jesus crying out in pain. It occupied his mind all evening, and beyond but praise God it has brought good conversation and no nightmares. We like the truth of the gospel message but we also like to sleep.

J and Luci had fun at the following pot-luck in the basement of our church where Jesse hung with his friends at the children's corner and made a cross out of popsicle sticks and Luci sang here trademark Twinkle, twinkle little star so loudly, everyone turned to watch her and then clapped. I'm sure this will deter further behavior of that sort.

I came down with my cold on Saturday but we managed to pass the time pleasantly with the kids as the boys went off to get the car washed and took a bus ride and the ladies lingered at home (this does include Peanut of course), then meandered their way slowly to Phil's coffee where they met the boys. Then off to Precita Park, to naps, to dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant--we're not challenged by the use of chopsticks just the misuse, as our children drop them on the floor and treat them like drumsticks, and the lazy susan with all the sauces.......they're not baby bottles Luci!

Unfortunately we had to miss church on Sunday to fulfill our other plans which was to spend Easter with our friends from church, the Osgoods. They have a great vacation home in Napa, on a golf course (don't care for golf, just sprawling greeness) and 3 great more mature kids, Joseph 9, Charlotte 11, and Madeline 12. We ate mostly casual meals with them and our kids ran around so free--down the street to use the neighbors wagon, J to the pond with Charlotte to open sprinkler boxes and collect frogs, Peanut running off and keeping her eyes on all parties--the children away from the house and the parents close by. There was a brief Easter egg hunt for our kids. I'm not sure who's the smartest, Jesse who wanted to collect as many as he could, or luci who was intent on eating as she went along. Peanut couldn't resist jumping into the pond as the kids climbed trees. We took a drive to Osgood's friend home and vineyard and let their dogs out to romp--Luci hung on the massive labs as much as she could and declared that Peanut, who was with us, was her dog.

It was quite a blissful excursion for us but we were ready to go today as the night was eventful--a word that never is a compliment to the night. Jesse slept with the other kids (a first for him that he was excited about) but woke up lost and screaming at the top of his lungs in the living room at 1 am. So we were all together in our room at one point not sleeping very well.

I am beat but wanted to make sure that I had recorded some of our excitement around here. It was great to admire God's creation and to play outside on this Ressurection week-end.