Tie Dye Sunday night
Aunt Larissa always brings the fun. Tonight it was color. Lots of color. Can’t wait to see how everyone’s tie dye shirts turn out!
Tag: outside
Ultimate Sunday 1
Game day for the middle school frisbee team! The Mavericks won both of their games!
May Day
It was a gorgeous day today – full of activities, family, and friends.
Shecklet #1 went north last night and has been working at Nissedalen – doing with manual labor. Grandma Patti has kept us in the loop by sending photos of their progress.
The girls had track meets this morning and did a great job! The weather was a million times better today than last week. It was so much fun seeing the encouragement the girls had for each other as well as the fans in the stands cheering for the kids as they ran towards the finish line.
After track, Shecklet #4 went to her Aunt Larissa’s for her birthday overnight. (The kids look forward to this opportunity every year!) One of their projects was a fairy garden 🧚♂️
Shecklets #3 and 2 hung out at home while Jake and I attended the First Communion mass of our goddaughter. It was so good to see her and her family! It had been about a year and a half since we last saw them in person.
On our way home, we picked up take-out from a local Mexican place. Delish! And so nice to not have to cook or clean up any dishes!
I had a nice call with one of my aunts this evening – we got caught up in life and tried to solve a few of the world’s problems in the process 😊
Today has been a great start to May!
Good friends, good laughs
Why yes, those ARE unicorn horns on our heads 🦄 And two of us are wearing winter coats in April 😆
Growing friends
Group picture of these kiddos – missing Shecklet #3 because she had to leave for track. Our kids don’t get to see all of them very often, but when they get together, they fall right back in to their friendship. It is so fun to see them growing up.
And here are the mamas who are never in photos, let alone photos together.
Upside down swinging
Mid-swing picture of Shecklet #2 taken while resting his foot at frisbee. I am sure he would do a back flip off of the swing if I gave him the “ok.” But he knows I am not interested in any ER visits or orthopedic doctor appointments this year.
Marker in place
I ended up at the cemetery last Monday (3/29) while taking a walk with my friend’s littlest kiddo (so she could get some things done in her house.) We stopped to see Astrid’s grave and found that her marker had been placed. The warmer temps and melted snow must have made it possible for them to finally set it.
A wave of emotions hit me the moment I saw her name etched in granite. I was thankful that my companion was an almost one-year-old who didn’t question my tears or feel the need to comfort me. I was able to cry and feel the weight of the finality that was in front of me, alone. Astrid’s body’s final resting place is now marked for anyone who visits that part of the cemetery to see. Her earthly existence, though only physically felt by me and my family, is known. It’s a reality that is both comforting and hard at the same time.
ETA: On 4/7, my friend, Michelle, stopped at the cemetery with two of her boys to see Astrid’s marker and pray for our family. When I was talking to her later about the flowers beside the marker, she said someone else had left them prior to their visit. My grieving mama’s heart found comfort in knowing someone cared enough to notice my little girl and leave flowers. A simple gesture that means a lot.
2nd park day
Two days. Two parks. Two moms. 8 kids. The fact that this group of kiddos get along so well is a rare feat we don’t take for granted!
The last time this crew was together was back in July 2020. Needless to say, they’ve all grown a bit since then!
Easter 2021
It was wonderful to be back in our church to celebrate Easter Sunday this year.
My MIL had her second knee replaced a week and a half ago, but she and my FIL were willing to let us bring food and gather at her house on Easter Sunday. Two of Jake’s sisters, a BIL, and the kids’ cousin, as well as our family friends, all joined us for the afternoon. The weather was amazing!
The kids hunted for eggs. Aunt Kari made things challenging for the older kids!
Chainsaw
For some reason, this kid finds chainsaws extremely interesting. (The way she says the word itself is hilarious.) Grandpa Dave let her rev his up today. I wonder if she has a future in tree care or firewood sales.
