The Month That Was...

It has been a busy few weeks since my last blog post.  Frankly, busy doesn't begin to describe it.  So, here's the best way to catch you all up.

My birthday. Yep.  35.  That used to sound old.  Now, not so much!  I was blessed by a couple in my church this year.  Dub shares a birthday with me, and he reminds me very much of my Grandpa.  He and his wife surprised me while I was working PDO and brought me pizza, bread sticks, a salad, and a DQ ice cream cake.  WOW!  It was his birthday and yet they were treating me!  Good, good people! 

Isabella had her first music program.  She is the first Moon child to enjoy being on the stage and was super excited for the program.  She picked out her outfit several days early and made sure all her grandparents knew when it was.  She had one line and it was memorized and repeated for a month.  It was a lot of fun to watch her on stage!

After two years of planning, we started building our neighborhood playground.  It was a lot of work, and is not quite done thanks to a few missing parts, but it's getting closer.  I'm thankful to Chris for spending 17+ hours out there.  He's a good Dad!

 

Some of the playground "helpers."

Anna completed her scientific method project for the science fair.  We have learned two important lessons.  First, it takes a while to kill a carnation -- even with boiling water.  And second, for our next science project we'll test something that will give us immediate results!  Nothing like having dying flowers on your counter for two weeks! 

We've been doing a lot of reading late at night. Like Sophia's head lamp? 

And we started an after-school Bible Club at our kids' elementary school.  19 kids have been signed up despite the fact that we weren't allowed to send home fliers the way other organizations are allowed.  It was a great opportunity for my kids to learn how to live out their faith and invite their friends and classmates to the club. 

Parents' Day Out is going strong.  We've enrolled 9 kids in the last three weeks without advertising.  It's keeping me busy, but these sweet kiddos are so much fun!

We've also been de-cluttering.  Man, we have a lot of stuff!  We've been selling it off through craigslist (LOVE IT!) and through a massive garage sale.  It's amazing how much stuff we've gotten rid of - and don't miss - and how much more we can still weed out.  Why do we let our lives/homes get this cluttered to begin with? 

We've had swim practice twice a week that keeps us driving up to Newton.  And a field trip to Cow Town.  Sorry, growing up in Dodge City, I still think Boot Hill is better.  The kids had fun and Sam was able to tag along with the second graders.  He came home and took a long nap! 

We've had snow and ice, and we got to meet baby lambs and ride a donkey. 

 

 

And Easter.  Well, when you're a Children's Minister - Easter is a busy time.  And your kids are put to work.  We had an egg hunt at church and hosted our fifth annual neighborhood egg hunt. 

But Easter is also a good time.  And one of the few times I can get my girls to wear matching dresses.  Aren't they cute? 

We've been doing lots of home renovation projects finishing up the conversion we started a year ago putting in white trim and doors.  Better late than never!   And this weekend we'll be volunteering with Love Wichita to serve alongside other area churches at their annual day of service.  Whew, I think that's most of it.

So, if I haven't called.  I'm sorry.  If I have been scattered when we've talked.  Sorry again.  I'm trying to do so much and I think I've hit my limit this month on what's actually doable.  The good thing is that I can't actually remember the last time anyone in our family said the dreaded words, "I'm bored."