Chocolate Seder with the Hillel Club

 

We had such a marvelous time celebrating Passover with the Jewish Club at UNR. They were organized and fun. I loved listening to the Hebrew spoken and sung. And of course, the kids loooooooooooooooved the chocolate.

It really was just plain awesome.

 

Breaking the unleavened bread. Matzo.

 

The drumstick to represent the Passover lamb.

 

Finding the Afikomen. They got a bag of cuties as a prize!!

 

We raised 4 glasses of chocolate milk. Eli was so sick afterwards he said, "I don't think I want to have cake at Ella's birthday." They all totally sugared out. But he also said, "Passover is one of my favorite holidays!"

 

Christina read for the wise child. Maria read for the wicked child.

 

The chocolate dipped strawberries were divine!! Truly we are so blessed. To partake of such amazing food and remember all that was given. That bondage was real and deliverance true.

 

We also saw a couple miracles in our Passover experience!! The parking lot was jammed pack with cars, yet within 1 minutes we found a parking spot. There was one plastic bag for Eli (because he felt sick) in the car. And all the children were complimented, "What amazing, wonderfully behaved kids." We sat for almost 2 hours in one spot, and yet they listened and participated. (This was definitely a miracle for the little ones!)

UNR Pow WOW

 

I really wish we had gone not at nap time!!! We only got to stay a little bit, but it was so colorful and bright. The music was amazing and the drums always make you want to hop around.

 

My favorite part was when the golden women (aged 50+) danced. Everyone in the entire audience (except one person... cough cough) got up to stand for them. It was so respectful and refreshing.

 

These women didn't move around a lot. But there was such dignity.

 

These women have spent their years giving to their families.

They have passed along traditions and values.

 

I'm grateful that such admiration was shown for women who are indeed golden.

Spring

 

When I used to drive, my mom would put her arm right in between my back and the car seat. It drove me nuts. I'd snap at her, "Mom!!" and then she'd move her hand and we'd hold hands while I drove.

I often look over to her seat while I drive. I may not see her, but she's there.

 

I think about spring and all the new flowers, the sunshine, the fresh air.

I think about life and how wonderful it is to be alive and feel.

 

I miss holding her hand.

I miss her arm between my back and the seat.

I miss being able to tell her anything and everything.

I miss her calling on the phone 3-20 times a day.

 

And at the same time, I feel happy she doesn't have to suffer.

She was so sick.

I still think how odd it is to be able to park anywhere, to not have to walk slowly, to not have to worry about if she was out of breath.

 

She never really liked being outdoors.

And yet, today, outdoors, I felt close to her.

Or maybe it was that I felt close to Heavenly Father and was so grateful for all He has created for us.

And I know that she is with our God.

 

I'm grateful for moments where I remember to breath and live.

To listen to the birds sing.

To feel.

To move my body and be grateful that it can move.

 

Life is full of struggles and hard moments.

And yet through it, I can testify that God visits His people in their afflictions. He makes us stronger. He helps us do things that we don't think we can do.

He has given us so much.

 

 

I just wanted to mention one other thing.

 

Today I was tell Ella about a little dog that Joe had gotten me on our first Valentine's Day. It was so nice. He cooked me dinner and we had a lovely evening together. Later, much later, I found out that he didn't have much money in his account and had spent what he did have to get me that dog and dinner.

 

He's always given me all he has. I'm so grateful for all he's done. Ella held that dog and I looked at her, at all my kids, at my comfortable home filled with beautiful memories... and I just was filled with a deep love for Jody. I've always loved him and always will. He has done so much for me and for our family. And I was grateful for that moment today to remember.

 

I wish I could give him as much as he's given me.

 

Spring is that reminder that new life is not only possible, but is a reality.

How grateful to Heavenly Father I am for that!!

Explore the Outdoors Day 2016

 

Me: You're the map man.

Eli: Follow me. I will lead you.

 

We were so excited to spend the day with Daddy and Papa!

Let me tell you, multiple adults is amazing.

 

PBS and a bunch of community organizations set up booths and activities to encourage families to "explore" the outdoors. They gave us a paper to get stamps at every station and said we would get a prize. When we left to get our prize, there were no prizes.

 

That was honestly, my favorite part of the day.

 

After the girls looked at the sun in the telescope, we started to walk off. The man asked, "Doesn't mom want to see too?" That got me thinking. Sometimes I'm so concerned with making sure the kids are learning and enjoying, I forget to do the same! Did I want to look at the sun? Yes, but at the same time I wondered how many people had their eye there and was thinking hmmm.... pink eye, worth it?

Sometimes I wish I could go back to the simplicity of childhood and look for the sake of looking. Why was this a deep moment for me? I don't know. All I know is that if I get pink eye, it will change my favorite part of the day to that moment I looked at the sun.

 

Eli spent a good 30 minutes on this tractor. Just sitting on it and making tractor sounds. Will I be looking for one on craigslist? Possibly. I could get a lot of stuff done in 30 minutes. Creativity is the foundation of the worlds.

 

Umm.... speaking of things to get on craigslist. These balls were pretty fun!!

 

Panning for gold, enjoying the falcons....

 

Milking cows. True story. At soccer the other day Elijah took a water break after 30 minutes. I told him what a great job he was doing and how I loved his focus and how he was trying his best and concentrating. He responded, "Did you know that machines can milk cows." Then he ran off.

 

Maria insisted on a picture with Daddy. Daddy and his ladies!!!

 

While Jody took the littles to play on the dinosaur playground, Papa and I took a walk with the older girls in the arboretum for a scavenger hunt.

Multiple adults = gold.

 

He was actually really excited to meet this cat.

Hence why I love the picture even more.

 

Thanks everybody for such a nice day together. Grateful Papa is feeling better after we exposed him to our cold/disease!!

1K FUN RUN!!!!

 

I was sooooo excited to have the kids do a fun run!!! It was excellent and well organized. I don't think Maria and Elijah had a lot of fun doing it, but I'm grateful to have them get out some energy!!!

 

Plus it's so good for our bodies!! Really proud of them.

They did a run/walk.

 

This picture makes me laugh!! Sometimes when they say fun run, the "fun" isn't what you expect! Ha!

Maria's First Trophy

 

Woooooo Maria!!! We were so proud that out of all the children in the white group, she received the overall top performance award for the year.

 

She works hard, swims hard, dives hard.... she's amazing!!!

Congrats honey!!!! We are so proud of you for always doing your best, listening and being kind, and for the strong person you are!

Keep up the great work!!!

2nd Saturday

 

Randomly I decided to go to the museum. It's been busy the past few times I've gone, but today was perfect!! We went right when it opened, had plenty of space and it was great.

 

 

 

This was a pretty interesting exhibit. The woman rarely showed her face and instead focused on her hair as the main of her identity. Just made you think. Also an integral part of her art was being one with the environment.

 

She had gorgeous handwriting and art journals.

 

The girls rocked the horse ink art. AMAZING!!!

 

Eli was excited to see bulldozers in art pieces.

 

This Japanese drumming was AWESOME!!!! Hands down one of my favorite performances. They were kid friendly, organized, and the drums!! Wow. It just made you really feel alive. The drums are made out of 200 year old trees.

 

It was raining and fresh and beautiful.

We ended the day by watching Star Wars!!

 

Eli chose to do an elephant instead of a horse!