Easter Pics and this week update

We had an enjoyable and blessed Easter weekend. Noah got to participate in 2 egg hunts--one at our apartment complex:

and then the BIG one at church:

They were expecting 200-300 kids, don't know the final count. (It was def. well attended.) But there were some 7,000 eggs scattered all over the grounds, and probably at least 1,000 spread just on the playground for the little 0-3 year olds. Poor kids, they didn't even know what to do with all the eggs! For a while, they just toddled around, every once in a while, after stepping over or on a dozen or so, bending over to pick one lone egg up, shake it, and crack it open...then sit down on the ground and eat the candy. Noah was ALL about the candy. He and his little day care friends got in a circle on the ground and opened up all their eggs, dumping the candy in their baskets and the empty eggs back on the ground in a big pile. Pretty funny.

We came home after the plastic egg hunt and made our first set of REAL, hardboiled, dyed eggs with Noah. He got a pretty big kick out of this. Not too much into the decorating thing yet, but he loved dumping the eggs in the dye. "Again! Again!" he would say. If it were up to N, they would have ALL been GREEN! or PINK.

We had great services on Easter--teens joining the rest of the congregation for their choice of 2 services. Matt went to both, (apparently hoping to make up for the lack of service attendance these past 4 months) and I did nursery first service. Then between the services he hosted a Pancake Breakfast and mini service for the teens. It was a big hit, too. Glad that we planned to stay for the whole morning, because it POURED RAIN until after 2nd service was coming to an end.

After services we headed to our new friends the Andersons for a wonderful combined lunch with a few families from our Life Group. We had a great time eating, talking, and "sharing life together" with the adults...kids shooting marshmallows all over the yard with Matt's "easter gifts". We finally headed home around 4 pm. and Matt got to watch the end of the Master's at our Pastor's house while Noah and I got to take a well needed late-afternoon nap. I was very thankful for the down time! Overall, a perfect day (minus sharing it with our other families)

P.S. Mom, the broccoli salad and swiss cheese/green bean casserole were both hits. And I made the Chocolate Delight dessert, which is always well liked and always yummy....and leftovers are even better...

In other news, I'm involved in the Ladies Bible Study at church on Weds. now, and we're 4 weeks into Esther...always good. I'm memorizing Psalm 84 for my memory verses this month and probably first part of next Month. Remember what I said last post about 2 car issues is enough for now? Well, took both our cars in for some new brakes, oil changes, inspections...$670 later....ouch. Paid our taxes yesterday--bigger OUCH! Thurs. (last night) Matt and I had a great night playing volleyball together in a competitive league at a local fitness center. Every other week, we'll have TWO games, which will even be better. Matt said his shoulder felt great-- no problems, yet! And we played together, competitively, for the first time, and survived. And finally, in Hawkins news...

Matt and I squeezed in another round of house hunting this morning with our realtor, and we came home with a real possibility. We are waiting on him to get the specs on the neighborhood and the appraisal value of the house, but if things look good, we're hoping to talk thru an offer for it. It's a 1 story, 4 bedroom house with good sized rooms and a few upgraded details. Please pray that if this is IT, it will go thru, and SOON! We are getting close to the end of the month, which was our deadline for being able to get into a house before the summer. We are more than just a bit anxious to make a decision! If you want to see pics, comment me and I'll send you the link.

Have a great weekend!