Natural Bridge Caverns

If you've been watching the news, you probably heard that our area had some pretty massive flooding this weekend. I heard we got 17 inches of rain in 2 days? I haven't been able to find verification of that. But I did hear the news say downtown got 9 inches in 3-4 hours on Saturday alone! 

So what's a family to do in such a downpour? Go underground, of course..... 

yeah... who's bright idea what that, Jacob?!? ;)

Uncle Junior & Aunt Monica came to visit for the long weekend and Saturday, after a call to be sure they weren't flooded, we headed out to the Natural Bridge Caverns. We were there 2 years ago, with Aunt Mary. But the kids don't remember. 

The caverns weren't completely flooded, but the walkways all doubled as water slides! 

And we walked under a few showers of water falling from the cavern ceilings. 

Some areas of the cavern were roped off, 

things we saw 2 years ago we're completely under water this weekend.

But there was still plenty of magnificent beauty to see!

Photos never do it justice. 

What do you see in this photo above?

I saw a giant jellyfish. Jacob saw an ice cream cone.

But the original discoverers saw a king's throne. 

Look close at the center of the above photo.

It's "cave bacon"!

Huge chandeliers twinkled with all the rain water and minerals. 

Everyone had a great time!

Afterwards we headed out to Cabela's. 

Then home to let our shoes dry :) 

We had a great weekend with Uncle Junior & Aunt Monica!

Dr Seuss & Daddy

I looked up from the kitchen the other day to this sight. 

I love this man - and his little kids adore him, too :)

As always, Ruth has to be the center of attention. 

And Faith can't sit still - even for Daddy story time :)

All Alone

Ruth never wants to be alone. She rarely plays well on her own. Unless there's stairs or food involved... ha  She loves her big brother and sister and always needs to be with them or, most often, with Mommy.

She had been such an easy, content baby for the first 15 months! What happened?! It's taken us a bit by surprise with how needy and demanding she is getting. My theory is that for so long what she wanted was what we wanted, so she feels like she's always had her way. And now that her way is not our way, she's demanding. And, probably, the terrible twos are starting to set in a little early... yippee.......

Earlier this week, Nathan was outside and I was helping Faith with something. I looked up to see where Ruth went - she wasn't in her normal spot, screaming at my feet. She was playing. By herself! woo hoo!!

By the time I grabbed a camera, she was no longer in the cute position I first spotted her in - sitting in a basket, still halfway tucked into a cubbie. But I still thought these were cute enough to share :)

Yay for baby steps in breaking clingy baby syndrome! 

Awana Awards

Last night was our annual Awana Awards program at church. Ruth hung out in the nursery, Faith went on a "date" with Daddy and Nathan & I hung out at his awards program together. He was so excited to get his Book 2 Cubbie Award, he kept getting upset that his name hadn't been called yet. So he got his first lesson in what it's like to be at the end of the alphabet. ha

Nathan excitedly went on the stage to meet his Cubbie teachers, Ms Amber & Ms Amber

He was so proud - and not a bit scared to be on stage!

He worked hard learning his Bible verses this year.

 There's his whole 4-5 year old Cubbie class. 

After awards, Cubbie Bear came out to visit the kids. Nathan always avoid mascot characters like the plague. But he said he really wanted to see Cubbie. By the time we got out to the fellowship area, Cubbie was leaving though.... poor Nathan was sooo patient while I helped my Sparky kids get their jewels in order. And he was heart broken when Cubbie was gone. But the young lady who played Cubbie was willing to slip back in the sweaty, old costume for one more photo opt. I didn't think Nathan was going to let go of Cubbie! Here he is with one of his Cubbies friends. 

Pretzels Please

How to make pretzels. 

By Nathan  & Faith

mostly, Faith

After Mommy says the dough is ready, take a piece and make a ball. 

Roll it into a really long snake 

Cross the tops 

Then twist it around 

Now pull them to the bottom and pinch 

You did it!! 

Hmmm... Ok, you say "roll it into a snake..." 

Crisscross the tops....  

Twist... 

And pull it down to the....

the..... 

that doesn't quite look right...... 

"Here, Naynay, let me help you!" 

"There! Another perfect pretzel by Faith!" 

Nathan, surprisingly, wasn't too opposed to his sister's help.

And Faith?? She is a rock star at pretzel making!!!

 After Mommy bakes them, brush on some butter.

Maybe some cinnamon and sugar on the unsalted ones, too.

And voila! Perfect pretzels. Now, lets go eat them! 

Thank you, Gramma, for the Auntie Anne's kit.

They're very yummy! We wish you were here to share them!

Easter Sunday

Yesterday started out a bit rough.... While I was in the kitchen, and Jacob in the shower, Faith crawled into our bed. And threw up.... Nothing says "Our Lord has Risen!" quite like the smell of vomit.... 

But Faith seemed to be feeling fine, so we let the kids get dressed and headed downstairs to hunt for baskets before church. 

The kids, especially Nathan, think that "finding something" means standing in one spot and calling out, "basket, where are you??"  They both stood frozen for a little while until I could convince them to look for their baskets. In fact, in that above photo you can SEE Faith's basket. She just had to LOOK for it.

They're not in the kitchen set...

Or in the coat closet...

Oh! Faith spotted her's in a cubbie! 

Nathan started to get discouraged that he couldn't spot his basket. So I subtly opened the sliding glass blinds. And within a minute, he spotted his basket! Mommy had been tricky :)

Nathan was excited to see his basket - and of all the things in there (candy, hot wheels, coloring book, playdoh), I think he was most excited about the PINK chocolate bunny!

Nathan went shopping with me the day I bought stuff for everyone's baskets. He pointed out the pink chocolate bunnies and told me, "Daddy need one this!" That's "nathan-code" for "I really want that, and if  you give it to Daddy, I know he'll let me have it" ha ha  So, of course, we got "daddy" a pink bunny that evening and I put it in Nathan's basket ;)

Ruth's basket was hidden under her favorite toy - the bouncy horse.

Where she was sure to spot it once she came in the room.

Getting her to come in the play room was the hard part....

She just wanted to lay down in the middle of the living room and enjoy people staring at her.

(yes, she lays like that often.... usually she sleeping that position, feet by her ears)

Soon Ruth came in the playroom and quickly spotted her basket!

The first thing she saw, and grabbed, were the peeps. 

She LOVES those fluffy marshmallow bunnies :)

She grabbed them and gave the sweetest little squeal of joy!

Next was Daddy's turn to hunt. Where could his basket be??

Everyone was more than happy to help Daddy dig through his basket of goodies

And Ruth? She was just happy with 2 of her favorite things in the world:

Daddy & Peeps (which she carried around proudly all morning).

Before Nathan, Ruth & Daddy headed off to church, we took a group picture.

Then Mommy stayed home with our sink little Faith. By 11am, she was all done with the short lived, nasty, virus. And had (unknowingly to us) passed it on to baby sis.... but I didn't discover that till morning. yippee

After church and lunch, we let the kids have some candy. 

Ruth had her eyes on that bunny!

There were too many cute expressions not to post...

Ruth LOVED her bunny. At least his ears. Monday she had the stomach bug, so maybe Tuesday she'll move on to bunny's head. Poor little bunny. But what a brave guy to sacrifice himself for the enjoyment of a cute little girl :)

In some ways, that's what Easter is all about. Celebrating Christ's power over death after He sacrificed Himself for us, so that we wouldn't have to pay the punishment for sin: death. He paid it for us, and offers forgiveness to us, hope, mercy, patience, comfort, peace, etc - all just because He loves us and wants us to know true joy. 

While I sit in a house that still smells of vomit, even after laundry & steam cleaning.... I thank God for His promise of salvation and that one day, all those who believe and trust in Him will be in heaven with Him. In new bodies. That never get sick. And get to praise His name forever.

Happy (day after) Easter