Way to go, Sarah and Angela!

Two of my good friends, Angela (far left) and Sarah (second from right), ran the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini-Marathon this morning.  There's nothing mini about it - 13.1 miles.  Way to go, girls!  I think you should wear your medals all next week just to celebrate this fantastic accomplishment. :)

This was Angela's first such race. In fact, she's never even considered herself a runner before. You'd think she could have started with a shorter/easier goal, huh?  But no, despite the fact that she has three young children and gives her family her all everyday, she still took on the committment, the sacrifice, the fewer hours of sleep, the pain and the time investment. Now, at a time in her life when so much of what she does revolves around the others who depend on her, she's accomplished this great thing for herself and set a wonderful expample for her family as well. Way to go, Anglea! I am so proud of you.

Sarah and I trained together and ran this same race back in 2008.

But her life has changed dramatically since then.  She is now the mommy to a not-yet-one-year-old (I'm not sure I ever went for more than a brisk walk during the first year of my daughter's life), and works full-time at the seminary. Since much of her work is of the pastoral care nature, it has the tendency to spill over into her off-work hours too. Even so, when it would have been easier not to, she also sacrificed and for a second time has accomplished this not-so-easy feat. Sarah, I think you should hold this finish even more proudly than the first, as you gave up more to get it. Way to go, I'm really, really proud of you!

By the way - Andrea, the second from the left in that top picture, probably would have run this with them this time around if she still lived in Kentucky. Maybe we'll all run one together someday, huh girls?  Or maybe we'll just all go for a spa day together sometime! :)

An Easter Lily and her Darling Brother

Look at these expressions.  Crack me up.

One with Mimi, since they both had pink dresses. (I just love that little face.)

The boy with Papa since they both have matching hair-dos. :)

And the hunt it on...

We made bird nest cookies - I had two excited helpers!

We also made Easter bread/Resurrection rolls, or another version of them anyway.  We used cresent rolls.  You wrap a marshmallow in the dough, like putting Jesus in the tomb. After they are baked, the rolls are empty, just like the tomb was Sunday morning.  It seemed to be a memorable and significant demonstration to Lily, and they were fun to make and fun to eat!  It was fun to hear her explain them to her grandparents, there is so much joy in seeing your child "get it".  Especially when "it" is so important!

Special Delivery

I got flowers today...

delivered right to my front...window.

She has amazing penmanship and drawing skills, doesn't she? (wink)

Sideshow...in the First Row

On Palm Sunday, my little family and I somehow ended up seated in the first row.  You'll remember, as often as possible, we try to keep this from happening.  But...when we don't get into the sanctuary too early or when we're particularly full, sometimes it happens.

We were all standing, singing, waving our palm branches around.  Pretty soon I notice Lilyanna has stepped a bit away from us, lays her palm branch on the floor, then proceeds to remove her little cardigan sweater and lays it on the floor next to the palm branch.  She was acting out what she had learned about the triumphal entry in Sunday school!

Being a sideshow isn't always a bad thing.  I was quite touched, quite moved.  I love to see her process, love to see her learn.

Metamorphosis...of sorts

This was about a month ago, but what began as the kids wanting to play in the sink while I did the dishes soon tuned into this...

And this,

you can see it coming, soon became this...

There was no stopping it from there...

so I didn't even try...

I just accomodated various requests...

They had a great time (Lily even said, "We're having such a fun day, aren't we, Mommy?"), it kept them entertained for over an hour, and my floor got partially mopped in the process!  What's not to love?

(And it's just one more reason no one should put carpet in the kitchen, right, Tanna?)