We decided to spend Phil's Spring Break visiting with family in Lake County, CA. What a change from the gray, snowy weather in Spokane! The kids have been running around barefoot and coat-free for the past 2 days. 
I'm loving all of the bright green around here! 
Phil was able to help his Dad work on a project today.
Finals week ended for Phil today. He's put in many long hours these past few weeks with study groups and tutoring. It was nice to have him home this afternoon and this evening for dinner. He's had to miss dinner almost every night for the past 2 weeks. Lily especially enjoyed having Phil home today. I took these picture through the kitchen window. If I see something cute and head outside with my camera, inevitably the cuteness turns into hamming it up for the camera.
I think it's sweet how Lily is glancing up at Phil. I wish I wouldn't have cut off his head.
Here's Jared helping out with dinner prep by slicing the olives. We enjoyed a wonderful evening with dinner together as a family and a trip to Sonic for dessert! 
Jared is usually considered the big brother around here. I just love to see Caleb step into that role from time to time. The other day I found him snuggled up on the couch with Gracie, reading her a book. I'm not sure whose idea this was, but it was sweet anyway.
The kids are eating breakfast right now. I just overheard Lily ask her sister and brothers to drop a few of their Cheerios onto the floor so she could have a few. I looked over and sure enough, her bowl was empty. The poor child!My friend, Rachael, wanted a few ideas for "Tray Time." We do these activities most weekday mornings, and, depending on the activity, Caleb and my girls will keep busy for about 45 minutes-1 hour. These are not my own ideas. Most anything I do is thought up in someone else's head. :) I'd like to stress here that these are to be done by your children independently. The temptation to help them along will be strong at first. Let your children explore and experiment, learning by trial and error. Of course you may offer assistance, if needed, especially if they get frustrated. My rule of thumb is: put it away if it ceases to be fun. And you always want to be close by so no one chokes on beads or sticks them in strange places.
This activity is fun! I went to Walmart and got several paint chips (2 of every color that I chose). I cut up one of the sets and glued them onto clothespins.
For this activity, have your kids string beads onto pipe cleaners. The pipe cleaners are nice and stiff, so they work well for little fingers. One thing you can do to add variety (and to lengthen the amount of time) is to have several colors of pipe cleaners on the tray and ask your child to sort the beads by color and string them onto pipe cleaners of matching colors.
My kids did this activity at MOPS yesterday, and I thought it would be great for our Tray Time. This activity involves stringing Fruit Loops onto a piece of string. You'll have to stiffen the ends of the string with non-toxic glue so they won't fray.
This activity is a little more challenging for my girls, because the string bends and flops around. They do much better with pipe cleaners.
Phil spotted these cute egg trays at Target. I had my girls pick up craft pom poms with a spoon or with a pair of tongs and place them into the compartments on the egg tray. I had them sort the pom poms by size and color to prolong this activity. You can also use ice cube trays.
If the tongs are too difficult, try using clips that you would use to close bags of crackers or chips. Sorry the picture is so dark.
I had already posted this activity earlier in the week...stack Cheerios onto spaghetti noodles that are standing upright in Play-doh.
I also posted pictures of this activity in a previous post. This is probably one that keeps them entertained the longest. I put dried rice and beans in a bowl and let them spoon or scoop them into a jar using a funnel. Sometimes we use lentils. And sometimes I hide beads and things in the rice, beans and lentils.
Here's a picture of Gracie's new haircut. I love how it frames her sweet little face.
And here's a shot just for fun. She learned this from her brothers, of course.
Actually, I asked him to, because a couple of friends here in Spokane wanted to know what I looked like when I was pregnant with the girls. Here I am in ALL of my glory, and with all of my chins, packing a diaper bag. How strange to think that I don't have to pack one anymore!
This is kind of embarrassing for me...I'm only posting these because I love you girls. :)
I had to post these next two pictures. Here I am talking to Phil, trying to put my socks on all by myself. Those are water spots on my shirt...I had just brushed my teeth.
And here I am crying about the fact that I couldn't put on my own socks. Thanks, Phil, for capturing this moment. :)
My camera battery died and I kept forgetting to charge it to download my pictures. Needless to say, I'm a little behind, so I'll just play catch up in this one post.
We made cookies--a staple for me.
Last week another mom and I found our girls in my bed, dressed up as princesses and having a little tea party.
Today's Tray Time consisted of dried spaghetti, blobs of Play-doh and Cheerios.
Gracie always tries to keep her area neat.
Look at Lily concentrate!
All done!
Jared isn't interested in Tray Time, because he's under the impression that it's for the little guys. He just waits until everyone is done and then tells me he's going to "do experiments, instead."
While Jared experimented, Caleb cooked lunch. He loves to make macaroni and cheese!
Yum, yum, yum! Agreed?
Phil got home later tonight, so the kids and I put together this Easter pie after dinner to surprise him. I found edible grass at Wal-Mart.
"Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!...What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord."
The remains of breakfast--isn't this beautiful?
