Springbreak 2013 - Thursday

Yes to pancakes at Cracker Barrel with GranGran, Aunt Susan, and Campbell...

Yes to story time with Ms. Val...(Funny but this is one thing my big boys have been asking to do all year...they really miss this weekly outing.  I tried to savor the memory as all four sat in some portion of my lap during the puppet story.  I know these boys are growing and will soon not have the need or want for my touch.  Love these memories.)

Yes to a bike ride out in the street... (didn't have my camera but so amazed at how well Daniel can ride now without training wheels)

Yes to a neighbor's invitation to play at their house...a trampoline and zip line made this extra fun!

A good day.  Daddy comes home tomorrow.  Yea!!

Springbreak 2013 - Wednesday

Ok...maybe you are getting a little tired of our recaps but I sure do love to preserve the memories.  I have to admit that I simply put the camera down for much of our morning.

However, my favorite memory of the week just may be from this morning.  We woke up to pouring down rain.  After breakfast, Daniel came to me with a tall stack of books.  We headed out to the porch.  All five of us sat on the loveseat and read for at least an hour while the rain fell.  Pure bliss.

I also said yes to a movie while John napped!

Next yes to ice cream (it was really GranGran who asked!)...
 

Yes to helping me grill...

Finally yes to late baths and dinner out on the porch...

(Chris, if you are reading this, please reconsider our need for a dining table on the porch.  While you have been out of town we have eaten numerous meals outside.  Trust me, you don't want Cheeto hands on our patio furniture!!!)

Springbreak 2013 - Tuesday

Yes to breakfast at a dive downtown with Daddy before work...

Yes, to a trip to the library...

He came home and read three of these A to Z Mysteries!

Yes to a picnic...

Yes, to an excursion down by the creek...

Yes, to football...

My favorite part of the day was listening to my boys' conversations.  Two excerpts...

at Wal-Mart...Philip: Trust me I know everything.
Daniel: No you don't.
Philip: Sure I do.
Daniel: What does God look like?

in the backyard...Philip and I snuggled on the couch reading our own books...other three in the treehouse about to "eat" a feast cooked on the grill.
William: First we need to bless it.
Daniel singing: Johnny Appleseed, Johnny Appleseed...you are good...you are good.  But Jesus is gooder, God is more powerful.  You are good...you are good.

Not sure where he got that from, but it was really cute listening to him sing it!!

Springbreak 2013 - Monday

No trips for the Gill boys this year.  My one goal of this springbreak is to simply say "yes" whenever one of the boys asks me to do something.  So often I have to say "no" because there is just too much work that must get done.  So this week...yes.

Yes, to starting our morning off on the porch with Harry Potter.

Yes, to a water gun fight.

Yes, to playdate with friends.

Yes, to bubbles.

Yes, to me playing kickball and H-O-R-S-E.

Yes, to ending our day with Harry Potter on the porch.

Yes, yes, and more yes to come!

Welcome Happy Morning!

My favorite Easter hymn...and I got to sing it in my favorite church...well, close to it.  Irving Hall.  It was good to be home today.

But I get ahead of myself.  Chris and I started out early with a cup of coffee in the dark on the porch.  It's a rarity because generally on the weekends we relish the time for a long run.  Today we just enjoyed the quiet and each other.  Soon, we heard some noise and came inside to find all four boys pouring through their Easter baskets!!

Time to play, hunt eggs in the yard, and off to church.

Finally home for dinner.  I cooked my first ham!  And thankfully, everyone else brought sides.  A great meal. Great family.  Truly blessed this Easter and always.

I'll end with this.  You can only keep little boys dressed up for so long!