Easter Parties :)

I don't remember having SOOO MANY class parties when I was little... well, maybe it's because I didn't grow up in this country. Anyhow... here are some fun pictures of Seth and Abby's Easter class parties. I can't get to Isaac's to take pictures, because the little ones still nap and Isaac's parties are always in the afternoon. So... sorry, Isaac!


Seth is putting his name on the cross.


Abby's PJ Breakfast Party!!!


Mrs. Wyckhouse is in her PJs too :)


Abby got smuggled into Seth's party... sitting in the corner eating a Jello egg :)


Waffles... yum!!!

Psalm 23 Chapel

The kindergarden class recites the beloved 23rd Psalm in a special chapel time around Easter each year. This is Seth's year to shine :) He has worked very hard to make sure that he had every verse memorized just perfectly. He was the 2nd person in his class to recite it to the class with no helps.

Good job, Seth!!! We are so proud of you!

*** Seth is wearing red, in the back row, right in the center ***

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!!!

We had beautiful "Home Going" celebration for Grandma Molly and Grandpa Louie on Saturday. How amazingly blessed we are to have been included in the lives of these two very special faithful servants of God.



Thank you, Grandpa & Grandma for leaving us such a beautiful 70-year-long love story and the legacy of your heart and service for the Lord. Thank you for showing us what "love" looks like and for always holding hands :) Thank you for all the stories and rhymes, Grandpa. Grandma, thank you for always having perfect nails and beautiful jewelry. Thank you for pouring your love, lives, and wisdom into the children that God had entrusted to you. Thank you for your tiredless prayers for each one of us -- for hurting with our hurts and for celebrating our accomplishments. Thank you for holding and loving on all your great grand kids... even when they are loud or squirmy!



I will always cherish in my heart my time with both of you, especially your time in Yorba Linda. Grandma, I will remember how your eyes tracked with Abby and the special smile that you gave her when she was singing all her little songs to you (with hand motions and all!), two days before you went to heaven. I know that must have taken a herculean effort, thank you!!! I loved that day when I came over to see you (maybe a year and a half ago?) and we sang and cried through all the old and favorite hymns together for what seemed like hours!!! I would love to do that with you again in our glorified voices :)

And Grandpa, thank you for being patient with Isaac and Seth in playing checkers! I know that they will have vivid memories of playing checkers (using the right rules) with their Great Grandpa! Do you remember what you said to me the first time Matthew brought me to meet you? As soon as you found out my name, you said, "... Oh! You are Alice from Dallas, living in a palace, drinking from a challis... and full of malice!" You are a BIG IMPRESSION maker, and I love it!!! Thank you for putting up with the strange Chinese girl that always comes waltzing into your house at Sunrise, calling you "Grandpa" and acting like she belonged... usually with a kid or more. I will really miss those "...hey kids, let's swing by and say hi to Great Grandpa & Great Grandma!" visits... but, I guess it only right that you should still be chasing the love of your life even after all these years :)

So, I guess this is "See you later, Grandpa & Grandma!" My heart hurts especially for Dad and rest of your kids, but it rejoices for your permanent residence in Heaven. I am thankful, that beyond the shadow of a doubt, that you are in heaven. I am grateful that He called you and that you answered. I thank God that He allowed you both to live lives with Christ as the center and as your personal Lord and Savior. We love you and will miss you deeply.

Mr. Reliable

Isaac was selected as the Student of the Week for the character trait of "reliability". He was selected last year, in 1st grade, for the same character trait! What can I say, I guess the teachers all recognize him as Mr. Reliable in class :)

Good job, Isaac! Mom and Dad are very proud of you for displaying the character trait of RELIABILITY. We thank God that you take your responsibilities seriously and that other people to count on you to do what you say. We pray that you will continue to allow God to develop you into who He would like you to be. Keep memorizing all those verses, typing up sermon notes, and reading the Bible!!! You are a great big brother. Continue to pray for God's help in being a good example to your siblings and making wise choices.

We'll miss you, Grandma Molly

Early Sunday morning, our beautiful-sweet-spunky Grandma Molly went home to heaven. I told Matthew that I imagined her dancing the Charleston on the streets of gold. I am sad that Grandpa Louie didn't have the opportunity to say goodbye -- for he is also fighting for his life, at the hospital, away from Grandma. 70 wonderful years of marriage and a beautiful legacy. I'm thankful that God chose for me to be married into this family. I'm thankful that my children are able to have some memories of their Great Grandparents. I'm thankful that when we visit, Abby always sang her favorite songs to Great Grandma and that Isaac and Seth would always recite their latest memory verses to her.

When we told the kids about Grandma going to heaven, Seth said, "She went on Sunday? Oh, that is a good day to go to heaven, cuz she could just worship God there!" I love how when the kids pray for Grandma and Grandpa, they pray, "... help Great Grandpa to feel better and thank you that Great Grandma got to go to heaven..." Thank you, Lord, for sharing Grandma and Grandpa with us for all these years!

We love you, Grandma! We are praying for you, Grandpa!

Happy Birthday... to me!!!

My sweet sweet children treated me to a Special Surprise Breakfast the Saturday before my birthday! I was so proud that my 8-year-old and 6-year-old could actually pull off cooking breakfast for the family (with the exception that we were running really low on Bisquick, so Matthew helped them get the right amount of flour in the batter to make things stretch)! The boys got up early and went straight to work :)

The table was all set with "name cards"!




We had a delicious breakfast of oatmeal, 3-berry-pancakes, toast, and bacon. I think Abby helped with setting and clearing the table. It was so much fun!!! A perfect start to a beautiful weekend :)

Happy Birthday... to me!!! Part II

If you are like me, now that I'm all "grown up", I tend to down play my birthday. Well... that is probably possible if you don't have children :)


This morning, I was greeted by all 3 of my kids' cold feet on my thigh in my warm cozy bed with shouts of "Happy Birthday, Mommy!!! You turn 38 TODAY!" Well kids... thank you very much, now that our whole neighborhood knows what day it is and how old I am...


This evening, Matthew took us to dinner at Mimi's Cafe. Mom and Bethany (and kids) came to make it a party! It was fun to celebrate with family. I am so spoiled that we have family close by and that we get to see them every week (at least in passing) at church.







WE LOVE YOU, MOM!!!