We had a wonderful spring break!!

Gary had Thursday, Friday, and Monday off to give us almost a week of Daddy time. We decided this year to get a science center membership instead of a zoo membership for Christmas. Through a friend we also discovered that through a hotel rewards card you earn free rooms. You get one free just for signing up and we had not used that yet. So we decided to go to Columbus and spend Thursday at COSI and then stay overnight in a hotel! The kids were great on the drive and it was nice to not be in a rush to get someplace at a certain time. We ate when we arrived and then did a few of the exhibits. No offense to the amazing city of Cleveland but this science center is rated #1 for a reason! We all really enjoyed it! I liked that there were a lot of families there so the adult to kid ratio was wonderful. (Though in those situations I also wonder if kids are better or worse behaved with parents than with teachers? Hmmm...) Everyone was polite, and the center was very well staffed. I love that the kids are like sponges at this age. I love these types of trips because I consider myself very below average when it comes to scientific knowledge! The information is right there for you and so much of it is hands-on. We left when they closed and fought a little traffic to get to our hotel, but it was an easy drive. Our hotel room was wonderful! The kids just love hotels and so do we. Too bad they cost so much money! :) I made us sandwiches and snacks for dinner and then we went swimming at the indoor pool which the kids also loved! After baths Gary was drying Grace's hair and Esther climbed into the tub!! It was one of those parenting moments where you correct while you try to refrain from laughing!! Here at home we have a stand alone shower and a claw foot tub Grace can't even get into herself so it never occurred to me Esther could climb in! She was so proud of herself and then sad that we were not so impressed. After an active day it took the kids awhile to wind down but once they fell asleep they slept really well all night. They got up at 6:30 as usual to use the restroom and I made them go back to bed! I said this is vacation! Lay down and rest! We got up around 8, had breakfast and eventually got on the road. I had hoped to possibly stop at P. Graham Dunn on the way home and do a tour but I did not think of it in time to get us there in time for a tour. SO that goes on the list of future field trips. We did stop at the Amish style buffet and ate way too much.

Josh and Lia were in town for Easter so we went to the Bush's and got to visit with them a little extra. I was glad we did that rather than trying to get up and get to the science center for a few hours before the drive. It's such a blessing to get to visit with them and for all of us to be together as a family. Sadly, none of us took any pictures this visit so when we see them again later in the summer we will have to make SURE we get some taken!! The service at church that night was wonderful- minus the constant noise of my three kids disrupting everyone- and I enjoyed it very much. I knew I would be serving in the nursery on Easter so I was glad to get to enjoy a worship experience, plus we had communion. Tyler showed just how much he looks up to his pops by joining him while he passed the communion plates. I was (of course) embarassed, but it did show his heart which I treasure. Oh how that boy challenges me! He did not obey me as he was not sitting quietly in his seat, but his heart needed encouraging!

That night I made sure to get us mostly unpacked, and get the carpets scrubbed and then I fell into bed exhausted! Saturday brought T-ball for the boys and cleaning for us girls. The final scramble to declutter, clean, and prepare for hosting Easter is as fun as it is crazy. I truly love hosting Easter and having everyone here together. Having so much family willing to travel here and spend the holiday here means the world to me! Josh and Lia came over around lunch to spend some time and then the boys decided to go play golf with their dad! ACK! What about the stuff I needed from the store?! Oh well! Lia and I did some work in the kitchen and visited which was one of the highlights of the weekend for me. I love you Lia! She's just such an amazing woman. She's like a female version of Joseph- everything she touches, God blesses! She's such an encouragement to me and I just love the NC Bush's! I love that the four (or 7) of us can spend such quality time together. They were headed out to spend some time with Mom and Dad (Steph worked till mid-afternoon) just as my mom was arriving which worked out well. Gary headed to the store (finally!) and we got busy on what we could accomplish. I love when my mom is here! We cleaned and organized more and got the kids toys cleaned up, we made the cakes, potatoes and the eggs, had dinner, set the tables up, filled the plastic eggs, watched the Cosby show and were in bed by 10!

Sunday morning was the usual scramble. I never remember Gary's being on worship team means he won't be here for hte last 40 minutes of the getting ready process. Then I wasted a half an hour hunting through the house for dress socks for Tyler only to remember when I got downstairs that I had bought him sandals!! Between Gary and Mom the kids were ready to go long before I was! She also made the salad, got the potatoes ready and I'm pretty sure we both did the bathroom floor. :) I try not to think about Easter Sunday without her.

Mom served in the nursery with me and we had 7! That's a huge number for us! I hope that means that the service was full and went well. I hope they recorded the sermon so I can listen to it soon. When we got home we had some relax time since everything was ready, and that was nice. Joshua, Shannon, Victoria, Grandma and Grandpa Cline, Aunt Toots, Pap, Gary and Stephanie all joined us and we fellowshiped and ate and just had a wonderful time together. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and we had more than enough food (yay!) and the kids loved the Easter egg hunt! I am excited for next year when Victoria will be running with them! She was crawling all over and loved the eggs! She's so sweet and I love spending time with them! I am blessed to have TWO amazing and wonderful sister in laws! Like Lia, Shannon challenges and encourages me and I love that we are getting to know each other better. I love you Shannon!! After everyone left Gary, mom and I watched the newest Harry Potter on DVD and it was so awesome! I loved it in the theater and loved it that night too. I can't wait for July! :)

I was sad that evening to realize we had not taken ANY family photos and also NO photos of the three kids, or the four kids. :( My dad and Grandma hope to come Saturday, so I think we'll all wear our Easter clothes again and get pictures then. :) It won't be Easter Sunday, but it will be April 2011!

Monday was just a fun family day. We did the library lunch together, the guys had t-ball in the afternoon. It was just relaxing and enjoying the clean house. :) What a wonderful weekend! Thank you Gary for taking the days and not going into work, and for only working a little from home! Thank you Lord for a wonderful family and time to spend together.