Easter Weekend

He is Risen!!
Today we celebrate the life we have in Jesus Christ through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection.  Lord, I pray I can live a life that reflects what you've done FOR me, THROUGH me and IN me.  Thanks Pdan for those nuggets of truth today.



This was a fun family weekend.  Michael mentioned today how nice it is to hear our three kids talking and laughing together in the other room.  We colored eggs and ate chocolate/peanut butter eggs.  Michael roasted a leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic on the grill.  YUM!

BTW -The only kind of peanut butter egg you should ever waste calories on are the homemade ones we get from a church in Pennsylvania.  I have a friend hooked on them and included her in my order this year.  She now has shared with others.  Wonder how many we'll need to reserve next Easter.

I am feeling somewhat better but not 100% and am frustrated with my slow recovery from this bout of bronchitis, etc.  Trying to rest, listen and learn.  hmmmm

My favorite pics from the weekend.

Meagan is a "ham" and she prepares to help Mr. Bill glaze the ham.

The Playground is UP

Thursday I went to pick up Kelsie for Easter break.  The kids and I spent the day with Grandma and came home after dark.  Michael made great progress while we were gone.  I hope he enjoyed the quiet time.  I was so pleased that he took pictures of his progress as he worked.

To see the reassembly complete when we arrived home was AMAZING!!! 

With rain predicted for this afternoon and most of the weekend I hoped that I could paint some early this morning.  With my cough that wakes me promptly at 4:30 most days, I didn't worry about the alarm.

By 8 am I was dressed and out with the paint.  Michael and Mason helped and we planned to stop painting at least 2 hours before the rain.  We made it.  I stopped at 10:06 and at 12:15 I noticed the rain had begun.  This is what we did today.

Painted the swing beam and tightened bolts.

Leveled the a-frame and filled the hole.

Replaced a few rusty bolts.

Added pirate accessories.

Had a little pirate fun in our pj's.  (only Mason wore his pj's to play)

Will have to wait for dry weather to finish the rest.

Playground Progress

Finally a dry day.  Michael was able to make notable progress on rebuilding the playground with some help from friends.  I did some painting a few nights ago to test the color on the slide support rails and the new ladder frames.  We decided we can paint the larger pieces after assembly as well.

Deep concentration?
I really like the color no matter what the facial expression shows.

Reconstructing the ladders.

Wow, they're strong!!!

And now we're ready to flip the tower over.

We're expecting sunny weather today.....more progress to come.

Look what I found!

Dear nephew, I found this camera card that you left when you visited my house last summer.  The card would not read and I was going to restore the pictures and send them to you.

Well it has taken me 9 months but I did it.  I came across the card this morning and was delighted to pop it in the card reader and see all of the photos.   The pictures are in the mail to you this week.

Here are a few reminders of your trip to Maryland.  I hope you get to visit again sometime.

You helped us celebrate Mason's 4th birthday.
Cake for everyone!!!

 You went to see a Baltimore Orioles baseball game 

at Camden Yard with Ray and Uncle Mike.

Before church.

After church

Proud Mama

Another sick day

Well the last two days have kicked me hard.  I've been sick with upper respiratory infections for the past 2 weeks but have not improved as needed.   I began my third round of antibiotics yesterday in addition to other meds and I know that rest is going to be my friend.  I'm just not a "sitter".  I'm always busy, doing something.

In true Donna and Meagan style, we had each day of spring break planned out for fun, fun, fun.
Yesterday was shopping day and instead of shopping for clothes for Meagan, I shopped for prescriptions and movies and comfort food all to be enjoyed from the recliner.  (Meagan you know we'll go shopping soon.)

Today is zoo day.  My family is at the zoo today and I am missing being there with them.  So I thought I would think about a recent fun family day we enjoyed.  Earlier this month, to celebrate our  22nd wedding anniversary we took the kids (yes, even the big one) to see the circus.

 What a fun day!  I had never been to the Barnum and Bailey Circus.  I expected more animals than we saw.  I expected it to be smelly.  (that's my memory of our last trip to the circus.)  I expected the girls to be bored.  We all had fun.  Meagan got her cotton candy, Kelsie got her popcorn and Mason got whatever was flashing in front of his eyes at the time.  The performers were fantastic.  It was like a Broadway show with singing and dancing and amazing stunt entertainment.
Guess that's why it's called "The Greatest Show on Earth".

We cheered and clapped and talked about our favorite parts all the way home.  Mason's favorite was the motorcycles in the sphere.  Mine was the flying trapeze show.

Once home we shared crabs on the deck with some neighbors ~ Our first crabs of the year.  It was a chilly night but warm enough with a jacket and the crabs were sooo yum.

Happy 22 years Michael.  I love you and your commitment to our family.  Thanks for taking the kids to the zoo today.  I hope it's a day you won't forget.

Tomorrow is pedicure day and Kelsie comes home.   I have high hopes to join in the plans.  Will have to wait and see.  Until then, I will be content........

Here's that guy I met and married so many years ago.  

I love ya babe!  You're my HERO!!!

Wow, it's been a while!

Almost 2 months since my last post.  I'm so tired of saying "I've been busy."  That's our life.  We love to live life to the fullest.  And sometimes it gets hectic but we take it one day, sometimes one moment, at a time.

This week is spring break for the kids, vacation week for me.  No, we're not traveling.  Just slowing down the pace a little and doing fun stuff we enjoy.  The zoo, pedicures, gardening, maybe a little vacuuming and getting over our spring time sinus infections (Mason and I have been 1/2 power for about 2 weeks now - UGGH).

Michael is working on a new playset for Mason (and Meagan) this week.

We've been "shopping" for this playset since the end of last summer.  Reading online reviews and visiting showrooms where you can play, climb and slide all you want, even the BIG kids.  The one we all liked was over $5,000.  Of course, delivery and installation was included in that fantastic price.  HA!  I found it easier to shop craigslist when I knew the buzz words and what we liked.    I checked most every day for new posts and emailed a few only to find them snatched up immediately.

Several weeks ago we found an incredible price for the exact set we'd been looking for.  It was several years old and we would have to disassemble and haul it home but $200 is $200.  By the time I entered the picture, the bidding had gone up to $350.  Because I was prepared with cash on hand at my "look" appointment....SOLD.



Mason played around on it and loved it.  Didn't balk at the "used" condition once.

Michael took a Monday off work, we borrowed a truck and with tools in tow, we set out to retrieve our purchase.

We took it apart in large sections, bagging the hardware for each joint and marking and making notes as we could.

Mason enjoyed most of the time helping Daddy.  It took three hours to disassemble and load so he was a little irritable from time to time wondering why it was taking sooooo long.

Once we got down to the supports that touch the ground, we found some rot due to insects nesting in the wood.  Michael felt he could replace those pieces and didn't really seem concerned about it.

We loaded the truck and got home and poor little man really thought it was going right up in the back yard.  Well, first Daddy had to take down the old swingset that was cemented into the ground.  Then more inspection of the new set.  And with opinions from various neighbors Michael had a plan and a list for the hardware store.

Then the rain came.  I wish I had a picture of my man sawing those pieces in the rain.  I wasn't home but when I arrived I could smell that lovely fresh cut wood smell through the raindrops.  He said that he made a lean-to of sorts and measured and cut in the downpour.  He's a very determined Papa.

The Sunday sunshine was glorious and after church we got back to work.  Our friend, Bob came down to see what was going on and helped out with some consulting, drilling and a run to the store.  I was in charge of cleaning the ladder rungs and doling out hardware as needed.

Mr. Bob fits in well at our house with his Penn State hat.

Mason LOVES to measure.

Removing old slide supports.

Now the slide supports are replaced and the rung ladder frame is drilled out and ready to be put back together.  Maybe I'll help out with some staining while it's still in pieces.