superheroes

Some days are just more super than others, right?!

Well at Chick-fil-A last week, they had a family night where anyone dressed as a superhero got a free entree. We love Chick-fil-A, and we love free. It doesn't get much better for us! (We're easy to please, too!)

However, small problem.... 

Due to our minimalist habits (at least that's what we tell ourselves), the boys did not have any superhero costumes.

So I googled some ideas to see what I could come up with. I cut up an old t-shirt and made up some DIY costumes in about 15 minutes. (Luke, I think that black shirt was for the guys in your wedding?)

Isaac proceeded to drool all over his shirt, so it was a definite fail. He refused any sort of mask but he loved running around with his cape!

Noah, however, let me pin a letter "N" in a shield to be "Super Noah" and let me put a mask on him as well. (Also from that same t-shirt!) He kept running back and forth around the house with his majestic cape flying behind him, saying "SUPER NOAH!" (great, what did we start...!?)

The boys loved it. We had a great time, got free meals, played with friends from our life group in the playplace, and best of all, Mommy did not have to cook and clean up dinner! =)

playing memory

Most playtime with Daddy is loud, rough, and involves rolling or wrestling. However, the boys enjoy playing games and puzzles with each other and with us, too.

Memory has become a favorite game of late at our house. Noah and Isaac both love to play memory, although Isaac doesn't quite get the strategy yet. We'll give you time, Isaac!

the egg drop

Noah and Isaac were excited about a special egg hunt that happened in our neighborhood this year. A new church plant that is meeting at the elementary school nearby hosted a helicopter egg drop for kids on the day before Easter. The turnout was pretty impressive. There were hundreds of people who showed up, and it was like a giant block party. There were all kinds of things going on such as face painting, a comedy show, music and more.

The helicopter arrived to begin dropping eggs.

There they go!

Another pass or two for the helicopter.

And they're off!

We definitely had a great time, and hope and pray that many people visited the new church for Easter!

making easter eggs

Today we had fun coloring easter eggs with things we already had around the house.

Coffee, spices, teas, cocoa, grape jelly, and cookie sprinkles

(Not sure why my picture won't rotate...)

We dissolved the powders with some hot water in individual mugs and added a splash of vinegar to each mug.

We added boiled eggs carefully.....and waited.

Gotta have cute helpers to do this!

I thought the eggs turned out pretty well for trying this out on the fly.

We got a few speckled eggs (because mommy didn't dissolve the spices enough??). We got a nice variety though. The gray/purple (grape jelly) one on the farthest right says "Noah" that I wrote in white crayon before dipping. Most of the greens are from the cookie sprinkles.

Isaac had fun counting the eggs. He says, "Two, Three, Two, Three...."

The best part was the eggs were on sale and I had a coupon. So a good little 85-cent activity. =)

spring cleaning - pantry, downstairs rooms

Truthfully, I have been losing steam on spring cleaning.

HOWEVER.

I am almost done.

I have been breaking jobs into smaller pieces and doing them as I have time, such as under the sink in the kitchen, weeding beds outdoors, vacuuming under living room furniture, scrubbing kitchen floor, and wiping walls/baseboards in the kitchen.

So here is what is left in my house:

office (big job--mostly organizational), laundry area (easy!), finish living room (windows and toys), kitchen cabinets

-------

The Pantry is the only room I photographed....

Before - the pantry

After - the pantry

---------------

I have a renewed appreciation for those who work as housecleaners. I have realized that because I work 15-20 hours per week and still prioritize time for dates, church, playdates, Bible study, running, reading, and downtime..... I am not a perfect homemaker.

Sometimes my house is a mess.

There is dust on my nightstand, fingerprints on my windows, and scariness at the bottom of my kitchen trashcan.

But most of the time I think we have balance.

My boys are nutritiously fed, dressed in clean clothes, and happy! They know they are loved. I enjoy reading to them, taking them outside to play, and teaching them about God and about academic things.

Maybe one day I will have a perfect house. Not today.