We Love Easter

We had a great trip to Pittsburgh to visit my inlaws. Easter is a pretty relaxed affair (once my inlaws are done working... they are respectively pastors of two area Lutheran Churches)

once we had all worshiped together we came home and stuffed our faces! lets just say that Grandma can cook!

We didn't take enough pictures... I realize that we got no one in their easter finery and we left town without a single new picture of my adorable niece Grace. This always happens!

This picture is Matt's mom, Barbara, holding Emily who is the little sister (by way of remarriage of their mom) to our two boys Seth (left) and Maris (right). The lady in the front is my mom, Dorothy.

Since we all hang together (first and second wife, and first wife's second husband and their daughter, Matt, our boys, uncles, aunts, cousins and grandparents) You would need a cast list to keep them all straight... lets just say it was tons of chaos, tons of food, and tons of fun!

Now if I could just loose the million pounds I put on this week, I might even post a picture of me with my family!

Other great news we got was a phone call from my dad letting us know that he had landed safely in Dubai and that he will be home next sunday.

It is a huge relief that he will be out of harms way. Even though he did not go near combat in Iraq and was just rebuilding telecommunications infrastructure, it scared me to death to think of him living in a place that could be hit by a rocket without warning.

Lots of prayers have gotten us through this last 18 months!

Spring Break!!!!!

What could be cooler than a week off to spend catching up on all of the things we never get the chance to do! Even though the break technically begins tomorrow, we have already been caught up in the spirit. Matt has washed all the carpets and washed all the floors and even cleaned all of the windows, the kids even (kind of) cleaned their rooms. I made the kitchen spotless and perfect too (for about 5 minutes until we needed to use it again)

We also got the honor of babysitting our sons' little sister over night on Saturday. She is two and a total doll. Our unusually cordial ex-spouse/new spouse relationship is one of the true joys of my life. Without the firm foundation of mutual respect and friendship between all four parents, we could not offer our boys the stability and comfort the deserve. I can claim no credit for this blessing... it is all a gift. I will have to write a bit more about Laura another day. I don't think I ever thought when I was growing up that one day one of my favorite people would be the first wife of my beloved husband... just goes to show that life is a funny old thing.

The rest of the week should be pretty calm, if I am a very good girl I will go to Yoga three times... heavy emphasis on the "if". Then we are heading up to Pittsburgh for the holiday so that we can be spoiled rotten by my mother in law... Hands down the best Easter ham going!!

I love my job, but I have to say that I am pretty fond of the vacations we get from teaching too :)

Mason is here!!

After 12 hours of hard work, Mason came into the world last night and made his Mommy and Daddy the happiest and cutest family around!!

Big congrats to Misty and Beau!!!!

Today will be Mason's Birthday!!!

Mason Juniper Sherman is on his way into the world. His mommy Misty just texted me to say they are heading to the hospital!!

I have a parent meeting at 1:30 then I am going too!!!!

I can't wait to meet this fantastic addition to our family of friends!!!

His beautiful Momma is the one on the left. The other lovely lady, Rachel, is Momma to my sweetest girls Ella and Sophie.