Quarantine Easter at Home {2020 edition}

It was a little sad not being in church on Easter Sunday, but we made memories and celebrated the special day.  Easter was definitely not cancelled as many may have claimed.  Easter is about remembering the sacrifice that our Savior made for us all, and we remembered and celebrated together. 

• John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

• Romans 10:9: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

• Matthew 28:5-6: "The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.'"

• John 11:25: "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

The boys each got some special treats in their baskets.  Mostly there was candy filled eggs for the older boys and some books, sidewalk chalk, and bubbles for the little ones. 

Five baskets definitely means I have to be cost conscious.  

The boys were all very appreciative. 

Yes, boys wearing underwear and no pants is a common sight in our house. 

Maggie's special treat was her first peeps which is a tradition I started with Evan.  The soft marshmallow is a safer treat for young toddlers. 

Maggie liked the feel of her sticky, gooey treat. 

Oh Grayson loves his baby sister the best.  

But they all adore her. 

She's a pretty special baby.  I just love her funny faces as she tried her peep.  

Then, Daddy read us all the Easter story. 

We had church in our living room watching our pastor preach from his living room.  Crazy times, but we did have the cutest worship band.  Mattox and Grayson played the guitars while Maggie accompanied on the piano.  Haha! 

Then, Grayson felt more like a drummer, but Maggie took one of his sticks. 

We held two Easter egg hunts.  Mattox and Grayson had their own in the front yard. 

These two do everything together.  Mattox found one on the porch, and Grayson found one in the planter. 

Grayson caught on fast, and I think they found an equal amount of eggs. 

Inseparable brothers. 

Yes, our yard is pretty wild with lots of hiding spots. 

Big brother wanted to help them. 

They found all the eggs! 

The big boys had a separate more challenging hunt in the backyard. Evan found some up high in the tree.  

Still not too big to enjoy an Easter egg hunt.  Of course, he found both prize eggs with money that were meant for each of them.  He found one in a piece of trash, and the rules of the hunt were if you found trash while hunting, you had to pick it up and throw it away.  Haha! 

Brody stayed on the "safer" side of the yard closer to the house.  Haha! Our back yard backs up to a drainage stream that separates it from the woods and is quite wild and natural back there.  We also have a large burn pile that is always full of yard debris and fallen trees and limbs.  We have lost several old or dead trees while living here.  

Happy Easter!  Rejoice!  He is risen! 

Easter Break at Jekyll Island {April 2020}

Although the kids were already doing online learning, they did get a week break from their studies for Easter week.  Since traveling was not an option, our state did start allowing locals to visit beaches for the day although there were restrictions on numbers in a group, lounging on the beach, and closed restroom facilities.  We took the kids for a day out at Jekyll, and it was perfect.  We had the beach to ourselves, and there was a perfect little tide pool for Maggie to play in with warmer water than the ocean.  The ocean water was still a little chilly although Brody didn't seem to mind it.  He is the most water loving of our kids still although I suspect Maggie may be as well.  Our teenager was the only one who got called out by a park attendant (Jekyll Island is a state park) for lounging on the blanket we had brought for Maggie in case she needed to nap.  Sigh.  We are so thankful to at least have beaches close by that we can utilize during these difficult days of social distancing.  I know it is so hard in cities where they have less means of escape to the outdoors.  I have a friend in New York City who posts about their experiences.  They do have to wear masks when they go outdoors although they have enjoyed walks in the quieter and less crowded city and in Central Park.  The city skyline actually looks so beautiful and clear in her photographs, and I am a little jealous she gets to enjoy the city in such a rare state.  Eddie and I kind of got that less busy experience in a very cold January when we visited, but it was a completely different winter scene.  I think we all can benefit from some outdoor therapy during this time.  My motto is "go outside and play!"

My crazy husband posing for his picture, and my message in the sand to mark this memorable occasion. 

Grayson and Maggie really enjoyed their little private pool on the beach.  It was the perfect size and depth for all of them.  

I am so thankful for these crocheted hats from my sweet friend, Kelly, because they have really come in handy lately.  They stay on her head as sun protection better than other hats that blow off in the beach wind.  I think they remind me of fashionable 1920's swim caps women wore.  

My silly boys playing together. 

Maggie crawling off to join her brothers. 

She headed for Evan who she definitely adores.  

My sweet Mattox

Grayson and Daddy didn't seem to mind the cooler water. 

Maggie really enjoyed the muddy sand and definitely ate her share.  Sigh. 

You may notice her dirty mouth from eating sand, but she was very happy.  

There's the lazy teenager "lounging" on the beach like he wasn't supposed to be.  I was busy watching Maggie and the younger boys playing, and Daddy was in the ocean with the others most of the time. 

Brody will always be my water-loving baby. 

I think Maggie will be my sand and dirt loving baby. 

I love watching my boys playing together.  

Maggie showing us her silly tongue. 

And we always stop for a treat for the drive home.  Yum, Chick-fil-a frosted coffee is the best!  

Mattox's Out of this World 5th Birthday

Mattox has definitely developed an obsession with Buzz Lightyear, spaceships, and going to the moon.  Those are his favorite topics to talk about.  With a child who does not talk very much, you want to do anything you can to encourage his communication.  He had received a Buzz Lightyear action figure earlier in the year to encourage him, and after Christmas, we had discovered the coolest Buzz Lightyear spaceship that he could "fly."  I had asked him if he wanted that for his birthday, and for the next couple of months, when we would ask him what he wanted for his birthday, he would say "Buzz Lightyear spaceship."  After Christmas, he was also very excited to go back to school, and his teachers and speech therapist were able to get him to talk by offering him incentives like watching Buzz Lightyear videos on their phones.  It was the most progress he made all year.  Can you guess what his birthday theme would be?  Yep, Buzz Lightyear and spaceships!  I know this boy is going places...maybe even to the moon one day!  

Since we didn't have a big party for him, I wanted to splurge a little.  I got him this "lifesized" Buzz Lightyear balloon to party with him.  I also used my newfound trick of blowing up my own balloons for a large bouquet, and that bouquet is still going strong three months later!  I was going for colors that resembled Buzz although my green was a little more teal than his.  

We ate dinner at our customary favorite Mellow Mushroom.  Since Grayson's birthday, the statue outside changed from the giant minion to a cool E.T.  I love E.T. so much that when we visited Universal Studios when Mattox was a baby, I bought him a little E.T. stuffed toy.  We took our E.T. with us to see the big E.T.  The manager of the restaurant was quite impressed.  Sadly, the big E.T. has not been holding up well because he is made of fiberglass instead of metal.  He has several broken fingers and a bandaged arm.  Mattox tells him, "Owwww!" like E.T. says in the movie.  The manager said he would be leaving them and be replaced by a different sculpture soon.  

Mattox was pretending to let E.T. drink from his cup.  There is also a cool Spiderman on the ceiling.  

I just love this kid!  He really is so very special to me. 

He is so special, I could not resist attempting to make him my most fantastical cake yet.  I made him a huge rocket ship like Buzz Lightyear's.  I think Buzz approved. 

I just love all of these boys!  I never would have imagined my life with four boys, but I wouldn't change it for the world! 

Mattox and Buzz defending the galaxy. 

The big 5 year old is ready to blow out his candles. 

He just needed a little help from his teammates.  He actually blows the wrong way so air really isn't coming out.

I was trying to "teach" him the proper way to blow.  

It did kind of make me sad to cut into this cool cake, but the kids all enjoyed it.  

Mr. Grayson likes Buzz too and has Buzz Lightyear sneakers. One of the first real sentences he would say was answering the questions "Who is on your shoes?" and "What do your shoes do?"  He will reply, "Buzz."  and "They light up."  

Mattox is ready to take on the evils of the universe in his very own spaceship.  

We love you to infinity and beyond, Space Ranger Mattox!