And the Thunder Rolls

So we have had some pretty crazy weather around here lately. Tueday night it honestly got a little scary. We were lucky and it went a little north of us, but you could see some pretty intense clouds from my back porch.  Not sure that I ever care to see the sky like that again.  Here are a few of the pics I took from my basement door.

Spring Flowers

April showers bring May flowers!  After all the rain we have had I hope our May flowers are amazing!!  I am sure they will be since our April flowers have been pretty beautiful.  I love all the spring flowers! 

Peace!

I found another egg!  Guess you can tell what I was doing during the kids egg hunt at Papa and Grans!

Easter at Gran & Papa's

I Love Easter! I love spending Easter morning at church with my family celebrating our Savior!  I love sharing the story with my children.  As I read it to them out of their children's Bible Saturday night I got all teary eyed and covered in goose bumps.  Oakley said, "Mommy are you crying?"  It does that to me every time!  I can't even comprehend what Jesus went through and as a mother I can't imagine the pain Mary felt, but I do know that I am so blessed to have a Savior that died for my sin and then rose again!  Here are the lyrics to one of my all time favorite songs...this song says it all.

Chris Tomlin
Amazing Love

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again.

Amazing love,
How can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love,
I know it’s true.
It’s my joy to honor You,
In all I do, I honor You.

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again.

You are my King
Jesus You are my King

 

Here are a few pics taken after church at my Mom and Dad's house.

My three beautiful babies!

My Family...I think it is impossible to get one of us all looking and smiling!

Me and my younger sister and brother.

Miss Lakelyn in my old rocking chair.

Avery's favorite pose for pictures these day!

Oakley LOVES to work puzzles.  I hear his Daddy was the same way as a little boy.

Patiently waiting for Papa, Daddy and Uncle Goose to finish hiding the eggs.

Avery is always ready to help Oakley out. Excuse his flowery basket, we were running late for church and forgot to grab their Easter baskets so we had to use what Gran had laying around!

She was on a mission!

He finally found a stash in the opposite direction from Avery!

Lakely watching all the action from one of her favorite spots!

The Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny made it to the Strader household again and let me tell you...the kids were so excited!  I love the squeals, laughter and excitement in their voices when they realized that he had filled their baskets full of goodies!  Out little sweet tooth, Oakley, had half his candy ate before we even left for church!  One thing is for sure, getting the kids out the door in time to make it to Sunday School is hard enough on a regular Sunday, but it is absolute madness on Easter Sunday.  Thankfully, we did get there with our sanity intact and we were only a few minutes late!

Before the kids dug in!

Oaks checking out his loot!

Lakelyn trying to figure out what all this was about!

Avery checking out her basket.

Look at that face!!  He cracks me up!

And that face too!  Avery read that entire book to me a few nights ago!  I am so proud of how good she is reading.  It is truly amazing to watch your kids learn!

This was Lakelyn's favorite thing in her whole basket!

The aftermath!

Easter Fun

Last Saturday was spent at our church Easter Egg Hunt.  There were games to play, cupcakes to decorate, movies to watch, crafts, and of course the great Easter Egg hunt.  It even held off raining long enough for kids the have the egg hunt outside.  As always, the kiddo's had a blast! 

Oakley decorating his cupcake.

Avery putting the sprinkles on with NO icing.  Avery says she is allergic to icing...she really does not like the stuff! 

Daddy and Lakelyn hanging out during the new Veggie Tales Easter movie.

Partners in Crime!

Lakelyn and Piper...these two are going to be great friends!  Lakelyn kept trying to grab Miss Piper so I had to hold her hand back and she was not happy about that!

Miss Lakelyn trying to mess with whatever Avery is doing.  She try's so hard to keep up with Avery and Oaks.

Our Tie-dye Easter Eggs

Oakley's before he made it Tie-dyed

Avery's and Oakley's fingers were all different colors by the time we finished.

Kittens

Well it's official, my kiddo's are smitten...absolutely in love with the baby kittens at my Mom and Dad's house!  I do have to say, they are pretty precious.  Avery and Oaks have already picked theirs out along with one for Lakelyn.  However, Daddy is not very keen on the idea of us having kittens running around here.  Mom and Dad said that they will keep them at their house, but I have a feeling with enough sweet "Pleeeese Daddy's" from two cute kids I know, he will probably cave!  Although, I am putting the limit at two...I am sure Lakelyn won't really mind.  :) 

Little Lakelyn wanted to get her hands on that kitten so bad!!  She kept getting mad because Papa wouldn't let her grab it!