167. Take a walk on Rails to Trails

A while back, I stumbled across a list of 175 things to do in Spartanburg. It was written to celebrate Spartanburg's 175th anniversary. Since I'm not in a place of life that is conducive to traveling, I've decided to explore the city I'm in. I'm planning to chronicle our activity as we make our way through the list.

We started with the Rail Trail. We actually go here all the time and its one of our favorite parts of Spartanburg. Saturday we went for a walk (Kelley, Owen & Rhys)/jog (Jonathan, Kiran & Sienna) at the Rail Trail. 174 to go!


Sienna and Kiran are in the double jogger while Owen and Rhys are in the Double Snap and Go stroller.

Easter Cookies

My friend in my small group sent us the recipe for Easter cookies and we decided to try them this year. Each step of making the cookies is symbolic for part of the Easter story. We would make part of the cookies...

then Daddy would read the Scripture that went with that step. We got to the part where we put the cookies in the oven and leave them overnight. We talked about how Jesus' friends were sad to leave him in the tomb just like we are sad to leave the cookies. Both of the girls start bawling. Sobbing. Kiran kept saying, "I'm just so sad to leave the cookies." They were still crying when we put them to bed. We walked out hoping we hadn't ruined Easter for the rest of our lives.

Sienna woke up in the morning saying, "Cookie!" and everyone was happy to see the cookies in the oven. Whew. The jury is still out on whether we will do these cookies again next year or not.

Easter Story Cookies

To be made the evening before Easter

• 1cup whole pecans
• 1tsp vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch salt
• 1 cup sugar
• zipper baggie
• wooden spoon
• tape
• Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait till you're half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was Beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1tsp vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar.

Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

Follow Up Article

Yesterday's Herald-Journal ran a follow up article on the boys. You can view it here.

Merritt said I don't put enough pictures of the boys on here. And she's right. Whoops. I'll try to fix that. These pictures are about two weeks old. I don't even think the boys look like this anymore but I wanted to post them.

Owen

Rhys

Rhys

I love this picture because it shows that I can bottle feed them at the same time! That is a huge time saver for me. Also I love that they are doing the same thing with their hands as they eat.

watching the NCAAs with Daddy

Happy Easter

Happy Easter from four little chicks!

(the top of the card says Happy Easter if you can't read it)

Sienna

In the past two weeks, Sienna has become the first Caskey child to:

1. Color on the walls (the back of our front door to be exact)

2. Pull a piece of furniture over on her (just a small table)

3. Set the microwave on fire.

Sorry no pictures of the last two.

Favorite Pictures of 2009

I've had a lot of time at the computer lately while I've been pumping. I've tried to make it a productive time and have been working on a few projects. First I made a photobook of our Hawaii pictures. I should be getting that in the mail any day. Then I needed to organize my 2009 pictures. I decided that while I was going through them, I could pick out my favorites and do a favorite pictures post a la 2007. So here are my top ten for 2009:

Kiran during the snow on Daddy's birthday- March 2

I love how happy Sienna is in this picture plus it was taken while we were on vacation with some of our favorite people, the Hagens.

Cousin Love: Beach Edition

My favorite family picture of the year- at the Reid's annual 4th of July get together

Paradise- the most beautiful place I've ever been- Kalaulau Valley on Kauai

Jonathan after learning to surf at Hanalei Bay Beach

This picture symbolizes so much. I've been friends with each one of these girls since freshman year of college- more than 10 years. Katie, Kelley, Merritt, Lauren, Jill (Erin G was there too but must have left by the time we took this picture). They traveled from NC, DC, Greenville and NC to be at my birthday party. I have the best friends. Plus this was taken at my best birthday party ever- on the rooftop overlooking the Greenville Drive baseball game. And we announced that baby #3 was coming and surprised lots of friends. Except that the surprise was on us because we didn't know at that point that it was twins!

My girls and me at Edisto Beach

These girls bring me such joy. They bring each other joy too. I'm glad they have a sister. I'm glad I had a sister growing up and that we are close now.

And the picture that changed everything!

Happy Due Date!

Today is my due date. The day that popped up on the little due date calculators right after those lines popped up on the pregnancy test. And so began the expectations...

I expected that I would have one baby. I thought the number of our offspring would go from two to three. I didn't expect to get pregnant with twins and double our kids.

I expected that I would be having this one child around now- late March, maybe even early April. Instead of laboring today, I took my 6 week old babies to my OB for my postpartum check up.

I expected that this would be a complication-free pregnancy and delivery just like my other two. I never expected to have a major complication that required in-utero surgery or be admitted to the hospital before delivering.

I expected to spontaneously go into labor. I had gone into labor twice before and I was confident my body would do it again when the time was right. Unfortunately, my placenta had other plans.

I never thought I'd have to have a C-section. And I didn't. Whew. One expectation I didn't have to change.

I never expected to have preemies, to go home without my babies. Empty arms were one of the toughest trials I've ever been through.

So the last few months, my life has been all about changing my expectations. Some expectations I wasn't even aware that I had. Its a hard thing- adjusting expectations. But necessary to thrive in life I think. And now I expect that I will not sleep more than 2.5 hours straight tonight.