#3, #61, and #108

Last Saturday we packed lunch and headed to Hatcher Gardens intending to picnic there (#3 Picnic at Hatcher Gardens & Woodland Preserve) before the storms came in. However, they were having their big annual tree sale including police directing traffic and lots of orange cones. So we nixed that idea.

We drove on to Duncan Park and picnicked there. Sometimes I forget how easy it is to get out and have a ball as a family. Some swings, strawberries and sandwiches and we are set.

Sienna really enjoyed the strawberries

Kelley holding Rhys


Last night we employed both sets of grandparents to help with the kids so J & I could go on a DATE! It was wonderful. We ended up at Wild Wings (#108 Go and eat some wings at Wild Wing Cafe while watching all the sporting events on the big screen) where I ate wings for the first time! Then we strolled through Music on Main (#61 Spend your Thursday night downtown listening to a live band during Music on Main). The band was good and the people in togas were even better. I tried to take a picture with our old camera that we have since gifted to Kiran to be hers.

Actually it probably looked like that to a lot of the people there.

We are planning to head downtown to Spring Fling tomorrow. Anyone else going to be there?

Sunday Afternoon

My mom asked if I was ever going to blog again now that I've stopped pumping. That's right- I've stopped pumping because we are fully nursing. There is the proper way to wean off pumping which is to slowly replace pumped feeds with nursings. Then there is the Kelley way- one Tuesday afternoon decide you are DONE pumping and go tandem from there. It was painful but the pain is *mostly* gone.

So I don't have much time to blog these days. Jonathan says I can just put up pictures without words since that's what people want anyway. So I'll probably stick to that plan for a while.

We three slept like that for an hour or so on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. I could not be more blessed.

Bonus points if you know which baby is which.

Two Months

Two months old already

Owen 9lbs 8oz, 22 1/4 in long

Rhys 9lbs 11oz, 22 3/4in long

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)