Mimi Takes a Trip to Salem, WV

Dear Amber and Jesse,

Thanks for the fun and the memories, and for introducing me to "the Ladies."  The whole weekend was too fast, so I'll have to come again.  Now that I know how to gather eggs and feed them "chicken candy," I can actually be of some use!  :)  Love you!

Truly it was fun, and here is a sample:

This is Gladys Knight and the Peeps.

Just Kidding.  I think they have names, but I can't remember them. 

This one may be called "Rosie."  Or was it "Ruby"?
I never was very good with names!

Look what our brilliant granddaughter did with a few bricks...

...and these tools...

She created this beautiful fire ring!!
OK.  She might have had a little help from her daddy.

Then, Amber and Jesse shared their inaugural fire with me,
while we waited to see the Aurora Borealis...that never botheredto show itself.  Bummer.  But the fire was nice!
The S'mores were yummy!
(Joel, singing "Kum Ba Ya" was NOT required.)

"Painting" with Mimi

You've got to love left-over Easter candy :)

With all of these sleepless nights,
there MUST be another tooth in there!

"Too high, Daddy!!"
"Do it again, Daddy!!"

Daddy makes the BEST horsey.  Go Jesse!

The best thing about waking up is NOT Folgers in your cup.
It's cuddling with your daughter in a wrap big enough for two!
:)

Good-byes don't have to be ALL tears...

...there can be "good-bye smiles," too.

Thanks for reading!

Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!!

What a wonderful weekend!

Little Sister, Lynn, arrived Thursday evening, where she stayed with Mama and Pop.  Let the Easter Family Reunion begin!

Jessie and Richard arrived first on Friday evening.  Joel and Kimmy arrived a couple of hours later.  Amber, Jesse, Lily and Emma arrived about an hour later.  Amber and Jesse were generous enough to let us all give Lily and Emma some loving before they had to go off to bed.  It was HOURS past their bedtimes.  Lily didn't like the idea of going to bed, but getting to sleep in Uncle Joel's bed helps a little.  Emma doesn't care where she sleeps, she just fights it till sleep wins!

Anyway, we had a weekend filled with family!  Saturday morning found Mark and Jessie running 10 miles together, while Richard ran about 14 miles...while the rest of us let them!  :)  There was a run for the ones in training for the Carmel, IN, half-marathon later in April.  There was food.

There were visits from Family Friend Courtney who is leaving later this month for mission work in Alaska! Mark's dad and his wife Pat came to visit, and so did Mark's sister Terri.  During that visit, my sister, Lynn (visiting from Florida) brought my folks over for a visit.  Joel and Kimmy made Cincinnati Chili (or was is "Skyline Chili"...or is there any difference?) for lunch.  Afterward, we had a visit from some of the Hildebrand counsins, who have new twins!  (Only baby food was served at this time of the visiting.)  There was some kite-flying with "Poppo (Mark) and Lily.  After kite-flying, Grandpa, Pat and Terri all had to leave.  :(  None of us like saying good-bye.  Later, Jessica and Richard made "Spaghetti Pepperoni Pizza" for dinner.  After desserts of ice cream, brownies, and some scrumptious oatmeal (health-food) cookie bar that involved chocolate, we all waddled off to bed.

Easter Sunday, the day we celebrate Christ's Resurrection was a wonderful reminder that no matter what we go through in this life, the Life Eternal can be spent with Jesus if we simply put our faith in His Resurrection Power.  He will take care of the rest!

After our various church services, we gathered at Primrose to celebrate more family time over...you guessed it...more food!  Lamb for the lamb lovers and ham for the ham lovers, and delicious, Sandford Family traditional side dishes for everyone.  And I think that we will all be sorry to see the Waymans and the Paganos move away from Muncie, where the most delicious Cake (the name of which escapes me just now) can be found.  The Waymans have brought it the last two Easters.

Then, our family time had to break up, as all of the younger out-of-town members had to return to their abodes.  That's always the hardest part of these family gatherings.  However...

...we will look forward to our next gathering!  Boston, or Bust!!

Thanks for reading.

P.S.  Amber, I don't want you to feel bad about being late with updates, anymore.  Easter weekend was TWO FULL WEEKS ago!  :-*