Spring has sprung!

Easter is my very favorite celebration of the year! I try to keep the gospel front and center throughout the year, but it is especially sweet to set aside a day to celebrate the awesome display of God's power in the resurrection of Christ, and the hope that we can have because of it!

So it was a big disappointment that both boys randomly threw up the night before, and couldn't go on Easter morning. Kate and Josh did go, and what could be a sweeter daddy-date on Easter morning...worship with the church and then out to lunch. Here they are in their Easter finest :)

Here's our goldfish Sparkles. It was a party favor from a birthday party a few weeks back. She only lived two weeks, but made a big impression on the kids. They are still asking for her, and now Kate has expanded the requests to include a hamster and a gerbil. Our answer? "NO! We have a pet already and her name is Bailey." Sparkles dying did present a good opportunity to share with the kids about life and death though...

I love the fact that Kate and Carter just enjoy being together. I am blessed to hear the sounds of my children's laughter so often throughout my days (don't get me wrong, there is plenty of whining and crying too, but I much prefer to focus on the laughter)

We went to Carter's friend Sebastian's pirate birthday party. Here's Carter saying "Arrrrgh"

And Hudson's attempt...

Don't stand between this boy and his cupcake. He'll take you down.

Since I couldn't get a shot of the kids on Easter, here's one from the next Sunday. Sometimes I wonder how I could be so blessed that God has entrusted these precious children to me. My heart is so full. Can't wait to see the 4th!!

Kate and Jane Lourcey. She is a little mommy through and through. I love the nurturing spirit God had placed within her. Kate waited all evening to get to feed Jane her bottle, and was obviously very happy when it came time for it :)

Our precious friends Paul and Miranda. They are moving overseas this summer...sad to see them go, but so thankful to call them friends and see what the future holds for them!!

Carter enjoying the Davis' swingset with Phoebe Rhino, one of our small group friends.

Kate and Lana Davis having a big time swinging in these cool chairs. So wish I had an audio for the laughter that went along with this picture...precious.

The Preedy's are here!! You may remember that we stayed with Paul and Megan last summer when Josh and I went on our mission trip to India. They are here visiting for a few weeks as they begin their stateside furlough. It's been so good to see them, and have them in our home. Precious, precious friends. Here is Megan with her youngest son, Levi (4.5 mo). Isn't he a doll?!

Josh reclaimed our porch from the nasty yellow pollen that had completely covered every square inch of it. The boys are so excited they can play out there again!

And here's the latest on the pregnancy...I'm 36.5 weeks and have already started dilating. And I swear I can see my belly growing by the minute :) Doctor said everything is looking good and baby is in position. Won't be long now!! We are beyond excited to meet our newest member of Team Reed!!

Funny story: Kate came up to me this morning and said "Mommy, I like your necklace...and your belly button....it looks like you have a ring on your belly under your shirt." I love my girl :)

Spring Break 2010

Kate and Josh were on Spring Break last week. My mom made a spur-of-the-moment decision to fly up and see us, which was very exciting and most helpful because Josh had a PILE of school work to do over the break. So grateful for how she loves and serves us...she really was a huge help to me, and freed Josh up to get lots of studying done. Plus we had FUN :)

There is a great childrens' museum in downtown Raleigh that we took the kids to one day. It was a whole different experience this time with Hudson running around with the big kids...he's almost technically a big kid now himself!! Last time we went to the museum (last year for Kate's field trip), Hudson rode in the Ergo the whole time. But he was definitely in the mix this trip!! Thankful Mom was with me to help keep tabs on them!

Carter found these crutches in the dress-up section and said "Hey, Mommy, look! I'm like Daddy!!" Guess it reminded him of when Josh had his ankle surgery last fall :)

On the way home. I'm thinking they had fun :)

We try to take each of the kids out on a date as often as we can, but it was an extra special treat for Kate to get to go on a Mimi-date to the Tea Room!! They had so much fun and did a little shopping afterwards. Great way to end a wonderful visit! Love you Mimi!!

Cherry trees in the N. Main median. GORGEOUS.

It wouldn't feel like Spring Break without a trip to the beach, right?! Our sweet friend Rachel Babb invited us to join her mother and Justin at their family place on Sunset Beach for the weekend!! It's a short 3 hour drive and we jumped at the chance to get away! Could not have asked for better weather...it was absolutely perfect.

I wish this picture showed how much sand was all over Hudson. He was covered from head to toe, literally. And didn't mind one bit!

Mrs. Babb let Kate and Carter "clean up" the beaters after making homemade 'cookies and cream' ice cream...yummo!

Kate didn't mind the frigid ocean temps...she was in the water a good bit. I love this sassy girl :)

Love this man so much! (oh, and I'm 34 weeks here)

Rachel was so good to go jump waves with Kate...now that's a true friend b/c the water couldn't have been any more than 60 degrees...brrr...

We had such a great time!! So thankful we got to go...

Yat

Hudson loves hats, or as he likes to call them, "yat". He doesn't care whose hat he wears, although he will pass them out to whoever they belong to. Here he is in one of Josh's...a little big for him, but that won't stop this guy!!

Peek-a-boo!

P.S. We don't usually have the boys' train table in the middle of our living room. But, in the interest of making the best use of our space, we had to eliminate something from their room, and decided to pass the table along to one of our fave families, the Davis'.

The boys had fun playing with it up until the very last moment though :)

Hudson with a 'yat' more his size...actually it is technically Carter's hat, but Hudson has pretty much taken it over as his own.

32 weeks here...can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going by!!

Kate has been taking ballet and tap, and parents got to come observe the class a few weeks ago. She's taken ballet before, but tap is new. She's been working really hard to learn these new skills, and it was fun to see her dance! Their recital is scheduled the same day I'm due, May 15th! Hoping this baby will come early so I don't have to miss it!!

Carter showing off his chest after a brief conversation about differences between boys and girls...fun moments for any parent :)

'Reading' his Bible to Hudson before bed

We had the great privilege of meeting Pastor Johnny Hunt!! He came to preach at a chapel service a few weeks ago, and I got to take the boys up there to meet up with Josh and hear him. SUCH a blessing to us to get to meet him as he is one of our heroes of the faith. We began listening to him fairly soon after we got saved, and he is such a passionate proclaimer of the gospel! It was humbling to meet him in person and be able to share with him how the Lord has used him in our lives to challenge us to go deeper in our faith and love Jesus more.

And I have to laugh when I see this picture, because as we were waiting in line to speak with him after chapel, Hudson randomly walked up to him and hugged his leg while he was talking with a fairly large group of people. His face was so funny!

My sweet Kate at her school's Easter program. She was chosen to have two speaking parts! She had to memorize them, and struggled with some stage-fright the night before the program. But she practiced really hard and delivered her lines without a hitch the day of!! So proud of her!!

Carter loving on Tucker Davis after the Easter program (or as he calls him, "Baby Tutter"). It's sweet to see Carter have such a tenderness towards babies, as he was too young to really care when Hudson was born. But he is going to be a great big brother to Baby Reed when it arrives!!