Easter Activities Part 2...

Sunday was a full day of activities for our family. Our first priority was celebrating our risen Savior at church. It was a wonderful morning.

We will make Him known
Jesus is alive, He's alive
We will shout it out
Jesus is alive, He's alive

(Alive - Kim Walker-Smith)

We spent the rest of the day at FaFa & Grandma's house. It was a busy afternoon with family pictures, lunch, egg hunt and chocolate bunnies.

Easter Egg Hunt anyone? We went to our church foyer (right next door to Don & Donna's house) for the hunt this year. It was windy and getting ready to rain by the time we were ready to hunt, so we had to have it indoors this year.

Ready to hunt

Last on the agenda for the day was our giant chocolate bunny that our friends the Monks give us every year. It always puts huge smiles on these kids faces. Yum! We each got to take a bag of chocolate home.

Yes, one more part still to come. Part 3 tomorrow.

Easter Activities Part 1...

This past weekend has been full of celebration with the James Family. Birthday parties, coloring and hunting eggs, bunnies, celebrating Jesus' resurrection and being together as a family. Lets get started.

Thursday night we had a birthday celebration for Sarah and Sophia (April 10), Grandma (April 24) and Caleb (May 10).

FaFa got all the girls Tanzanite stone earrings from his recent trip to Africa. It has become a rare gem and is only found in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Saturday afternoon the cousins spent time coloring Easter eggs.

Saturday night Jason, myself, Sarah and Brayden had some family time and we had a chance to give them their Easter goodies from us and PaPa & MeMe. Wreck-it Ralph DVD was a gift from PaPa and MeMe. Brayden also got a Wreck-it Ralph game for his Nintendo DS. Sarah got some earrings and a gift card to Claire's.

A $2 bill.

Wreck-it Ralph DVD, so excited!

What would an Easter basket be without Peeps and chocolate eggs?

Part 2 Coming Soon.

Brayden's Easter Party...

Friday morning Brayden had his class Easter party. Sarah didn't have school, so she was able to go with me. The kids sang two songs for us and then they shared some special snacks and showed off the projects they made for Easter.

The first song was the Chocolate Easter Bunny. The second song is "This is Why We Celebrate", Brayden's favorite. He told me about the song all week long although the video doesn't show his enthusiasm except maybe at the 'la la la".

Mrs. Hayman had the kids each draw an Easter picture at their spot on the table. Brayden's is from the Easter basket and below. I like his flowers, bird, tree and grass.

Right next to his BFF, Jayden

Easter art projects

They have been talking about what Easter is all about at school this week, Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and then on the third day rising again. They have talked about Jesus being our superhero and rescuing us from sin and death. I can tell that Brayden has been thinking about what they are learning because throughout the week he has been randomly come up to me and saying "Mommy did you know Jesus is the King" or "Jesus rose again" or "Jesus is alive". I love that he is thinking about it, talking about it and declaring it.

Daddy's Day...

As I mentioned in yesterday's post Jason and Brayden had Daddy's Day at Brayden's preschool on Saturday morning for an hour.

I love the fact that the school wants to make sure the dads know what is going on at school and has a special day just for them and their child to come and spend time in the classroom. I know Brayden loved the extra time with his Daddy.

They went through the general activities that the kids do during their day at preschool - Pledge of Allegiance, calendar, circle time, craft and play time. For their craft they made marshmallow shooters and had a competition to see who could get theirs in the basket. Cool, right up the kids and dads alley.

I pledge allegiance to the flag...

Mrs. Hayman and Claire showing their class calendar.

Play time with play dough

Play time with Jayden at the sand box

So where is the Daddy in all these pictures? He is behind the camera and forgot to have someone take a picture of the two of them together at Daddy's day. I reminded him that morning to take pictures, which he did an excellent job at. I just should have specified to make sure he got in one of them.

After Daddy's Day at school was over Jason and Brayden had some more bonding time while getting breakfast at McDonald's and running a couple of errands.

What a sweetie, just like that cinnamon roll he is getting ready to eat.

Playing with my old cell phone. Pretending to make calls to his BFF Jayden.

JBQ District Finals...

Yesterday was a full day for our family. Jason and Brayden had Daddy's Day at Brayden's preschool, which I will post about tomorrow. Sarah had her JBQ District Finals all day.

The District Finals were hosted at our Wyckoff church campus, so it was a nice short drive for us but most of the teams travel a couple of hours to come for the day of quizzing.

Sarah's team member and coach were changed up for District Finals. James who was on Sarah's team all last year and this year has been the constant. We love James and his family, the Pettibones. He is a 4th grader who knows his 10 point questions and is just a great kid all around.

James, Ono, Luciana and Sarah

Luciana and Ono were great additions, they all worked together really well. Coach Peter encouraged their team throughout the day constantly giving them pep talks and direction on how to handle questions. You can tell by his enthusiasm and encouragement that he has a heart for these kids and JBQ.

It was a roller coaster day of emotions. District Finals brings all the best teams together, so you have to know your questions and answers, as well as be fast on the buzzer.

At the end of the afternoon they have an awards dinner. Sarah and her team were a part of the Achiever level who learns half of the questions in the book. Sarah placed 17th individually and her team placed 14th. Two of our Master level teams, who learn all the questions in the book, finished 1st and 3rd place. We are so proud of all our kids and how they are learning the Word of God and having fun while doing it.

JBQ Awards Dinner

Friends - Abby, Gabriella, Cayla and Sarah

Two of our teams will be going to Regionals later in April. Sarah has been asked to be a part of one of those teams. She is very excited to be a part of the Regional teams especially since this is her last year to be a part of JBQ.

First Babysitting Job...

Last night Sarah had her first "official" babysitting job. A family from church who lives in Wanaque, 5 minutes from us, asked if Sarah would be interested in babysitting their 5 year old daughter for 2 hours every other Thursday for the next couple of months. The mom knew that Sarah didn't have much experience yet, but they would actually be right across the street at a bible study their neighbors were having and if Sarah needed anything they wouldn't be far.

It is really the perfect opportunity for Sarah to start getting babysitting experience. She and her friend Cayla had already signed up to take a babysitting course at a local hospital the beginning of next month, so this will help put to practice what she learns. 

Sarah's first night was great. Addie warmed right up to her and everything went smoothly. What little 5 year old girl wouldn't warm up to our sweet, loving, and beautiful Sarah. Yes, I am bias, I am her mom, and I think she is amazing!

I had her take a picture of her first night for the scrapbook.

Sweet Adeline.

This is just another milestone for our "baby" girl. Yes, she is no longer a baby at almost 12 years old, but in my eyes she will always be my baby no matter how old she is. I don't like the fact that she is growing up and yet I am so proud of who she is growing up to be. It is bittersweet.

If your interested in babysitting services you better start booking her now, I have a feeling she will be a popular one.