Poage Beach Trip!

Words do not even describe how much fun we had at the beach. The girls LOVED it, and I'm sure that's why it was so much fun for me and for Collin.

We spent the weekend in Valera, TX, for the annual Poage Family reunion (pictures are on Collin's computer but are forthcoming!) and then headed South to Corpus Christi for a quick beach getaway. It was fantastic. We had one full day at the beach and then spent some time at the Texas State Aquarium before heading home again. Loved every minute. Looking forward to booking another beach trip SOON.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Some videos...

For the grandparents...



And then this might be my favorite: This is Avery's "Super-sonic Soundwaves" version of I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. (Some of the notes may be unable to be heard by humans...)

Easter 2010

It sure was a fun Easter season!

We celebrated with cookie-decorating, candy-eating, egg-dying and more. We also had fun watching the girls play with their new resurrection scene (similar to a nativity scene) and reading new books to them about the real reason we celebrate Easter, which has nothing to do with bunnies or eggs. :) Some of our favorite moments this year were watching Avery come out of her Sunday School class on Palm Sunday, waving a green palm leaf and saying, "Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!" to everyone on her way out of the church building... The entire "He is Risen!" story about the fly (posted below)... Hearing Julia tell everyone "Happy Bee-ster!" at the top of her lungs with her little voice cracking... Watching them play with/narrate conversations between the characters of the resurrection scene, particularly when Jesus was inviting the angel to come to Julia's Birthday party. So cute. It was a very sweet year to celebrate with our girlies. They're at such a precious age.

As always, it's fun to see family on holidays... And we got to see both sides of our family this Easter, even if it was just a glimpse of the Poages. And what a blessing it was to have an entirely new member of the family with us this year as it was Bella Grace's very first Easter! She spent it being passed from lap-to-lap as a very sleepy and precious 6-day-old. She continues to be a beautiful baby and to steal the hearts of everyone she meets. (Avery is PRESIDENT of Bella Grace's fan club, and Julia is a very close VP.)

Here are some of our favorite pictures from the season... We are blessed!
Decorating Spring sugar cookies... NOT homemade... :)




Playing with our Easter Scene after it arrived in the mail...


Our impromptu Egg-Hunt with Sophie & Jake as our "Plan B" when we missed the official FBC Moms one at the Arboretum that same day...


Dying Easter Eggs...




Easter Sunday Morning: Easter Basket surprises, Egg Hunt at home, Church!...




Easter Sunday Afternoon in Sherman, TX: Egg Hunt & Confetti Egg Fun...

Easter Season and the Houseflies...

A story from the Poages...

This Spring, we have discovered that Avery is TERRIFIED of any insect that flies. (Butterflies may be the only exception.) She will attempt to be brave at first, but then the arms start waving and she starts yelling, "Shoo! Shoo, Fly!..." and then it's downhill from there.

Since the weather has been so beautiful, we've had a few days of open windows at the house and apparently our back screen door has one or two weak spots. I quickly learned, through the screams of a 3-year-old, that a "mosquito" was in the house. (Turns out it was a rather large fly.) For the next 30 minutes (no exaggeration) I tried to calm the terror, but to no avail. Avery was FREAKED OUT. And everytime the fly would come her way, she would scream and flail around like the grim reaper was coming at her. I had her go sit in her room with the door shut while Julia & I dealt with the situation... We tried shooing and swatting but neither worked. Ultimately, we used the vacuum cleaner and got him. WHEW! Fly was gone... went back to tell Avery the good news... Avery hesitantly emerged from her room to the house that I PROMISED her was now fly-free.

...Well, either we have a Houdini Housefly that found it's way out of the vacuum, OR the fly had a stunt-double... But whatever it was, we soon found another identical fly swirling around in the air. I just hoped Avery wouldn't spot it and ignored the whole thing. Several minutes later, I heard the screams. (...Now here's where it made me laugh...) Avery came running into the room and said, "Mommy, Mommy! The fly is back! He is RISEN!!"

Guess some of those Easter books are actually sinking in! ...although her theology may be a bit skewed... ;)

Happy Easter week, everybody!

Our BEAUTIFUL Niece has been born!

Bella Grace Bossen
arrived just before 11am on 3/29/10
6 pounds, 10 ounces 18.5 inches
...Everyone is well...

Just a few from today, but more pictures to come:

Park Pics

The best idea yet came from the Mom of one of Avery's classmates: WEDNESDAY play group!

Our kids are in class together on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so on Wednesdays we get together in the morning to play at the park. It WORKS so well because the kids already know each other from class, and we get to get outside, tire them out and then take them home for naps! Best part about it? Little sisters can play too! Brilliant.

Just a few pictures from one of our February outings...

Trace, Lilly and Avery try the pole swings...

Julia kept up with the 3-yr-olds like she WAS one; Avery & Jack have a snack...

Avery's Haircut

I gave Avery another trim and then took her to the mirror to show her the new "look." I think she likes what she sees... What do you think? :)

Go fish...

It's craft project time again at the Poages'! ...Not because we felt especially crafty, but more out of pure necessity.

I've been sick for about a week now so I finally broke down and went to see my Internal Medicine Doc. Get this: I have strep throat. STREP! Who gets strep throat when they're 30?! ...apparently I do... and I have a sinus infection as well. But before I actually went to the doctor, I spent several days just not wanting to get out of the house or do anything. So, naturally, when Mommy's on the couch the movies come out!

My girls are officially obsessed with Finding Nemo. Great movie. I think it was the 927th time we watched it when I pulled out the construction paper and an empty plastic container we had around the house and decided we would make our very own Marlin, Nemo & Dory. I felt well enough to try to draw the shapes of the fish I was watching on TV and cut them out, and then Avery happily glued the "stripes" on. She was totally into it. Give that girl a glue stick and she's happy. Julia was napping and missed the whole project but she woke up to some "pet fish" and was immediately attached.

A tip for any other Moms out there reading this: Make fake pets!! They love them! And you don't have to feed them or take them outside... it's the best.