Riley's Special Softball Practice...

On Monday, April 25, Riley had a special softball practice.  The NC State softball team and their coach came and practiced with our team.  We received great instruction and got one-on-one attention with the players.  It was like a free softball clinic.  The practice went for almost 2.5 hrs. and Riley learned so much and had a great time.

Riley's team (the Lady Aliens - yes that is their team name) with the NC State Wolfpack Team.

Everyone giving the Wolfpack sign.

Having a Wolfpack team huddle.

Riley playing catch with one of the NC State players.

 Practicing fielding, Riley is very good at this.

Riley made an awesome play at second base.

Riley receiving a high five from one of the NC State players for the great play she just made.

While Riley was practicing Reece and Regan were having their own fun.  Reece was covered head to toe in gravel dust.  Who says we need a boy?? 

Reece is filthy and check out how clean Regan stayed. :)

Happy Easter 2011

This was a very special Easter for us because not only were we celebrating our Risen Savior but we were also celebrating our 1 year Anniversary worshipping in our new space at Grace Hill Church.  We had a pancake breakfast before our service, then we had a wonderful Easter Service and then we had a picnic at Gold Park after church.  I was not able to get any good "posed" photos this year because it was an early morning for us with lots of responsibilities.  But, we have lots of action shots. 

 The girls opening their Easter baskets.

 Regan loves to do Paint By Numbers so she was excited to get more.

This year I put $5.00 in one of the girls' eggs and told them this is because Jesus is Alive.  Get it, five rhymes with alive. :)  I thought I was being creative but my whole family laughed at me including Tony.  I guess I have been teaching preschoolers in church too long. :) 

Trying to get a posed shot and this is what I got.  Silly girls!

Pancake Breakfast at Grace Hill. 

 Riley and Reece with their dear "sister" Anabelle.  My girls love Anabelle and she is so good with them (this is the pastor's daughter - she is 14).  Anabelle is such a good role model for my girls.

 Regan with her dear friend, Maddie, at breakfast.  They are laughing at me because I caught Regan with her mouth full.  Maddie is a true blessing to Regan.  Regan was the oldest child at church (minus the teenagers) for a whole year and was really praying for a girl her age.  After a year of praying, Maddie's family joined our church and not only is she the same age and same grade as Regan but she also lives right behind us in the next neighborhood!  They have become fast friends and get together alot.  She is a true blessing!!!

Reece was being very silly and would not pose so her friend, Willow, took her place and gave me a fabulous smile! 

 Grace Hill Praise Team warming up.

 The girls watching us sing. 

 The Grace Hill children joined the Praise Team on the chorus of "Christ Is Risen."  They did a fabulous job!  Here is a link to a video my friend put on youtube if you want to hear them. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1usRR4H4pKs

 In Children's Worship, the children acted out the Easter Story.  Regan and Maddie were helping and got to be the tomb (along with Riley).  Regan said her arms got very tired and she now knows how Moses felt during the battle. 

 The "tomb," the "stone" (3 yr. old Gray in the green shirt acting as the stone), and the "soldiers" by the tomb (acted out by David, Joseph, Ryan and Griffin).

"Mary" and "Mary Magdalene" (Avery and Reece) coming to the tomb and seeing the "Angel" (Claire and Carly playing the angel).

How How Raft...

Regan and Tony are in their third year of Y Princesses (a Daddy/Daughter program through the YMCA).  Each year they go on a weekend camping trip in the spring.  Each year that you are in the program you get to do a special activity at the camp.  The first year Princesses get to go on a Riverboat Cruise with their dads, second year Princesses go to a snake seminar and get to hold snakes, and third year Princesses get to build a raft and have a race in the lake.  The tribe has been looking forward to this raft race all year.  Over the past month, Regan and Tony's tribe have been working hard on their raft.  The raft has to be able to hold at least 4 dads and 4 daughters but they recommend all the girls getting to ride on it, which means 4 dads and 8 girls for our raft.  So, the raft is pretty much finished and a little heavier than they were expecting, hopefully it will stay afloat.  I was teasing Tony saying it might be a submarine instead of a raft.  The raft race will take place in two weeks.  For now, the raft is taking up space in my garage. :(  Hopefully, their tribe will win!!!  

Here is the start of the raft.  They used 36 Chick-fil-A pickle buckets and straped them to plywood. 

Here is some of the tribe that has been working hard.

 Putting the final touches on the raft.

Trinity Easter Assembly...

On April 21st, Trinity had their Easter Assembly.  This is always a special time to sing praises to God and to hear the Easter story presented in a special way to the children by Dr. Chip Denton.  Dr. Denton gave a very neat visual for the kids to see how broken they are without Jesus.  He had a child come up and stand on a chair holding a raw egg.  He then instructed the child to hold the egg up high and then drop it.  It splattered all over the gym floor and the kids found this very funny.  He then told that same child to pick up the egg and put it back together.  Of course the child did not do it nor could he.  Dr. Denton explained that we are very sinful and broken and that is why we need Jesus.  Only he can put us back together and make us right before God.  He also illustrated with another egg being broken on the floor and told the children this is Jesus broken on our behalf.  That he took our punishment we deserved and our brokenness to the cross so our sins could be forgiven.  But, the wonderful news is that God can put the "egg" back together and Jesus rose on the 3rd day.  Thank you God for loving us so much that you gave your one and only son for us that we may have eternal life!

 Regan in the Recorder Assemble playing the prelude, "What Wondrous Love Is This."

 The TK - 1st graders presented flowers to the seniors and the seniors arranged them on the wooden cross.  The cross is then carried out of the gym at the end of the service and put in front of the school. 

He Is Risen!!!  He Is Risen Indeed!!!

Reece's Easter Egg Hunt and Party...

On April 13th, Reece's preschool class had an Easter egg hunt and a party.  They had a great time hunting eggs and eating yummy snacks.  It was also the last day before Spring Break so the kids were very excited.  Reece got to go over to her friend, Madeline's, house after school so that was a good start to Reece's Spring Break.  

 Getting ready to go hunt eggs.

Reece with her best friend from preschool, Madeline.  Sweet friends!

Family Eggstravaganza...

On April 9th, our church had an Easter Outreach event called, Family Eggstravaganza.  We had games, Easter story using the Resurrection Eggs from FamilyLife, a craft and a potluck dinner.  We had a great turnout and it was so much fun.  The kids really seemed to enjoy it as did the adults.

 Reece with her friends, David and Joseph Barr. 

 The dads watching the games and laughing about something.  No telling.

 Playing musical eggs

 I am presenting the Easter Story to the kids using the Resurrection Eggs. 

 Now the kids are making their own Resurrection Eggs.

The children worked on this craft as a family.  This was a big hit and the kids were able to take these home and retell the Easter Story using the eggs.  This has really helped them to retain what the Easter Story is really all about. 

Riley Playing Softball...

On April 9th, Riley had her first softball game.  She is really enjoying softball and likes her team and coaches.  Her coach, Coach Roby, is a former college softball coach so Riley is getting a lot of good instruction.  Riley is doing really well with her fielding (might be a short stop like her daddy) but is still trying to get her timing right with hitting.  She has a great swing she just needs to watch the ball a little better.  Once she gets that down (which we know she will) she is going to whack the ball.  Her age group uses machine fast pitch which is very difficult to learn.  

 Riley warming up before her first game.

 Riley playing catch with her teammate and one of our neighbors, Olivia.

The girls had a great surprise after the game, a visit from Wool E. Bull.  He is the mascot for the Durham Bulls Minor League Baseball Team.