Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Alex decorates an egg with a little help from twin Mia

It was a  beautiful egg for his mother.  He misses her a lot.

On Holy Saturday, after doing a little post-company clean-up, we dyed Easter eggs.  I boiled four and a half dozen because our crew goes through them in no time.  I think Sophie dyed the most but her effort consisted of dropping an egg in the dye, waiting one minute, taking it out and asking me to write something on it.

We all had a great time and at the end of the evening we witnessed Ella's first steps.  She hasn't exactly taken off yet but she's slowly getting braver so it won't be long before I'm running after her!

Sophie told me what to write on the egg--really!

My scruffy man (who dyes the prettiest eggs)

G and the princess stickers

Madeleine gets creative

Jonathan Livingston

Incoming!

Friday, April 10th PART II

FINAL POST of

The Lauderdales Come to Houston

Lawrence and Tara voted to ride the ferry to the Bolivar Peninsula and head back the long way.  We waited in line for forty five minutes but the ride was well worth the wait.  When we lived in Beaumont, riding the ferry was part of the adventure of going to Galveston and I never tire of it.  We often see dolphins and we always feed the seagulls who are only too happy to eat from our hands.  

We finally arrived back at Casa Doyle at 9:30.  The kids were wiped out and went right to sleep but Tara and Lawrence had the job of packing for their early flight.  

We got out of the house on time the next morning and the Lauderdales had an easy trip back to chilly Virginia.

You would think that after spending a week with nine kids and four adults in one not-so-big house, we'd all be ready to get back to normal.  Not so.  The house is too quiet now, I miss the extra kids and the companionship and if I had my wish, I'd live with--or next to--my extended family on a daily basis.  I'm counting the days until our trip to Virginia!

Say "cheese"!

One brave seagull

The seagull stole Ryan's cracker

(Mostly Ryan spiked the crackers toward the water and the seagulls dove after them)

No takers

Ella was fascinated

Here he comes!

Ella looks distressed.  "Where'd it go, Daddy?  I wanted to eat that!"

She Sells Seashells

Jumping for joy.  We're at the beach!

Friday, April 10th

DAY 7 of

The Lauderdales Come to Houston

PART I

There's nothing like playing tour guide for out of town guests to make you see home with new eyes.  We live only a little over an hour from Galveston but I can count on one hand the number of times we've been there since moving to Houston--and definitely not since Hurricane Ike came through in September.  When we headed to the shore on Friday, we weren't sure what to expect.  Chris had the day off so it was a family day for all of us.

Galveston looked pretty good.  We drove along the beach for awhile and saw buildings that still needed work but most businesses were open and operational.  We ended up at the same part of the beach we've been to in the past.  It's near restrooms with showers and it used to have a playground for the kids.  That was either torn down or blown away in the storm and was replaced by a huge inflatable slide and some kind of bungee jumping attraction.  We steered clear of those and focused on playing in the water and the sand.  

I was honestly expecting a deserted beach and a sunny but chilly day but the beach was packed and when it came time to do the Stations of the Cross we'd brought along in observance of Good Friday, we had to find an inconspicuous spot behind all of the chairs and umbrellas.

I hate to admit this but I was very lame and didn't bring a bathing suit or even shorts.  I still had a great time but next time I go to the beach in the spring in Texas, I'll remind myself that I'm in Texas and spring = summer here! (summer=inferno)

Two of my favorite nephews

Two more of my favorite nephews

What IS this Mommy?

Here comes Godzilla

She apparently didn't like the feel of sand on her legs.  

Here she's doing her ape walk.

Lawrence and Sean

Take a good look at Chris' bathing suit. He left it in the bathroom at the end of the day.  I'm hoping the little store in Woodstock, VA where I bought it is still in business 

because I really liked that suit!

Future Marine (or Navy Seal)

Brendan told us he plans to go to the Naval Academy

"Prin-cess!"

Tara and Lawrence take Mia for a ride on the waves

Good big sis'

So much fun

Sand creation

Cooking?  There was definitely some eating going on!

Look at that face

Not asleep

Digging for clams

Two of the first set of Doyle-Kreitzer-Lauderdale triplets

Chris won't get much of a workout that way!

M & M

Baby bird 

"Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah"--playing Enchanted and calling the animals 

Two princes come running

More clams

Grace and Lauren

Aunt Tara

"Look, Daddy!"

"Come on, Ella"

No can do

Tara couldn't believe we don't take advantage of living so close 

to the beach.  She's right.  We will be back soon.

Squeaky Clean

Our unique, intelligent, talented and handsome godson

We miss you, B!

Thursday, April 9th

DAY 6 of 

TLCTH

Thursday was originally supposed to be our beach day.  As the day grew nearer though, the forecast included rain and possible thunder storms so we decided to stay close to home and go to the beach Friday instead.

Thursday morning, Chris, Tara and I all got our runs in.  Chris and Tara did a long run together talking all about the meaning of life and sharing their most intimate secrets or maybe they just talked about--running.  Around lunch time, the Lauderdales and Doyles minus Chris headed to the mystery playground for a picnic and playtime.  Unfortunately, my camera battery died so I missed some great shots of the kids wading.  They had fun and only a couple of them rode home soaking wet (yes, Grace was one of them).

We had a taco feast for dinner.  Lawrence used his own spice combination on the chicken and he and Tara made guacamole (which is pronounced with a hard "g" even in Spanish despite what some Spanish-speakers may tell you about it being called "wawk-a-mole-eh").

After the kids got into their pjs, we gathered for family prayer and the Doyle family Holy Thursday traditional feet washing.  First, we read about the Last Supper from one of the children's bibles.  Then, Chris and Lawrence washed mine and Tara's feet followed by the rest of their family's feet.  After that, the kids drew names to wash each other's feet.  As it turned out, siblings got siblings.  The kids were enthusiastic about it and it was wonderful to watch them treating each other with such respect and tenderness.  Finally, when the water was good and dirty, Tara and I washed Lawrence and Chris' feet.

Look!  It's Curious George

Ryan looked so small next to all of the towering pines 

Rapping?

I asked Mia and Brendan to set the table.  In typical Brendan fashion, he approached it in his own unique way by measuring the distance from every plate, napkin and knife to the edge of the table.  He made us all place cards too.  Our table will never be so perfect again.

So cute

"As I have washed your feet, now go and wash each other's feet" 

JOHN 13:12-15

I am more thankful than I can say for all of the men I know 

who serve their families and lead them in the way they should go.  

You are my heroes (especially you, C!)

Brendan is a good big brother

Sophie adds a little massage for her big sis'

Madeleine's turn

Lawrence's feet may have been dirtier when Tara finished

 but I guess being squeaky clean wasn't the point anyway.