31 cents Scoops & Firefighters

On Wednesday night, Baskin Robbins had its annual 31 cent scoop night. It is a fundraiser for a firefighter's charity. It is one of the best nights of the year for Max because it combines two of his very favorite things, ice cream & firetrucks! Nate & Gabby had a great time too.

We were waiting in the parking lot for the Timms when this big rig pulled in. Max's eyes got so wide and he started stuttering "firetruck, firetruck."



While we were eating our ice cream the firetruck moved from the back parking lot to the front of the store.


As we left, the firefighters let the kids explore the truck and try on the equipment.

Four Twenty Eight Day

Today Derek & I celebrated 4:28 Day. You might be wondering if you missed a holiday, but don't worry this is one we totally made up.

Derek & I met at summer camp. With no radios allowed at camp, we didn't have an "our song" so Derek came up with the idea of setting his watch alarm to go off at a certain time everyday. We picked 4:28 because I was born in April (4) and Derek's birthday is the 28th of December. When the summer was over and we were headed back to our respective colleges (500 miles apart), Derek bought me a matching watch and set it to go off every day at 4:28. Our wedding even started at exactly 4:28. We don't do the watch thing anymore but we do celebrate 4:28 Day.

Derek called me at work at 4:28. When I got home I found a vase full of Daisies on the table. We ate left-over lasagna. Then while Kaylee was at ballet, Derek & the boys & I went to the high school track. Derek ran 5 miles while I ran 1.5. (I won't tell you how many times he lapped me). The boys played soccer in the in-field while we were running. After we picked Kaylee up from ballet, she watched the boys for an hour while Derek & I went on a "hot date." Our "hot date" consisted of going to Sonic for a limeade (my first time- yummy!) and Meijer to buy milk. Exciting, huh?

Well, even if we aren't exciting or incredible romantic. It's still fun to hold on to a little of our youth and remember when we were first in love.

Unexpected Help

I usually post about the wild and crazy things that Nate does, so this post is a nice change of pace. On Saturday, Max was being kind of whiney while I was on the phone. He was pulling on my leg and just being a typical two year old that wants attention.

Hoping for a few minutes of peace, I asked Max, "where is Daddy or Kaylee?" Then I got a bit of unexpected, but very welcome, help. Nate heard the discussion and on his own asked Max if he wanted to go outside with him and even offered to give him a tractor ride (which is Max's favorite thing)!

I was so pleased with Nate. He may be a bit of a wild child but he has a heart of gold. He made both his Mom and his little brother very happy.

*



*(This picture is actually from last fall- I didn't take pictures yesterday because I was enjoying the Max-free phone call!)

An Easter Miracle

Easter weekend tends to be a whirlwind of activity. On Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, the kids had Easter parties. On Friday, I worked half a day from home then rushed up to Church to for the Good Friday Service. On Saturday, we attended the Easter Carnival at Church. On Sunday morning, we bribed the boys into wearing their Easter clothes by threatening to take away their Easter baskets if they didn't wear the sweater vests. Then we tried to get a family picture before leaving for church (while everyone was still clean).

Something strange happened during the picture taking. Kaylee, who has been a wonderful teen so far, gave us drama about clothes! Kaylee suddenly realized she didn't match the rest of the family. Even though, when she picked her outfit out several weeks ago, I told her that it didn't match. I also told her I didn't mind that it didn't match. But, in Kaylee's words, "I didn't realize that it didn't match so much!" The conversation that Kaylee & I had was less than pleasant.

Derek got the boys out to the van while I gathered our last minute things. As we were ready to walk out the door, Kaylee appeared in a different outfit, looking for a matching sweater & shoes. This tried my "mom patience" to its limit. Derek gave Kaylee 30 seconds to get in the van or get left behind. We finally left for church a not-too-happy family.

On the way to church, we passed an SUV pulled over to the side of the road and observed a couple having a heated discussion on the side walk. Derek & I started laughing, and said "Look, someone having a rougher morning than us!"

The laughter was a good reminder to us that Easter isn't about the clothes we wear or the parties we attend, or the chocolate bunnies in the baskets.

It is about God loving us so much that his son paid the price for all the wrong things we do, so that we could be with him in heaven some day. That is worth celebrating!

And in the end we got our own little Easter Miracle. After Church everyone was still clean enough to try again for a family picture. We got this one on the first try. Everyone is looking at the camera with their eyes open so we stopped while we were ahead.



Happy Easter, love the Dexters

Max Rocks

When are auditions for the worship band?