Weekending

Linking up with and Holly and Sarah for Hello Monday 

We had a very nice Easter weekend- Jacob and Abby were able to come home from college so we all got to spend time together. That is pretty rare. So weekends like these are something to appreciate.

Donnie picked Abby up from school Thursday evening. Abby didn't have classes on Friday so she was good to go (literally) after her last class on Thursday. Alyssa and I arrived home from Florida very early Friday. Donnie worked Friday per usual (his days off and very far and few in between...).

I woke up early Friday and did the normal things to acclimate being home after being gone for several days. It was great to spend time with Abby since she was home. Though we'd seen her recently, it seems like there's always new things happening that renders getting caught up/ together ideal. She's still trying to figure her summer plans out after her school canceled the summer trip to Dijon, France that she had planned on attending.

Saturday dawned early (for me). I got up and ran in the cold (why is almost every weekend morning cold??). Also, when I came downstairs in the morning, I saw these. I could not figure out how they got there. Donnie has many great qualities but going out at 10:30 pm to buy flowers is not one of them! Then I realized that Alyssa must have brought them home Friday evening (I'd gone to bed super early after getting only about four hours of sleep the night before). Her boyfriend's family has a flower business and I figured they must have come from that. Alyssa confirmed that when I saw her on Saturday after she woke up.

Spring colored perfection!

Alyssa had a bit of an exciting day as she started her first job on Saturday! She's working at a country club. She won't be able to work much at all until school is out for the summer. Between track, her combo college/ school classes, and spending time with her boyfriend, she's pretty busy... She worked for six hours and had only good things to say about her job. And maybe one of these days, I won't be buying her Starbucks... she will have the money to do that herself.

Abby and I ran a couple of errands and we went on a walk. I texted Jacob to ask if he was coming home for Easter or not. He'd told me before that he was coming but our communication had been hit or miss, mainly miss, while Alyssa and I were in Florida. Jacob confirmed that he was coming home that day. He was going to a church service in Cincy- one of his good friends was getting baptized so he wanted to see that and then he drove straight from the church service to home. His timing to come home was good. He arrived shortly after Alyssa did after her work which was the right time for an early dinner. We were all really hungry and quickly agreed on a place to eat. That doesn't happen too often!!

This picture cracks me up because it's so bad. That light... oh dear. Thankfully, I got some good pictures on Sunday.

 After dinner we just hung out. Jacob and I did go out briefly to get ice cream but that was it.

Sunday morning, I got up and ran and then made these muffins.

They were OK but I probably won't make them again.

I had fun assembling the kids' Easter baskets. From candy to heated eye lash curlers (just for the girls!), to books, to their favorite brand of athletic wear (for the girls, a gift card for Jacob), to jewelry

I made a basket for Alyssa's boyfriend whom we got to see on Sunday

Did I mention that we got some good pictures?? We took some pictures before heading to church.

Much better than the one at the restaurant...

Max went to church with us. He arrived a little early to get in on the Easter baskets and picture taking ;)

Max took a picture of the five of us

After pictures, we all went to church. The service was a good one. It is such a privilege to be able to go to church and worship. I try not to take it for granted but often I do. I know that I can get caught up in the hoopla of a special Sunday like Easter- the baskets, dressing up, getting together- those are all good things but they can easily distract from what is actually important about the day. 

After church we went out to lunch. Lunch was good, if the service a bit spotty. We all got our fill, that's for sure. Jacob had to leave shortly after we arrived home and then I took Abby back to school a little after that. Had a relaxing evening at home before the start of a busy week.