Tulips and Tractors

In keeping with the new family tradition we started last year, the Little Miss and I headed north to the largest tulip festival in our state.

Mr. Wagner was excused this year since he was taking the exam he's been busy studying for (yes, we had a fun outing while he was stuck testing all day but hey, what is a girl to do?).


We will officially resume the "family" part of the tradition next year but the man-of-our-house was still remembered. The Little Miss made sure to drive a big John Deere tractor just to make her daddy proud.

Homecoming

Our apologies for the extended absence but it's been a long couple of weeks here in the Wagner family household. Mr. Wagner has been vacationing on his own in the central ski resort-filled part of our state while Yours Truly has been keeping pace with the housework, parenting duties, and work responsibilities. Do I have your sympathy yet? Good.

(Now that I do, I should probably clarify that while indeed Mr. Wagner has been away for the last couple of weeks, he has actually been in seclusion, studying hard everyday for a professional exam that he has coming up. I admit, I have had the easy job).

Best news of the week is that the Mr. is on his way home tomorrow and his girls are excited! This mom can't complain because our Little Miss has been a gem (for the most part) while her daddy was away. Still, things just aren't the same without the man of our house around. I keep thinking how thankful I am for our little family and how blessed I am to have married a man who believes it is very important to be home.

Love, love, love this family of mine. Welcome home (soon) Mr. Wagner!

He Is Risen!

Happy Easter from the West Coast Wagners,

He is risen indeed!

(Even though it may just look like a blank screen below, there really is a video of the Little Miss. Just scroll down and click on the arrow to play. One disclaimer: Yours Truly had absolutely nothing to do with her cheerleader type moves. That was actually all her doing. Totally promise).

Easter Festivities

I always enjoy spending time the week before Easter reflecting on all that Christ has done for us. This year we have also been celebrating with the Little Miss by watching and discussing a children's Thomas Nelson Bible DVD about the true meaning of Easter (we highly recommend all of these Bible DVDs by the way). While our girl's theology and understanding still needs a bit of work, she does know that Easter is about Jesus dying on the cross for us and that now, He is risen!

In addition to the Passover Seder earlier in the week, we also enjoyed an Easter party where the Little Miss colored eggs for the first time. We skipped the neighborhood Easter egg hunt today due to the weather but still had a great time baking these fun Easter Basket cupcakes for several of the Little Miss' friends.

How bunnies, baskets, and chocolate eggs tie to Easter, I don't know. Regardless, the festivities are still fun to enjoy and we will all be on a sugar high for the next week. May you and your families have a very blessed Easter!

Passover Seder

Thanks to the Hansons, we were able celebrate the start of Passover with a "kiddo-friendly" Passover Seder. Tim & Jennifer did a terrific job explaining the meaning and rituals of Passover while also keeping the kids engaged and entertained. We are hoping to make this an annual tradition and are excited to share with our children that Jesus, the Lamb of God, was the ultimate and final sacrifice. Speaking of lamb, I was sure thankful that they didn't actually have a lamb to slaughter. The stuffed animal and red paint served well for "pretends".

Precious Moments

My heart melted the other day. It was during the Little Miss' gymnastics class where I, along with the other parents, sat banned to the viewing area. The kiddos were on the other side of a glass wall, enjoying their gym activities. About half way through the class the Little Miss came through the door, headed straight towards me and planted a big smooch on my cheek as she gave me a hug. She said "I love you!" and then bolted back through the door for her class. Oh, my heart sang!

A few minutes later I heard an older lady talking to the owner of the gym. She said that she'd seen "that little girl go out of the class just to kiss and hug her mommy" and it almost brought her to tears. She recalled the days when her own children thought so highly of her and wishes she could bring back those innocent years.

It was such a reminder for me to enjoy this time in our girl's young life, when she thinks that her mommy and daddy walk on water and can do no wrong. Childhood innocence is fleeting and the day will soon come where we will disappoint her (Regardless of how hard we try, we're only human!). When that day comes, my prayer is that our Little Miss will understand that Jesus alone can walk on water and He truly is able meet all of her needs. In the meantime, I'm sure enjoying these very precious moments!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Most years this day goes by and Yours Truly barely pays it attention (more often than not, I even forget to wear green). This year has been different. I love getting to celebrate holidays with our Little Miss, establishing our own family traditions and experiencing them through the eyes of a child.

Since I couldn't convince the Little Miss to try green eggs and ham, we started off our morning with green tinted yogurt (never mind the fact that it was actually "Greek" yogurt and in no way Irish). We ate green broccoli and cheese quesadillas for lunch (I know, only my daughter would eat that!). For dinner we're going to try Joani's Apple & Brown Sugar Corned Beef and this Irish Soda Bread, ending the evening with green frosted peppermint brownie bites. Since we're not beer drinkers and don't tend to celebrate the way the Irish do on this day, maybe we'll be adventurous and try tinting our milk green. Opa! (Oh wait, that's also Greek).