Awana 2014 - 2015: Sparks

So, over the summer we began going to McLean Bible Church - Tysons over the summer with our friends/neighbors.  Then, said friend, Heidi, told me about an Awana club that her son, JD (who is the one in Jacob's grade at school), attends at one of the other MBC campuses.  So, we signed Jacob up right away!

He's in the Sparks club with other Kindergarten - 2nd grade kids.  Each week he works through his booklet learning new scripture verses, books of the bibles and he even got to choose a missionary one week.  After he finishes a section he earns different awards.  The first two awards were a patch for his vest and then his wings.  Now each time he finishes a section he earns a new jewel that goes in to his wings.  He also gets points each week for attending Sunday School, so it's really important to me that we go.  We kind of fell of the wagon at the end of 2014 due to sports/sleepovers/traveling/holidays/etc., but it's a new year and I'm making every attempt to get us to church every Sunday!

Here's Jacob with his brand new Awana vest and his book he's currently working on.  Because he didn't go to Awana last year (we didn't know about it) he had to start with the very first book this year.  This one is the one that Kindergarten students receive during their first year of Sparks.  We're over halfway done with the book now, though, so as soon as he's finished with it (hopefully by the end of February), he can move on to the next book.  It's red (I forget what it's called) and is what he 1st graders are working on this year.  I have a feeling if we work really hard at it, he can finish all THREE books that Sparkies receive over the three years they're in Sparks, in TWO years. :)

Our new church!!

Basically since we became parents I've been wanting to start going back to church, I just didn't know where.  John was raised Catholic, but isn't a practicing Catholic anymore.  I was raised Methodist and haven't been to a Methodist church in YEARS.  So, where do we go and what do we do?? When we got married we even went so far as to have a non-denominational minister perform the ceremony since we were both raised in different denominations.

Anyway, we checked out a church a few years ago, and it just wasn't a good fit, so that was the last time.  But, then back in May my friend and neighbor invited us to her church to check out a children's program that was going on one Sunday afternoon.  So we went .. and I was pretty much hooked!  We started attending McLean Bible Church on a regular basis from then on.  The kids started going to Sunday School.  Jacob and JD (my friend/neighbor's son) are in the same grade in school, so therefore they're in the same Sunday School class too.  Henry started out in the nursery still, but in July during their promotion week he moved up to the Preschool class.  He (Henry) had such a hard time adjusting, but finally in mid-August he stopped crying and having a meltdown every time we left him.  That made me feel good.  We've been so busy during the Fall that we've barely made it to Sunday morning service, but that's about to change because the holidays are almost here and I can't wait to take the boys to their first Christmas Eve service!!

Back in September, Jacob also started going weekly to Awana at the Loudoun campus of McLean Bible Church.  He's in the Sparks class and is learning so many scripture verses and seems to really enjoy it, so I'm glad we got him signed up.  Next year Henry will go too and be a Cubbie.  We didn't sign him up this year because of how harsh the transition to Sunday School was, but I think next year he'll be ready and he'll really enjoy it.

Easter 2014

I've learned a few things from this past Easter.  A) Hide the Easter eggs inside the night before instead of in the backyard.  The squirrels and raccoons ate most of them!  And, B) Hide the Easter baskets.  The kids woke up early and let us sleep in (thanks, but not really, lol), but in doing so they ate almost all the candy in their Easter baskets and I got no pictures. :(  Sad mama bear.  So, anyway, next year I'll be hiding their baskets and hiding the Easter eggs for the egg hunt inside the house, too.

When we were finally woken up by the boys and found out they had eaten over half their candy, we got up and I made everyone some special Easter pancakes.  Check these cuties out!

I got the idea from Pinterest.  I wish I could take full credit for it, but isn't he so cute?!

After breakfast, the boys and I finally got around to dying Easter eggs.  The last two Easters time has just gotten away from me and we always forget to do this.  This past year time got away from me so much that we ended up doing it the afternoon of Easter!  They had a lot of fun, though, and we created some really cool looking masterpieces.

In the afternoon Gee and Pap came bearing more Easter baskets for the boys.  I DID get pictures of them opening those at least!

The boys' big present from the Easter bunny at my parents' house was their new recliners.  I love these things!  I wish we had them in adult size!

As you can see Henry was in love with his new chair!

We had a yummy dinner that night that consisted of ham, green beans, potato salad, deviled eggs and rolls. And, for dessert I made a delicious cake.  I had wanted to do a peep cake, but couldn't find the right peeps at the store, so I had to forgo that part.  It still looked great and tasted even better, though.

The recipe for these deviled eggs can be found here.  I made them for the first time last year, and I loved the way they turned out so much I decided to do them again this year.  John and my step-dad won't eat them, though, so I have to make a batch of regular deviled eggs for them.  I don't know why they won't eat them ... they taste exactly the same as the regular ones.  *shrug*  Anyway, you can see last year's post about these same eggs here.  I think the color turned out better last year.  I think I put too much food coloring in them this year. :-/

We had a really nice, low-key Easter Sunday .. it was perfect!  I'm very excited for this coming Easter, though.  We finally have a Church home, so we'll be going to Easter Sunday service!