Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! "Why do we celebrate this day?" has been asked for centuries by Jewish children at the Passover celebration, and now asked by us as we celebrate its fulfillment. The answer, in part: to remember what Jesus has done. It is an overcast, drizzly day here in Bloomington but there is joy on this day too: we were once slaves but we are slaves no longer!


Last year on Easter Byron and Lauren Morris were with us, and we took a photo on a bench in the park across the street from church. We tried to do the same again this year but it was a bit wet so we were standing instead.

Here is Jul's valiant attempt to get a self-portrait (Jim's area of expertise), and then the nicer photos once a church member strolled by and snapped a few for us. The husband took the photo while the wife sweetly called out, "Gemma, Gemma!" and waved. This made Gemma very happy and excited to showcase her new waving skills.

whoops apparently I had zoomed in without realizing it!


Also this weekend we made hot cross buns, which traditionally are made on Good Friday. (but we made them on Saturday). It was our 1st attempt and they were very easy to make - these were fig & raisin mini hot cross buns - but to be honest they didn't turn out as soft & chewy as we wanted and we are resolved to try again; we loved eating these on Easter in South Africa and both like any sweet, spiced breads. If anyone has a genuine, yummy recipe, please share! Here's a shot before the final rise and bake (a flour paste is used to mark a cross before baking), and below, the finished product.

A Simple Thing in Spring

This makes me happy.

More good times in Wheaton with Grandaddy and Nonna

Life is good when you are 7 months old, visiting Nonna's house...You get to play with toys...

Help with laundry...

Sit at the piano for music time...

And get lots of cuddles.
Not to mention wrestling with Daddy...

And going to the park!


Also we were able to see some cousins & friends while we were there. Here's Gemma with (Jim's cousin) Susie and her 2nd cousin Abi.

And with (Jim's cousin) Susie and her 2nd cousins Lars, Ellen, Britta and Olivia. I guess it's not possible that she would remember them from time together at Matt & Hailey's wedding, but Gemma was very comfortable in Ellen's lap once again, as you can see.


Of course we also had time for some good meals prepared by Mom (above) and a fun evening with the Williams and Hubbards. (Yes, Amber, you made the blog. No, I was not yanking on Jim's arm. Okay...yes, I was, trying to help him avoid the awkward squat.) Wow, all the kids are in bed and now we can hang out!

Early spring trip to Wheaton

Last week we took the opportunity to spend four days up in Wheaton - primarily because Wheaton's theology conference on "Global Theology in the Evangelical Perspective" was occurring, but also of course for Gemma to see her grandparents and catch up with friends. Great!


The last time - June 2010 - we saw Hayden Felske he was two weeks old and Gemma was still in the oven. Now they are 10 months and 7 months old. And this time they got to play together in person. Gemma also had her first close-up encounters with a Pug (Babu gave her several licks) and a cat. Hopefully H. & G. will get to see each other much more as they grow up.




We also very happily had Saturday brunch at Saga!! I (Jul) haven't been for a few years and it was really fun to sit amongst the students and experience a high-quality college dining hall. So much of the food is made in-house (including yogurt!) - wow. It was hard not to stuff ourselves and I think we will need to make a meal at Saga a regular event during our visits. Gemma enjoyed looking around at all the people and banging on the table.

More Firsts for GTG

Her first rusk! (What a MESS - sorry no picture of what she looked like by the end, but she got in the bath afterwards)

And first graham cracker! She seemed to like both of these (and whole wheat toast, which she also tried) and did pretty well gnawing them to soaked bits before swallowing, although there was also a lot of coughing involved. Don't worry, it was safe. A parent was close by.

Meanwhile we splurged on some good natural, nitrate-free bacon this week (let me know if you want the whole lecture on why to avoid nitrates in meat), and made ranch bacon potato salad, with hard-boiled eggs and fresh pineapple on the side. And a glass of chardonnay. Yummy. Some grape tomatoes would have made this even better, like a BLTE potato salad. Next time...we are VERY eagerly awaiting the spring and summer crops in our area - lettuce! tomatoes! cucumbers! bell peppers! eggplant!