Happy Easter

Easter is always such a special time of year.  We didn't participate as much as usual in all the church activities but we had our very own special moments.  Anna's not quite old enough for hunting eggs so we got her a little basket of goodies.  She was curious enough to take everything out of the basket.

Yeah....that's over with and now I can play with my toys!

Mom and dad were going to Taylor and Kacy's rehearsal dinner party so they were all dressed up so cute.

Now it's our turn.  Mom and dad are gone for the evening.

Anna loves flowers and all the colors they bring.  Of course she wants to taste them.

After worship Sunday, John and Susan invite those of us who did not have family in town to their home for a lovely brunch.  It was quite the feast.

Showing off my new camera.

Sleep Overs Are The Best

Recently we have had the joy of Anna spending the night with us.  If you talk with our friends they would tell you how much we look forward to our special time with her.  She gets to stay up later than normal, eat treats when ever she wants to, cry and we come running and look at us, smile and watch us melt to the floor.  You get to see all the various sides of the grand kids when you are around them for an extended period of time that you miss when you just have them for a few hours.  Anna's best time of day is in the morning.  She is rested and feed and ready to play.   My favorite is when she wakes up and you are changing her diaper, she reaches far above her head and reaches and stretches.   So cute!

Anna's basket of toys are kept under the coffee table.  She has already learned where they are kept and makes a bee line from the front door straight to her toys.  She decided it would be easier to just get in the basket with her toys.

She is soooo close to letting go and taking off walking.  If won't be long now mom and dad!

I just love it when she crawls up in my lap.

She found the out doors on this visit.  Hand prints and a little slobber who cares!

We bought this little play area when Pierce was about the same age and had a sleep over.

I just love the look on Pierce's face. 

This is Pierce today at 5 years of age.  Still as cute and sweet as ever!

We sooo miss putting our arms around him. 

Our kids will never know, until later, how much this special time with our grand kids means to us.

Thank you!

A Very Special Package

At the beginning of March, Hal received an email from Blake telling him there were two shipments headed our way.  One from Singapore that was a couple of boxes and one from Brazil that was a brown envelope.  They were meant to be together so he was instructed to wait before opening one or the other.
On March 9th we received notice from FedEx that they attempted to deliver an envelope that required signature.  So Saturday the 10th we went to FedEx and picked up the envelope.  It was the brown envelope from Brazil.

On March 17th an envelope arrived from Singapore.  It was addressed to me!  I opened it and it was the sweetest gift a grandma could get.  Candy, card and sweet drawings from Pierce for my birthday.

But we are a little confused now because was this one of the envelopes/shipments/boxes or not?

The email correspondence begins between Singapore, Brazil and Dallas.  
March 16th Blake knows we have received the brown envelope and wants to know about the boxes.
March 18th Camille reports it showed delivered on March 3rd.
March 19th Camille says she will check w/Speedpost Singapore.
March 24th Camille has spent 3 days on the phone w/Speedpost and demands proof of delivery
March 27th Camille reports there is an "official investigation" started regarding the delivery
March 27th Camille reports she sent the package to Keith & Elysse's address
March 28th Camille reports that Keith & Elysse did receive a box on March 3 and put it in the closet
March 29th Elysse wraps the 2 boxes and delivers them to us.....and here it is!

But wait....did you hear Hal read there are four boxes?  Where are the other two?  Happy to report that the other two of the automated drill ships are in Singapore to be delivered at a later date.  Well worth the wait for Hal to receive such a special gift from Blake.  They are crystals of the two deep water drilling platforms that Blake led the electrical design and the construction of in Singapore: The Noble Danny Adkins and Noble Jim Day. We are so very proud of Blake's accomplishments and sad in a way that we aren't closer to them to be able to celebrate in person with Blake, Camille and Pierce.

BTW as I write this, Blake is in the air on his way home to Singapore after being in Brazil six weeks commissioning one of the recently completed drill ships.  I know he can't wait to get home!