The Last Few Days of April

Yesterday In The Tulip Field

 

Yesterday was Ferjulian's opening day and with that the beginning of pick-your-own tulips as well! Emma was worn out after a full week of drivers education class (9:00am-3:30pm every day) so she stayed home to rest which equalled a Grace and Mama adventure. It was a gorgeous day to be picking tulips and I am glad that we went toward the end of their day as I can imagine it was rather crowded earlier. 

We agreed that we love that Ferjulian's has a tulip field since it's so close to us, but our favorite place to pick tulips is at Wicked Tulips flower farm in Rhode Island. They have a wider variety of tulips and much larger show garden (and husband of the husband and wife team that own the farm is originally from Holland). Regardless, it was the perfect way to spend a Friday evening! xo 

Can You Feel the Kenergy?!

 

Scenes from Another Dance Competition Weekend

Saturday April 6th. Grace only had her solo. Since Dave had not seen it as of yet (and since I was attempting to get chapters one, two and three of my dissertation finished before we left for Vermont) I stayed home and he took her. Dance dad mode engaged and game faces on. Off they went. 

POV: You're a doctoral student and a dance mom. So incredibly grateful for the livesteam so that I could get my chapters done and watch our beautiful girl on stage. 

Sunday April 7th. The girls and I head back to the dance competition while Dave stayed home to rest and get a few things done before our trip. On our way, Emma spotted Hasbro. Thinking it must be part of Hasbro Children's Hospital that she was seeing I did not think much of it until I noticed the Potato Heads. I immediately turned left into the parking lot and we ran out to get a couple of pictures before we reached our destination. Such a fun little detour!! xo 

In the Path of Totality

Right after Grace's final dance on Sunday April 7th (blog post to come) we began our journey to Jay Peak for what would likely be the last ski trip of the season. In addition to that it was also within the path of totality for the solar eclipse that would be taking place the next day. Since didn't arrive until 10:30pm that night we had no idea how gorgeous the view was until the next morning, or how incredibly perfect our room at the Tram House would turn out to be for eclipse viewing! 

Dave and the girls were out there bright and early Monday morning. 

My spot for eclipse viewing. 

Emma's ready. 

This picture was taken by Jay Peak staff. If you look at the balcony second from left you'll see a red square. That's our balcony and me sitting in the corner. 

Grace checks the progress. 

Emma watches. As the eclipse progressed it got cooler and windier. We needed to put on hoodies or fleeces or sweaters and I had a blanket on my lap as well. 

The moment of totality. You can see how the world darkened. With that darkness came a peace and calm like none other. I found myself very emotional and teary when totality occured. It was like the moment that the moon clicked into place over the sun my emotions overtook me. To be in this beautiful place with my beautiful family experiencing this incredible celeestial moment together is something that I am grateful for and will carry with me always. That bright star in the sky is Venus. Sadly, I did not capture Jupiter in this picture as well. It was too high up. Pretty impressed with this picture captured by my iPhone. 

Tuesday brought with it another gorgeous start to our day. 

And this, is the final picture of their final day of the 2023-2024 ski season. Not a bad way to cap off a rather less than stellar (snow wise) winter for this trio! We could have stayed longer (read: forever) but sadly, I did not bring my laptop with me! xo 

Easter Weekend

 

On Easter Eve we helped prepare the flowers for the Easter service and fill bags for the children and youth that would be in attendance. 

Easter Sunday brough treats in their Easter baskets, 

including the much requested Gen Z Bible. 

For those that have no idea what the Gen Z Bible is, it's stories from the Bible told in Gen Z (the girls generation) language. It's fabulous! 

Pictures with the flowered cross after the service had ended. 

Meanwhile, at Wachusett Mountain.....

Flat Jesus rides the chairlift. 

Flat Jesus takes in the view from the summit. 

Flat Jesus visits with the EMT on duty. 

Flat Jesus spent the day hanging out in Dave's pocket! The ski patroll team really got a kick out of this! We figured if Dave needed to be at Wachusett on Easter Sunday we might as well send him with one of the bendy Jesus' that we put in the Easter bags for the children at church! 

Before we left church, we helped remove the flowers from the cross and made bouquets to take home and invited others to do the same. 

Trader Joe's flowers never disappoint and will easily last a week or two! 

Easter baskets must always contain bubbles. 

This year instead of dying eggs the girls chose to use their new watercolors to paint them. 

And it was after taking this  picture that I promptly fell asleep for the next couple of hours (and then did not take a picture of how beautiful their eggs came out). For those who celebrated, we hope you had a lovely Easter. And for those that did not, we hope you had a lovely last weekend of March! xo