He is Risen indeed!! Wishing you all a blessed Easter week filled with joy and hope found in the Risen Lord. We are enjoying our Easter Monday by resting and relaxing after what seemed like a marathon making it through the Triduum with a 15 month old and preparations for Easter day.

Here are a few pictures from our celebrations.

They always keep it real and honest sometimes with a bit of sass, but always giving us a laugh.

K: Mom you look like a princess today.

After hearing the baby’s heartbeat.
E: That is really loud, I think the baby should turn that down a little.

Trying to make it out the door for confession.
K: If you don’t go to confession you are going to hell.

Me: How loose is your tooth?
E: It’s not even loose, it’s in there like a rockstar.

At the grocery store.
K: Mom, can I please be a check out person?
Me: No, not until you are older.
K: How about when I am 18?
Me: Sure.
K: Yes, I am almost 18!!!

Asking to take a picture of him in front of a school project.
E: Should I stand here like a model?

Walking in the door after a haircut.
K: Hmm…let me see.
(pause as he takes a closer look)
K: Yep, your hair looks really nice.

The boys trying to think of baby names and my response to every one is you have a cousin or uncle named that.
E: All of the names are taken. We should probably just use Packer ones.

After I helped Aaron type something on the computer.
K: Maybe it should go on the blog.

Trying to fold a shirt and struggling with the sleeves.
K: Enough with all this drama!

It has been three years now since I started the blog and finally decided or should I say got around to giving it a little makeover and refresh just in time for spring. I hope you like the new look!

I have enjoyed sharing my journey and heart with you and hope you have found something to take away in reading. Life this past year has been a crazy adventure, but I hope to dedicate more time to this space as it’s also something that brings me joy.

I would love to hear from you, send me an email, everydayann@gmail.com what kind of posts do you enjoy reading the most or would you like to see more of.

Make sure to subscribe so you can stay up to date on the Everts’ latest and greatest!

(And now hoping Grace sleeps through the night, the time has gotten away from me.)

Cabin fever has set in and this is the time of year when I am also ready for the school year to be over. I keep telling myself only three months to go, we are almost there!

I have been approached by a few outsiders to home schooling and they marvel at my ability to do it. In reality my home school philosophy seems to live on, fake it until you make it and buy a curriculum. Three quarters almost done, one and a half more to go, but who is counting? The teacher of course!

Some days we are wonderfully organized, a lot gets accomplished and I feel like I actually taught them something. Other days it is complete chaos and it seems school is done every where except sitting down at the table. While my type A personality cringes at our structure some days, or lack there of, I know they are learning. I see their progress and excitement to learn.

One of the biggest things that has helped our home school day run more smoothly is being consistent with starting at a set time. Even if I am still in my pajamas and Grace is screaming, school goes on. I need to give credit where credit is due, the boys do a terrific job of sitting and doing their work even if I am not always in the room.

An amazing blessing for us this year has been enrolling them in Catholic School House, a home school coop. It has been a great tool in their education. The kids do choir, art, science, history and geography and are in a classroom setting. They even get up in front of the class and give speeches every few weeks. It has been a proud mommy moment to watch them blossom and become more independent as they enjoy their time with friends, participate in the classroom and have such confidence and poise in delivering their speeches.

Even though there are days when the task of being the teacher seems to be too much I am so thankful that we home schooled this year. I treasure all of the moments and memories I get to have with them every day and it has been so beautiful to see them develop such a loving bond for their little sister.

Plus a bonus of home schooling, administration calls for an early dismissal when it’s 60 degrees in February.

I cannot believe my baby girl is 1!!! When did this happen?! The time really did go all too fast.

Seems like she should only be a few months old and now she is considered a “toddler”. I admit I get teary-eyed every time I have to pack away clothes she has outgrown or look back at how little she was. Grace came into the world only weighing 4 pounds and she is still a little peanut today, but full of personality, spirit and the biggest smile.

She is now a little girl on a mission, thankfully though she still loves to cuddle. With her mind set on what she wants she is filled with determination. Her favorite words, mama, mom, mommy and ma. She also will throw in a buy-bye, hi and dadda once in awhile.

It is amazing to see her personality unfold. The other night one of her brother’s was hurt and crying, she crawled over by us with a nuk in her hand trying to put it in his mouth. She tried multiple times to insert her nuk. When that didn’t work she crawled up on my lap and gave her brother a big hug. Amazing to see such compassion and understanding from such a tiny person.

Grace is our little miracle and has taught all of us to love in a new way. I am beyond grateful for such a beautiful gift!!