Easter

In our family it's a tradition for all of the cousins to get together on the Saturday before Easter to dye Easter eggs at Nani's house.  Here's a few pictures of yesterdays festivities:  Above is a pic of Nani with the eggs.  On the right is a close up of our eggs, we melted crayon shavings over the top of hot eggs, and they turned out really neat.

Going around the table, Cassie, Noah, Chloe (end of the table), Uncle Greg, Victoria, Colton and Boston (other end of the table in the booster seat)

Carlye and Nathanael

Sorry that Chloe was missing her shirt - it was solid white and the daddies solution was just to take it off.  Meanwhile, can you see what color all of her eggs are?  The green ones are Noah's.......

After dying eggs the kids lined up and were rubbing backs.... I think that Noah might be getting the raw end of the deal.

Here's a few pictures of Easter morning, and then the Easter egg hunt at Nani's house:

 

Carlye, Cassie, Victoria and Chloe - I feel the need to add that Carlye's dress really is longer, but that ridiculous elastic waist kept riding up as she was holding the little ones and moving around......

Boston, Colton, Noah and Nathanael

All of us are doing well considering what's happened.  Colton and Chloe have been in play therapy to help them deal with losing their mommy.  Chloe talks about the accident still, and therapy has given her a great place to do that.  Cassie is struggling with it, but receiving counseling as well.  It will be harder for her for a while.  Greg is amazing - he is dealing with this in such a heroic manner.  I've never seen anyone do so much to help his kids, and become who he needs to be for them right now.  I know that it is hard for him, but he keeps moving forward and I'm really impressed with that.

I'm really struggling with losing Tamara.  Mostly because I miss her, but I struggle with her kids not having their momma anymore.  I'm so thankful that we have amazing family, and we can encourage and love on each other when things are hard.  Two weeks after Tamara died, Carlye was in the hospital for a week with shigella.  Soon after that our close friend, Wally, passed away from colon cancer.  Then a few weeks after that Carl's mom ended up in the hospital with pneumonia - caused by a very rare bacteria that her doctor had to research after the lab results come in.  She's been home for almost 2 weeks now, and we are SO glad that she is getting better.  We have run the gauntlet, and now we are tired - and I am worn.  At this point when everything really is better, and life is settling down I find myself shutting down.  I think I need rest.  I think I may grieve differently than others, but I don't really know.  I've never dealt with a loss like this.  I have a plan to help, and I'm working on executing it, but I've found that I get busy and overwhelmed and then put off taking the time I need to work out or take care of myself.  A vicious cycle, and the only way to break it is to break it.  I've made great strides, but not enough for long enough to see a difference.  Here's to making a positive change, permanently!