Delroy Winsauer

I meant to post this back when it happened, but after a few months of poor health, Vic's Pa, Delroy Winsauer, passed away. I will remember him as always smiling, a patient 84 player (with me as an opponent) back when I first married into the family, and a Pa who Vic had many memories on the farm with. He always shared his satsuma oranges and was the perfect example to Vic of a hardworking man his entire life. His mind was good and he wanted to stay with Granny Liz, but his body was tired and he was tired of fighting. So, he passed away at his home that final night. The kids and I made a day trip down for the funeral, because it was in the middle of the week, while Vic took a few days to go down and help with things. I was so proud of the kids that day as they sat so quietly during the service (even Everly as she had just turned 1!) and then were so good at Granny Liz's house after the burial. It was such a hot day there and lots of people and it was tough on Granny Liz. I won't ever forget, however, when Grace told Janice that Pa "was dancing with the angels in Heaven" like it was just a normal day and we should all be happy about it! She was only 4! We had lots of discussions in the couple of days before with the kids about Pa passing and Heaven and sadness and being thoughtful to others going through this. Kids handle things so well and even though Atticus had his tears when we first told him (he just doesn't like sad things and needs hugs and understanding when he doesn't understand, while Grace is more accepting and doesn't love to see people cry), the kids were really good. For 8 hours in the car in one day, all by myself, I was a proud mama to those 3 kiddos! Here is his obituary:

Delroy Vernon Winsauer, age 88, died April 17, 2017. He was born March 20, 1929 in Seguin, Texas to Albert and Ida Winsauer. He served in the U. S. Army and was a farmer and Methodist. Delroy was preceded in death by a brother Alton Winsauer.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Winsauer, two daughters Susan (Glenn) Jostes and Janice ( Steve) Seidel, two sons Glenn (Dionis) Winsauer and Keith Winsauer, brother Harold (Paula) Winsauer, sister in law, Joan Winsauer, 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. April 19 at Dobie Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Cenizo Hill Cemetery

Easter & Baby Verett Shower

This year for our Easter weekend, the kids had no school on Friday or Monday. And, as we always stay in College Station for Easter, it was a really nice and restful weekend. Some years, we have family members in or friends spend Easter day with us, but this year it was just us five. On Friday, we woke up to Everly's 1st Birthday!  We went to Jumping World and then home to Vic, who got to come home early for the weekend as well. We played outside and celebrated Everly's birthday with pizza and cupcakes. On Saturday, I slept in until 10:30! Vic and I had a deal that I would sleep in on Saturday and he would sleep in on Monday. After I got up, I ran some errands and then made it back home for us to load up to go to Huntsville for Kristofer and Katie's baby shower! It was a really fun evening, as it always is at Nancy & Gary's and anytime with our Veretts. We took the kids, of course, and Vic and Atticus and grace swam while Everly and I parked it on a picnic blanket next to a swing and visited with Kristofer and Patricia as well and Cady & David and Holly. It was a beautiful, cool evening and we did not want to leave at 8:45 when we did. We are very excited for Kristofer and Katie and their baby, Charles Kristofer, to be called Charley. They are due June 22, I think? So, not long to go and Katie looked beautiful and so elegant to be 30+ weeks pregnant. 

 At the shower, Grace became swinging buddies with Kristofer. And at the end of the night, she just flat out told him she wanted to sit in his lap to swing. So, they did! He may be having a baby boy first, but I hope a baby girl is also in his future!

This picture is so funny. We called the kids over and they were playing with this little boy, Wyatt. Well Wyatt came too and just got in the group for the picture. It was no big deal and so funny! And check out Katie. Gorgeous. No other words. Just a gorgeous mommy to be!

We made it home, got kids to bed and woke up Sunday morning to a beautiful Easter day! We have been visiting First Baptist Church in Bryan, since the end of January. I mentioned back in December, that we were feeling a need, after a year of discussing, to leave our church at Our Saviour's. We just haven't been as happy there for a little while and while it was extremely hard to leave the people we love at OSLC, we have really felt it has been the right decision. However, that morning, Vic was feeling a little sad that we wouldn't be going to our church at OSLC for Easter morning to worship with our friends, as we have for many years. But, let me tell you. After our service at First Baptist, neither of us were feeling sad anymore. It was the most wonderful service. The music was wonderful...so many great hymns and medley's and the message...it was wonderful! He spoke to "those who come here once a year because they feel a need to make it just once a year" and "to those who come to please their families on Easter" and "to those who just need more evidence of the resurrection" and he said it was his plan to give anyone who was still unsure of the resurrection, everything they would need to be convinced. And in return, he asked that if he showed you all of the evidence, you would, in return, ask Jesus into your heart that day. I mean, it was a service dedicated, even more than usual, to making sure that everyone in that sanctuary would KNOW Christ and KNOW that he died for us and our sins and rose again. It was just wonderful! I can get emotional at any moment...it's the mom genes in me, I think. But, I was just shedding tears the entire service. All of the concealer and makeup underneath my eyes was gone by the end! I think, for Vic and I, we have loved our Lutheran Church for many years and we respect and appreciate the way all denominations worships, whether traditional or contemporary or with passionate sermons or with calm sermons or with ministers or priests or little country preachers. And, I know that I grew up in a Baptist Church so it feels like home to come back to one, but we are also both really feeling good at First Baptist Bryan. We have plans to visit some other church's throughout the year, but people, the ministries, the Sunday School classes, the services and especially the preacher's sermons have been SO fulfilling. So, I am clearly making a sermon with this blog, but we loved our Easter service so much!

Our first Easter as a family of 5. Side note: Did you know Everly went an entire year of her life before she celebrated Easter? Last year, Easter was March 27th, early. She was born April 14th and this year's Easter was April 16th.  

Anyways, after the most important part of the day, 😀, we took the kids outside for the Egg Hunt. Actually, the church had been advertising to the community that it would have a helicopter drop with 35,000 eggs! We had to wait about 30 minutes outside for it to begin, but sure enough the helicopter came. It actually only dropped 4 trash bags full of eggs at each age group's area. The rest of the 35,000 eggs were already on the ground. But, it was still fun to see. Then, the kid went and hunted those eggs. But, it did not go well for Grace. We were about 3 people deep in the mass that went to the 3-4 year old area. And, someone else described it later to us like locusts. The eggs were picked up as kids ran and they picked them up so fast that as we got to each egg, they were snatched up with nothing left behind! Grace was so sad. She had two eggs in her little bucket and I knew the tears were coming. But, they were ready for this, I guess, because they announced to come find volunteers with buckets to get some eggs as well. And, as we walked away, older kids would see her little empty basket and put eggs in it. Even Atticus gave her some of his eggs as soon as he saw other people doing it! ha! It was just a really fun event!

 Here she was ready to hunt!

 Happy after the hunt!

Vic looked short here. He crouched down, so I did too. But, it looks so funny to me!

We headed home and began our long afternoon of lunch, playing, naps, scavenger hunt for baskets and hunting Easter eggs. And let me tell you, it was the best afternoon! A lot of times, with busy weekends and the excitement of surprises like egg hunts, our kids are at the age that they can get cranky and whiney and impatient. But, Vic and I were so pleased that our afternoon was free from any of that. It was just so pleasant and we were so proud of the kids! So, we ate an easy lunch of salad and ham and cheese sliders. We played and then everyone napped. Then, we got up and Vic took the kids on a spelling scavenger hunt around our yard and down the cul-de-sac and it led them to their Easter baskets inside. He would spell where they should go or send them to a spot and ask Atticus to spell something or ask Grace a special question. It was so fun! After baskets of fun goodies, which GG and I slowly buy on clearance or through the last few months (and always end up with way too much), I hid the eggs and they hunted away. For Everly, I just put a bunch on the ground and she would figure out how to open them and eat the puffs inside them while Atticus and Grace hunted.We finished the day with leftovers and baths and bedtime and it was just so fun! On Monday, Vic took the day off and we did things around the house. I love having Vic home on a weekday; it's just so fun to do life together on a weekday for some reason. Here are pictures below, as always!

 We attempted pictures after church. This is the best we got. haha!

 Poor Atticus. His eyes were itchy and hurting for some reason. And then Everly found his watch.

 And then Everly really needed to check that watch out some more.

 Then, his eye hurt more. The watch was the focus. And Grace decided to attack Everly for a hug.

 We switched to fast individual pictures. Here's cutie #1.

 Cutie #2 trying to smile with those itchy eyes. And um...when did he start looking so grown up? I think he might be looking like a 6 year old now! And this is good, because he is dying to be 6 years old. Everyone is turning 6 before him and it is just so hard for him to wait! haha!

 And cutie #3 who found a sticker to adorn her head.

 A picture with my girls. I love their sweet dresses!

 Opening eggs. Every egg had a Bible Verse in it as well and Atticus keeps reading them and putting them on the refrigerator. He keeps tell me "this is another one from The Romans". haha!

 We had lunch. Healthy and delicious.

This cutie!

And I am still so surprised they napped without hesitation even BEFORE we did baskets or eggs.

 So, Vic got them started on their scavenger hunt. Every year, he plans one for them before they get their baskets. He has done it with notes, with pictures and this year, he did it off the top of his head. 

 Luc and Aaron were playing outside when the clues led the kids to the cul-de-sac. When they were sent to the cross in our neighbor's yard, they all posed for a picture!

 Easter baskets are like stockings and are so fun for me!

Here they come at the end of their scavenger hunt!

 She only cared about the trash. Of course!

Grace was hilarious while she opened her basket. For every single item, she would say "this is so cute!" and then "thank you mama for my (fill in the blank)!". Every single thing. She would also call Everly "sweetie" a lot that day!

 She loved a peep! I had to help her not swallow it whole!

 They were ready to hunt and waiting to hear which color eggs they were each to hunt for. Clearly, Everly's were purple and all close by. Look at that little face...she was so excited to see puffs inside her egg!

So, the hunt was a success! And then the afternoon continued with playing with all of their treats and organizing them. Atticus loves to organize his stuff and he had Grace playing and organizing and sharing and it was so funny.

 

And all afternoon, they dubbed Grace a princess and me the queen and Atticus the king while we played hangman, animals, lalaloopsey dolls, drawing, and reading books. They were so funny!

So, now I am going to share photos of Mary and Taylor and Paul! These are not mine to share, but I don't think Mary will mind because they are so special to us! But, look at this little family picture. Beautiful! And look at Paul. I have never seen a cuter little man for Easter! Everything about these photos makes me wish we lived closer to them! I will accept photos until we somehow make that happen one day. 

 I hope you all had a wonderful Easter day celebrating our Risen Saviour and even the Easter egg hunts to go with it! Happy Easter!!

Everly at 12 months

Although I'm sure I will keep updating on all of the new things Everly does in the next year, I will finish out my monthly updates with her 12 month blog post! Here are her stats:

• Weight is 19 lbs. 12 oz and in the 49th percentile.
• Height is 28 1/4 inches and in the 17th percentile.
• She is in size 4 diapers and 12-18 month clothes.
• She is still a great sleeper at night, but changes her mind on naps these days. I have never been able to give her a great napping schedule, and I think some days she only wants one nap, so we'll play it as we go!
• Loves her blankets and now, the one that is more loosely crocheted is pulled around by her finding a loop in the afghan and wrapping it on her finger! 
• She has cut 3 more teeth so she has a total of 10!
• Just this past week, she started pulling up consistently. She is not cruising yet, but she keeps trying to let go and stand on her own when she needs her hands for something else. 
• She is still getting used to other people. We have a sitter coming next week, so we will see how that goes!
• She is a great eater. I have zero complaints. I don't think there is anything she doesn't eat except...plain cheerios. I started her on multi-grain cheerios originally and they do have a sugary taste to them. Well, when I bought regular cheerios last month, she ate them at first, but now just refuses them. 
• She still loves to dance and especially to music the kids play on my phone. She likes her pop-up Minnie Mouse toy, holding the toy telephone up to her ear, and has recently taken an interest in books. She plays with one in the bathtub over and over and she likes to pull them off the shelf in her room and open and close them again and again. She still likes her Dancing Robot (as the kids call it). She also will play with the baby doll stuff and hold the babies and kiss them if we ask her to. So, many times, I still find her and Grace in Grace's room with the door closed playing with babies. I think most of it is Grace probably telling Everly what to do and just being glad Everly is with her, but it's still fun! Everly has also liked pulling up on the play kitchen and will play with just about anything she can get her hands on. She currently likes "if you're happy and you know it" as her favorite song!
• Still take a paci.
• Tickling Everly is my favorite. She just squeezes those eyes shut and waits for me to tickle that neck and it's the cutest thing. She is ticklish everywhere! And she LOVES to get on my bed and roll around and be tickled and play.
• She is starting to dislike her carseat again and mostly on days where we are in and out of it all day long. Sometimes I feel like she gets days where she doesn't get to play at all between naps, cartime, and meals, so I really make a point to get on the floor to play with her even more on days we can. I always think I can tell when she has felt not played with enough because she will want to be in my lap and is immediately unhappy when I stand up and extremely happy when I sit back down. 
• She is going to love being outside as soon as she can walk! She mostly swings and crawls on the concrete now. But, she is getting into the sandbox some and even though she will have to be covered head to toe with that fair skin and red hair, she will be so fun in the water this summer!
• I am still nursing her 3 times a day and while I am sure it will dwindle soon, I still like it. For example, when she felt bad last night, I loved being able to comfort her with nursing. I always miss that when it's over! But, I think she will start to suck that sippy cup full of cows milk down soon, so we will see if she needs that normal nursing or top off during those feedings during the day for much longer.
• She is just doing more and more everyday; she tries to repeat me sometimes and is trying to pull up and do more and more everyday. I can believe she is one, because these last 12 months have been so wonderful and it feels like it's time for her to be a one year old. But, I do miss these baby days for each of my kids! Here is the last installment of the monthly pictures. I think it was my favorite. Read below. 

 So, we sat her down with plans for me to distract her and Vic to sneak behind and put that sticker on the chair before she could see it. She looks at us like she knows what is coming.

 She turned around right away and Vic didn't get a chance to even put it on.

 So, we decided to put it on there and try to just distract her really fast. Of course, she sees it.

 And she turns around to give a devious grin as if to laugh at us and tell us we are crazy if we think she is going to leave that sticker alone.

 Here she goes for it!

 And she's got it.

 So, then we decide to have her stand to the side of the chair. But, we put that sticker way too close.

 Seriously, after 12 months, you would think we would have this process down. We'll try new tactics...on the next baby one day!