Spring Break and Easter

A lot has been happening in the Scharkowski house this month. Mostly just the same old, work, play, sleep, repeat, but that keeps us busy. The beginning of the month brought a welcomed break from routine, though. We had Spring Break the week before Easter. It's Marian's last Spring Break before she graduates, and since she head off to BYU the week after she graduates, we are trying to fit in all the "lasts" before then.

Saturday we met up with our friends, the Parkers, and saw the Kite Festival on the National Mall that is part of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Unfortunately, the weather was not very cooperative and it was very cold and wet. I was still excited, though, since I had never been up there for the kites before. Luke loves trains right now, and riding the metro train was a great excitement. The kites were neat. We got our own kite and Luke and Ellen Parker both made windsocks.

Monday morning of Spring Break we headed up to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. After getting stuck in traffic on 95 (shocker) we finally made it up there. Luke loved seeing the fish "goan" as he calls them. (I don't know why, but that is the word for fish.) He loved looking at them, but he didn't like having his back to them and would freak out when I tried to turn him around for a picture. I guess he didn't want them sneaking up behind him! He also loved his monkey leash (and so did I) so he couldn't run off in the crowds.

Wednesday, Mike, Luke and I headed towards the Lake house. We decided to stop in Charlottesville as a mid-way wiggle point. Mike had never seen the campus of UVA, so we walked on campus a little and saw the dome built by Thomas Jefferson. Luke loved running around the green, and did not want to stop running, but we had to leave and get to the lake.

The rest of the family, including our cousins, the Garfields, and Marian's boyfriend also came down, so it was a full house. Since it was very early in April, we didn't really go in the water. We went for a boat ride and on the wave runner once, but pretty much it was just relaxation for a few days. There was a lot of ping pong fun and since it involved a ball,
Luke loved it. Friday night all the kids dyed Easter eggs. It was a fun, keep the little hands busy activity. I kept the big hands busy by making them help me bubble the bubble sheets for 3rd quarter grades. Yeah for assembly lines making the work go faster!

We drove home on Saturday. That night we had our Family Home Evening about Easter. Sunday morning Luke went hunting for eggs. We had a wonderful Easter sunday remembering Christ's atonement. It was nice to go to Mike's Abuelo's house for a family dinner that night, too.

Spring has sprung here in Northern Virginia. The cherry trees and dogwoods are blooming, the forsythea and azealeas are out. It's really quite beautiful and a perfect analogy of the resurrection. I'm grateful for that reminder during this beautiful season.