Easter

 We had a quiet Easter Celebration as a family. What a treasure to color eggs, worship together, enjoy a delicious meal, and family time before Lukas had to head back to school.

Lukas' steak au jus - cooked in the cast iron pan

Yes, we wore our very best clothes to Easter morning brunch :-)

Bob cleaning off the windshield so we can see well when driving down the hill - he is so thoughtful and safety-minded. 

Just to prove that we did get dressed appropriately for church, we took the obligatory photo by the front door. 

Dress up Flagstaff style 

Family Hike

 We took advantage of the nice weather and headed out for a hike. Noah grabbed his bike, and the rest of us laced up our hiking boots. The goal was to explore the antennas at the top of the mountain - I must admit I could barely contain my excitement. Fortunately, someone had left the area in a hurry, so the gate was open, allowing for a complete and comprehensive exploration of the site. 

Reconnoitering made us thirsty, so the frozen piles of undisturbed snow on the side of the trail helped us refill the water bottles. 

Since Noah was biking, the weather was good, and I brought my camera; we took a few graduation photos as well. I cannot believe he is about to turn 18 and graduate. 

A little chapel at the side of the road. You tack up a note on the inside wall if you want to reserve it. 

Pizza Night

 Lukas came home for the weekend to celebrate his Mama, get his vaccination, and spend Easter with us. Friday night pizza making was fun and enjoyable. Everyone is venturing out a bit, trying new combinations, new handling methods, and new baking processes. I think we have pretty much mastered the perfect pizza, or better yet, the perfect pizzas - there is more than one great version. 

Sibling Lunch

 Noah drove down to pick up his brother. Lukas treated him to lunch at the dining hall at the Tempe campus - Noah's first on-campus meal, but certainly not the last one. 

Second Celebration

 As if I was not feted sufficiently in Sweden, Bob, Lukas, and Noah held a second celebration for me. The house was decorated with balloons and streamers - Noah even added some to my coffee pot - and we had a lovely dinner and tasty dessert before opening wonderful gifts. I am truly blessed!

Skiing

Noah and I took advantage of good weather and plenty of snow to hit the slopes. One never knows how many more opportunities there will be for skiing this season. Bundled up, we took selfies on the lift. 

Sweden

 I had an opportunity to visit my Mom in Sweden for a week in late March. As the plane approached Stockholm, I had a fantastic view out the window, such a nice welcome. 

We spent time talking, eating good food, sipping nice wines and bubbles, walking, doing errands, and celebrating my birthday. 

Sweden did not disappoint; nice sunny weather one day, cold, windy, and rainy the next. But, we did get to see the first spring blooms - Tussilago and blasippor. 

I am grateful for the time I get to spend with my Mom and for Bob and Noah to hold down the fort while I was gone. Noah happily assisted me in unpacking the bags to discover the treasures I brought back. It is a good thing nobody weighed my carry-on bag.