Easter 2014

Since Karson was born, four years ago, we haven't had a "normal" Easter.  Karson was only a few weeks old, had his days and nights mixed up, and Molly had just had her knee replaced in 2010.  We didn't leave the house, but my Mom brought Easter dinner over.  In 2011, Kars had a 103 degree fever, and we spent the day in the rocking chair.  In 2012, I was in labor with Ellary.  Last year, the whole family was sick.  I didn't have high hopes this year, but thankfully no one was sick, and we had a fun family filled day!

 

I have learned that you don't get good pictures of kids on holidays.  We dressed up the kids a few days before, and snapped a few pictures.  Just incase we didn't get any on Easter.

 

The dress Ellary was wearing, my Grandma got for me when I was her age. 

 

 

The Saturday before Easter, we colored eggs.  The kids had so much fun.  And Mommy, Daddy, and Nana laughed really hard watching them. 



We may not have had the prettiest eggs, but their faces every time they pulled their eggs out of the dye were priceless!

They each colored a dozen eggs.  When they were done, they colored them all again.  We had a lot of brown-ish eggs. :) 

Easter morning, two very excited kids woke up to see what the Easter Bunny brought.  He hid all of their Easter eggs too.  They loved running around finding them all!

 

In order to make it somewhat fair, and to make the fun last longer, we made the rule that you could bring ONE egg at a time back to the basket.  Our little rule follower never brought more than one, and constantly reminded Ellary she couldn't have more than one in her hands at a time. :)

After they found all the eggs, we opened all the ones with "special treats" inside.  When Ella was finding the eggs, she would sake them.  If it was a real egg with nothing inside, she would put it back and find one she knew had candy in it. :)

After opening all their "special treat eggs," we headed to church and then to Grandma & Grandpa Smedley's for an Easter Egg hunt with the Smedley cousins.

After a quick visit with the Smedleys, we headed to Nana & Bumpa's for Easter dinner and another egg hunt.  It was beautiful out, and Ella had another Easter dress of mine that fit.  It was a good excuse to change her. :)

Egg hunt at Nana's.

It was nice to have our first "real" day of Easter celebrations.  We spent the rest of the day playing outside at Nana's house, and enjoying the first really warm day this Spring!

Fall-Leaves-Pumpkin Carving-Halloween

 I love fall.  

 

I love bundling up my babies for the first time.

  I love the hats, and the gloves, and the warm cozy clothes.

  I love having a fire in our fire place and the pretty fall colors.

The colors were absolutely Beautiful this year.

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My kids love to be outside.  In fact, a certain little boy asks to go outside first thing in the morning.  He has yet to realize that Mama isn't up for outside playtime before coffee.  

Fall is the best outside play weather.

Plus...it is just so pretty out!

I though I could sneak a fall picture of Miss Ellary in my Mom's flower garden.

She had other priorities than smiling at Mama...

...like trying to eat leaves.

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All those leaves eventually fell off the trees.  And they fell fast.  DJ would pick up the leaves in the front, move to the back, and by the time he was done, the yard was covered again.  We had a beautiful 70 degree day, with freshly fallen (dry) leaves a few weeks ago.  Perfect for playing in.  So much so that we skipped nap to get as much time outside as we could.

My outside loving babies were in Heaven...and Ellary tried to eat as many leaves as she could.

I am sorry Sweet Girl...but as a Sister to 3 brother...you are doomed to a lifetime of getting leaves thrown over your head.  Just wait until he throws you off the front porch into the snow...

I love when I catch a glimpse of them paying attention to each other.  It has taken Karson a while to decide he likes being a Big Brother...

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I am all for traditions, and doing Holidays BIG.  Halloween is not my favorite, but I am beginning to love it with kiddos.  And, thankfully, they have a Daddy who loves carving pumpkins.  Because, well, their Mama doesn't.  I love watching...but you will never find me with my hand in a pumpkin...not gonna happen.

Karson was content to watch with Mama.  He didn't like the "ickies." We couldn't keep Ellary out of the pumpkins.

DJ convinced him to try and touch the "ickies."  We immediatly washed his hands.

 

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Halloween was cold.  And rainey.  And cold.  DJ kept reminding me to be thankful.  We still have a house.  We still had power.  The only impact we had from Sandy was a little rain on Halloween.

Ellary went as a ballerina to Story Time.

For Trick or Treating...she want as a baby in a snowsuit.

Karson went as a Choo-Choo Driver.  Complete with his very own Train.

DJ converted a water heater box and his wagon into the best Halloween Train for my Choo Choo Driver.

 

He even had a working light...

Trick or Treating at Nana's.

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And with that my babies who are so messed up with this time change are up...