HAPPY EASTER!

I hope everyone had as fun an Easter weekend as we did!

Believe it or not, we actually had sunshine for TWO WHOLE DAYS!!

It was gorgeous and a wonderful time to celebrate together.

We did all our "Easter Bunny" celebrating on Saturday.

First thing that morning was to find Easter Baskets!

Here's where I convinced Danna to look excited instead of pulling that face from the previous picture. Here's what I got ... almost a little overly excited I'd say ... okay, I might be leaning toward outright creepy :)

counting Easter eggs ---- "31...32...33..." they actually did not get that many but it made me laugh to think she was making it seem like she had more by counting higher. (I'm pretty sure I did the same thing with Christmas presents back in the day)

photo shoot with the sunglasses from their basket ...

and funny egg faces ...

We even got to celebrate a bit with my brother Devan ...

can you guess who's wrapped around his finger?

We decided that Sunday we'd try to focus on the real reason to celebrate Easter instead of chocolate and bunnies and eggs.

The girls also got new Easter dresses which I will brag about for just a minute. A friend and I decided to swap talents this past few weeks. I made her a baby quilt (easy peasy) and she made my girls these absolutely adorable matching skirts. Aren't they to. die. for! Love them!

here's a picture the first few seconds outside before Brynn decided that she hated grass.

Carina was crying because it was 'cold' and we forced her to take her coat off for the picture and Brynn was hysterical that I'd have the audacity to put her down in the grass so the picture didn't turn out at all. You get the gist of their adorableness still though right? We'll keep working on it.

back inside, and consoled. Isn't she a cutie!

This may be one of my favorite pictures of all time. Sister love ... (Carina will hopefully join them next time)

And this might also be one of my favorite pics of all time. Are my kids not perfectly adorable or what???

Go on, you can rave about them too ...

Visits from

C-O-U-S-I-N-S

Can't hardly wait one more minute till they get here ... (faces pressed up against the window watching and waiting) --- {mom} "Girls, they aren't coming till Friday--3 more days"--{Danna}"okay, so tomorrow?"-- {mom} "No, 2 more sleeps ..." -- {Rina} "After my nap?" -- {mom-shaking her head} "K-whatever, go ahead and wait there till they come."

Outside, inside, upstairs, downstairs, clothed, jammied, in the bathtub, hungry, tired, happy or sad, they LOVE to play with cousins always!

Unusually less clingy to mom when cousins are in town ...

"Sure you can play with my toys," and, "Of course mom, I'd love to eat all my dinner," and, "Oh it's bedtime, hold on for just 5 more minutes so I can pick up my toys first ..." {mom does a double-take and tries to figure out what's up with her kids}

(okay okay, here's a bit of an exaggeration but it's definitely black and white from the whiny-ness of the day AFTER cousins were here)

Immune to the blandness of the weather, or the fact that we don't actually get out and DO anything when family comes ... playing with cousins in our same ol' house, with their same ol' toys keeps them distracted and utterly happy.

Never need to 'get used' to each other again. They pick up where they left off the last time they were all together whether it be 3 weeks, 2 months or a year ago that we saw them last ...

(okay so this picture cracks. me. up. I think Leah was like, what's the big deal?)

So utterly sad to have to say goodbye. And then planning the next trip to see the cousins again. {Danna} "Okay, mom, it's been 4 more sleeps now it's time to go see our cousins ..." {mom} "Wait, what? Where did you get that idea ..."

We love to have family come visit and are so grateful for joy that they bring to us and to our children! Thanks for the visit Richard and Kristin --sorry I didn't get more pics (or better pics)

Please come again any time!

(you too Amber and Talon--you have no excuses bwa ha ha ha!)

Thankful

I woke up today sounding like a chain smoker ...

I think it's official that I've come down with something--we're going to be hopeful that it's just a common ol' cold.

I feel like doing just about nothing today and am slightly bummed because Mondays are usually my most 'productive' days.

My goal is to avoid moping and complaining today {sigh} wish me luck.

There are so many things that I am thankful for today, despite the yuckiness ...

• for a little independence,
  My baby is totally entertained for good periods of time just because she can move so well. She follows me from room to room and keeps herself occupied most of the time. (Today maybe being an exception since her first tooth broke through this morning-yay!)

• for laundry that can wait,
• for leftovers,
• for kleenex,
• for movies, (go ahead, think I'm an awful mom all you want). It gives me (and the kids) a nice little break everyday for some wind down time.

• for a few sunshiny days to break up the monotony of the cold a dreary days,
• and for living in a tiny town where we can go for walks and can feel safe practicing bike riding down the street to the park,

• for Nutella, (because it's good)
• for dance music and dress-ups,
• for kids who can (and do) sleep practically ANYWHERE,

• for good books,
• for fresh strawberries and blueberries from my bountiful basket,
• for creative minds and crayons ...

• and for 3 beautiful healthy girls and a handsome husband who takes care of me.

What are YOU thankful for today?

Thank you

Thanks to everyone who gave advice on helping kids to eat ... we're definitely trying to take your ideas into our home.

We're trying to have a fun time of it.

We even had a picnic on the living room floor the other day with sandwiches, fresh cut veggies (with ranch dressing to dip) and marshmallows for dessert.

It was semi-successful.

Brynn, of course, ate everything she could reach-- even though she has no teeth and probably should not have... I'm a good mom like that. There was no choking going on, (I was watching carefully)

MMMMMmmmmm broccoli!

Did you know playing with food--making them talk (and sing)--actually Helps my kids eat? well, sorta.

YUUUUMMMMM! broccoli, broccoli, broccoli, broccoli!!!

Can you tell how much Carina like's celery? She was SUPER enthusiastic :) way to be a good sport honey.

Nom nom nom ...

I think Brynn takes after her mother. She looooves food.

And she doesn't seem to mind being one of the "chunkies" in the family---though chunky babies are cute and chunky mommies are not so much ...

soooo I guess it's time to get the word out ...

We're expecting again!

and um ...

this time there are 2!

Whadaya think the chance is that they will be boys?

. . . APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!! . . .

I know, super original. Nope, if this were true right now in my life I certainly would NOT be up to joking about it just yet.