Easter 2014

the annual egg coloring

This Easter, we woke up to the most beautiful spring day! A birds chirping, flowers blooming, maybe even a bunny or two hopping by type of cliche perfect spring day. Everything about the day whispered new life and fresh beginnings.

The girls woke up to some Easter basket surprises at the breakfast table.

There's nothing like little girls in their new Easter dresses. A mini photo shoot before church was a must.

I present....Ella's cheese face!

love this so much.

We started the morning at church celebrating our risen Christ and all the promise, all the hope that brings to our lives year round. We came home to welcome our family for lunch and enjoyed lots of yummy food together.  Papa, Uncle Cory, Grandma and Casey were here for the afternoon.

I love everything about the colors of spring and the simplicity of fresh tulips on the table.

We enjoyed our appetizers outside.

Nina and Ollie were instant buddies. There wasn't a minute of tension, which was a great relief.

She's a hugger!

Fits right in the basket

After lunch, we headed outside for an egg hunt. This was the first year Ella was old enough to walk around and find eggs.  Abby liked having a partner to hunt for treasure with.

 

being interviewed by Daddy

found one

sibling selfie

mommy and girls

Daddy and his girls

One of the best parts of the day was when the girls and I walked out to the car on Easter morning to go to church. Our neighbor, Mr. Brian, was across the street and came over to say hello. It was such a sweet moment. As we wished Mr. Brian a Happy Easter and he told the girls how pretty their dresses were, Ella ran over to him without any prompting and gave him a big hug like he was a member of the family. It made his day! It is such a sweet snapshot of Ella's personality. She hugs and includes and goes out of her way to make people feel welcome.

Grandma! Look at my dress! (Then she lifted her whole dress up and flashed the world.)

our family

me and my momma

love.

Dad and Uncle C

resting with Gma and Ollie

My people. Always.

instant love

no need to say a word...but Uncle C was a new puppy owner just a few days later. Puppy fever.

the girls

Gma, Casey and the girlies

bubbles

Oliver was not starved for attention AT ALL.

hanging out with Casey

free bird...flying carefree

Sunshine, Grammy & Junket

Abby is very passionate about being a good pet owner. She takes extra care to love her pup well...from quality time to training. She loves having someone to nurture and having someone to command. And of course Ollie is the only one who takes it! :)

 

quality time with her buddy boy

Last library trip, we borrowed a book called Where's My Sock? by Joyce Dunbar. I joked as we added it to our bag that Daddy would have to read this one to Abby because we all know how much Daddy dislikes losing a sock.  When I opened to the first page, I literally laughed out loud. This is the conversation that happens in our house every week when a sock goes missing, except ours goes: Joe was mad. Joe was REALLY mad. Joe was as mad as can be! What's the matter, Joe? asked Jen. I can't find my other sock, said Joe. Oh so serious. So funny!

Where's My Sock? by Joyce Dunbar

I love coming downstairs to see my girls snuggled up and reading. Just today, I heard Ella walk over to Abby with a book and say, "Peese Abby. Peese read me Abby."  Oh my heart.

While we were at the mall shopping for new spring clothes, Abby ran over to this mannequin and said "Look Mommy, we are jean jacket twins. Take a picture!"

We have been super excited to get out on our new deck for the first time this season. What's better than waking up from an afternoon nap and heading out into the sunshine to color?

Your sister joining you when she wakes up! But, what's even better than that?

Ollie boy coming out to join the party! And just in case you thought it couldn't get any better?

Mommy busted out the ice cream cones!

This picture really captures their relationship. This is real life a lot of the time. So precious!

Grammy came to visit a couple of weeks ago! Her visit was filled with fun...I mean c'mon. It started with these AH-MAZING zoo visors. :)

We went out to dinner that night and the girls were so hyped up with excitement to see Grammy that we literally couldn't get them to eat a thing. They wanted to chat and sit on her lap and chat some more!

Ella spent at least a half hour entertaining us by drawing her family. She kept drawing lines and telling us who it was. Then, she would proudly hold it up and say, "See!"

 

This video happened later in the week, but shows Ella's enjoyment of drawing family portraits and how much she misses her Nagymama. Both of these conversations happen on a daily basis in our house lately! 

Grammy brought a fun book and activity to do with the girls. They read about Grammy's favorite childhood treat, Junket, and then got to make it with her.

On Grammy's last day, we spent the morning at the park. The girls rode bikes and played their hearts out on the playground. Then, we enjoyed our first picnic of the year.

snuggles with Grammy

The rest is just a whole lot of sunny happiness. 

first visit from the ice cream man this year

love that Abby can wake up from a nap and enjoy her own time outside on the deck