Easter 2013

We left Friday, March 29 and traveled down to Oregon to celebrate Easter with PopPop and Nana, and Matt's sister Shawn and her family (Uncle Mike, Cousins Alex and Joshua). We missed the presence of Matt's other sister Traci and her family (Uncle Keith, Cousins Samantha and Sydney) since they live in Texas now, but they were certainly in our hearts and there in spirit.

 

Friday afternoon we stopped and visited with Shawn, Mike, Alex and Josh at their home. The boys were able to run and play at the park near their home and Amy was glad to crawl around and loved being cuddled/held in our arms after the long car ride there. We arrived at PopPop and Nana's house in time for dinner. PopPop and Nana left to attend a previously scheduled play with friends in a nearby town for the evening, so we settled in, relaxed, and made ourselves at home (including a quick errand to buy fresh tulips for the Easter dinner table).

 

Saturday morning was a BEAUTIFUL, sunny, Pacific Northwest day. It really couldn't have been a more perfect day, weather-wise. We left the house around 9:20 and arrived at the local community Easter Egg Hunt at a local park. We heard we should arrive early and we're so glad we did. We found parking easily and enjoyed looking at all the cool fire engines and also enjoyed seeing the live animals they had on display for the kids to pet.

 

David (2-1/2 years old) and PopPop watching Jay (4-1/2 years old) brush the heifer.

David's turn to brush the heifer!

Jay petting a super soft and tame bunny.

Jay and David smiling nicely and so excited for the easter egg hunt to begin.

A family photo!!

 Matt holding 7 month old Amy and Nana

We're watching as the volunteer firefighters scatter candy-filled plastic eggs across the field.

It's getting closer to the time to hunt the eggs!!!

A short video clip - GO!! at 10 a.m.

 

Checking out one of many fire engines.

David enjoying a bite of Easter egg candy. :)
 

Amy took a good late morning nap. Meanwhile the boys opened their special Easter bag treats from Nana and PopPop.

 

Shawn's family arrived mid-afternoon and we set to work on preparing the table for an early Easter dinner celebration together Saturday late-afternoon.

Thanks to my (not-so-fabulous) camera skill, the family dinner photo, minus Aunt Shawn. Ha! (Special apologies about that, Shawn)

Thanks to PopPop's camera skills, here is a nice family photo.

After dinner we decided to enjoy the beautiful day by taking a family walk around the nearby walking trail. We had a great time. Here is a cute photo of Matt, Jay, and Amy...

David, PopPop, Jay, Aunt Shawn, and Amy

Happy 7 month old Amy

We were serenaded by David a few times.

Here he sings "Jesus Loves the Little Children"

 Then David sang, "Jesus, Name Above All Names"

followed by his current favorite song, "J[D]ingle Bells"

After our walk we sat out on the deck and continued to enjoy our time together. I was able to take lots of photos of Amy with PopPop and captured many of her "looks."

Easter Sunday morning the boys enjoyed some last moments of playtime. Here they are happily coloring together. We were all dressed in navy blue and white, but unfortunately I forgot to have a family photo taken. Another time, perhaps.

I hope you all had a terrific Easter!! Hallelujah! He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Amy's First Bites

Amy has been eating some solid food (baby oatmeal cereal in particular) since 6 months old.

Last night she had her first bites of homemade, unsweetened applesauce.

We had to document her trying it out via a video clip.

She truly liked it despite the looks. She kept coming back and wanting more.

Coloring Easter Eggs

Yesterday, March 27th, we colored some hard-boiled Easter eggs and had so much fun!

PopPop & Nana Time!

It has been quite a while since I posted something new on this little blog of ours. I have other pictures to post from December, but time has flown by and other items have been more of a priority.

 

Speaking of other priorities, the biggest one has been the purchase of a new home! Yes, the week after Thanksgiving we began a new house search and by December 17th we found "the one" and placed an offer. Later that week after negotiations we had mutual acceptance!

 

Christmas was enjoyed with Matt's side of the family followed by a birthday/New Year celebration with my side of the family. Then packing commenced!!

 

My Mom Amy came and spent January 9-12 with us and helped me make big strides packing up items around the house.

 

Then January 21-24 Matt's parents (PopPop & Nana) arrived to help make more forward progress. Matt was away at a work conference those days so their help was utilized both in helping me care for these three precious kiddos and making another huge leap forward toward moving out and readying this condo for renters. We were exhausted at the end of each day keeping up with the kids and accomplishing so many different tasks each day.

 

Here are a few photos PopPop took during our time together.

Nana & Amy (5 months old)

Picture taken January 21 

Jay and David on January 22

(Jay made the crown in class while Mommy attended Bible Study that day)

 Jay (4-1/2 years old) cheesing it up for PopPop

Picture taken January 24

David (2-1/2 years old) smiling sweetly for PopPop
Picture taken January 24

Sweet, angelic, sleeping Amy (5 months old)

Picture taken January 24

 

Life is full and busy these days! Looking forward to posting pictures of the new house soon. Move-in is February 1 and 2!!

2012 Ladies Christmas Friendship Dinner

This was my first year of being a table hostess at our church's annual Ladies Christmas Friendship Dinner. Thanks to my Mom and sister-in-law who completed my set of teacups and saucers last Christmas, I had enough Lenox Holiday china to set a table of 8.

 

This year's dinner theme was "Let Heaven and Nature Sing." I immediately thought of the Byers Choice figurines that Uncle Don and Aunt Judy have given to our family (each figurine represents one of us - Amy's figurine will arrive this Christmas probably) and how appropriate the carolers would be for this year's theme.

 

 

Take a tour of some of the other 50+ tables that were so creatively and beautifully decorated.

A picture of my table guests!

We thoroughly enjoyed The Three Wiseman - our entertainment for the evening.

(Timothy James Meaney is our talented worship pastor and tours with these guys this time of year.)

And some after dinner photos of some of my friends!

It was a very fun evening. I can't wait to do it again next year!