Spring Photos

Last week I did a spring photo shoot with the kids.  Each year I do an Easter card for family and friends.  These are some of the photos that I used on my card this year.  They really did a good job.  They are so easy to photograph now that they are older.  They know the drill. " Do it, so we can get it over with!"  Don't ask how I got them to hug!  It even looks sincere.

Not focused!  But it was their pose! They wanted me to take this one!

Egg-cellent Fun

This is one of the highlights of the Easter season for my children.  I started dying eggs with the kids when McKinley was about two.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  I was very pregnant with Ethan and we had the eggs on a short table so McKinley could reach.  I remember it wasn't that easy bending over.

Now that I have taken my trip down memory lane, I will move on.  This year my niece and nephew, Peyton and Paxton, came over to dye eggs with us.  Of course McKinley is like a little mama so she helped little Pax.  Peyton is a big girl so she had to do everything on her own.  They did a great job and had a lot of fun.  Paxton splashed all of us.  He didn't quite understand that you have the drop the egg in easily.  We hid the eggs on Easter! 

Our Eggs!

Happy Easter

Praise the Lord! He is Risen!!  We started off our  Easter morning at 6:30.  Our church held a beautiful sunrise service.  What an awesome experience watching the sunrise on a beautiful Easter morning.  We have our service each year in the cemetery across the street from our church.  Can't even imagine the emotions that Mary must have experienced when she realized the tomb was EMPTY. 

Afterwards we decorated the cross with many colorful spring flowers and had a delicious breakfast prepared by the men in our church.  My family came over for lunch and we did an egg hunt for the kids!  We enjoyed spending time with our family and relaxed out by the pool.  Hope that each of you had a blessed day!

Oh Glorious Day!

I am overwhelmed with emotion when I think about the true meaning of Easter.  So glad that I worship a loving and forgiving God.  To think that He loved me so such that he would send his one and only son to die for a sinner like me. 

As I was studying and preparing my Sunday school lesson last week something touched me in such a powerful way.  I pondered on the anguish that Jesus must have went through as he prayed in the garden on the night before he was to go to the cross.  He wanted to do the will of his father but for that to happened there would be a complete separation between the father and the son.  This is something that Jesus had never experienced because God had walked this journey with Jesus.  It brought tears to my eyes.  I could not imagine one second without God.  When the things of this world get so bad and when I am in the darkest moments of life God is always with me.  Even in bad times I feel his presence.  No wonder Jesus sweat blood as he prayed. 

I just thank God for all he does for me.  He is preparing me to be able handle anything that comes into my life.  He never leaves me and holds my hand along the way.  And when I fall he carries me.  Father God thank you for sending your son Jesus to be the Savior of the world! 

Just listen to the words of this song and be blessed!

Happy Birthday Janie!

Last week my sweet sister celebrated her 35th birthday!  We all enjoyed dinner at Miyabi's and then came back to our house to eat cake and ice cream.  I wanted to take pics at the restaurant but my camera died so I only got one picture and it was of Ethan.  She had a great birthday surrounded by the people that love her.  God has blessed me with a beautiful sister on the inside and the outside.  I just pray that she will trust Him and allow Him to work his mighty hands into all the areas of her life.

Happy Birthday, Janie!  

 

So BLESSED!

Ethan at Miyabi's

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Every year at our church we have an egg hunt for the children.  The pastor begins this by telling the story of Easter using the "Resurrection Eggs".  Each egg has something in it that symbolizes part of the Easter story.  It is so cute listening to some of the younger children's reaction to what is in each egg.

Afterwards the kids race outside to find the eggs.  Even the older kids like this because some of the eggs have money in them.  This is something that our children have been doing since they were babies so we always look forward to this fun event.  So blessed to have such a loving church family.  We are looking forward to sunrise service on Easter Sunday.

You're slowing me down Mom!!!

St. Patrick's Day Fun

We started the day off early.  My alarm was set for our wake up time for school days.  McKinley had to be dressed and ready for the St. Patrick's Day parade at 8:15. Her dance studio had to walk/dance in the parade. My neice Peyton was also in the parade.  The weather was absolutely beautiful.  The girls were soaking wet with sweat after walking in the parade.  McKinley claimed she walked 3 miles.  Not really sure how far it was but she was wore out.  They looked great in their hot pink, green and zebra attire.  All the girls are very supportive of each other and all the dance moms are just precious!  I love spending time with them at competitions and events like this.