Snapshot of Easter 2011

Trying to get a good family picture is a bit difficult...

Happy Easter!  4.5 mo prego

Getting a good picture with a baby is tough stuff around our house!  Mia had just put her feet in the water and was currently playing with the water on her toes.  :)

I LOVE her expression here!

Peek-a-boo!

Reaching for her daddy!  

I wish I had Caleb behind the camera all of the time.  He always makes her smile!

I hope your Easter was as fun as ours.  We are truly blessed. :)

Here comes Peter Cottontail...

I have a TON of eggs from when I was a teacher.  I dumped some of them out for Mia the other day and she loved it!

I kept trying to get her to look at me and smile.  This is all I got.  haha!

haha!  WHY do kids like to put stuff in their mouth?!!!

Feeding the bunny

"Shhhh!  Don't tell anyone that I ate all of those jellybeans!"

Having a kid is FUN! :)

Earth Day around my house...

:)

Easter...

Last week Caleb and I were talking about Easter.

Caleb: "It's crazy!  What do people who don't believe in Jesus think Easter is all about?  Why do they celebrate it?  Do they think it is about bunnies and eggs?"

I have been thinking about this ALL week.

My mom got Mia a book called What is Easter?  by Michelle Medlock Adams.  Here is what it says: (make sure you read it all the way to the end!)


The little bunny hops, hops, hops.

Is this what Easter means?
Is it about the Easter eggs
All filled with jellybeans?

Is Easter about hunting eggs?
I do that every year.
Does it mean eating chocolate stuff?
I ate my bunny's ear.

Is it about the baby chicks?
They're fuzzy, and they're fun!
I saw some Easter chicks for sale.
I really wanted one.

Is it about the Easter toys?
They're really fun, I think.
One time a bunny came to me.
His little nose was pink.

Is it about my brand-new dress?
And my new Easter hat?
Does it mean wearing shiny shoes?
I really do love that!

Is it about a big parade
With lots of pretty floats?
Is it about the Easter choir?
They sing the highest notes!

NO! That's not what Easter means.

Easter means much more than that.
It's all about God's son.
See, God sent Jesus down to earth
To die for everyone.

He had to die upon a tree
To save us from our sin.
But he was only dead three days,
And then he rose again.

Now that's what Easter really means!
It's quite a special day.
Jesus our Savior rose again.
Hooray!  Hooray!  Hooray!

Today, he sits right next to God
In Heaven up above.
He wants to live inside you too
And fill you up with love!

Okay, now I get it.
The Easter Bunny is okay,
And Easter eggs are fun.
But Easters' not about that stuff...

It's all about God's son.


I just put Mia's Easter basket together today and filled the eggs with jellybeans.  I have to remember though, that even though she is just 15 months, I need to be intentional on focussing Easter on what it really IS.  :)  The bunnies, eggs, candy, and fun clothes are all great, but THEY do not define Easter.

This children's book was a good reminder for me. :)

SOOOOO Thankful...

Does your family have any Thanksgiving traditions?  Growing up, my family had a few:

1. We (mainly just me) always start the day off by watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.
2. puzzles
3. basketball games in the driveway (My Granny actually did a REAL "granny shot" one year! haha)
4. black olives! (on all 10 fingers)
5. FAMILY, family, and more family!!!!
6. soccer games
7. folding the table napkins in unique ways
8. yummy, not so healthy, stomach filling food!!!!! (with a little pumpkin pie to top it off)
9. games and/or movies
10. sharing what you're thankful for while sitting around the table

Even though you know AT LEAST 3 people will ask you what you are thankful for during this season, you're still never REALLY prepared to answer.  Most people say the first thing that pops into their mind: God, family, food, a house, etc...  These are all things I am very thankful for, but there is SO MUCH more!  So, in an effort to become more aware of all the great things in my life, I have started an "I am thankful for...." list.  Wanna know what's on it?  I thought you would, so I started to write one on here, but quickly realized I felt like people were looking into my life.  haha!  So I think I'll keep it private for now.  But go ahead and start your own!  It doesn't have to be a Thanksgiving only list...keep it going all year long!  And extend it to others.  Choose someone in your life and tell them at least 5 reasons why you are thankful for them. :)  Then...choose someone else and do the same thing!

Enjoy this season!  And try to make it GREAT for someone else!

uh oh!

I mean seriously...how could you not just adore this little bundle of joy!

She is a pro at using this little contraption. I can't believe she is getting so big!!!

Gracie and I went to get Mia up from her nap.  You see who she is pointing to. :)  Mia LOVES our cat.

The tree in our front yard had AMAZING leaves.  They dropped in about 3 days though.

SO GLAD Caleb is back from Haiti!

I wish you could hear her elephant noise.  It is so cute!

Trying to type while Daddy works...

No no, Mia!

She can always get his attention :)

He is so good to her. :)

Hopefully these pictures made you smile a bit!  Have a GREAT day!

Natalie