Life is Full of Smiles

We've been busy lately! April just seemed to sneak up on us! Here is a snapshot of what you missed

Our quick trip to Charlotte. The kids and I went down for a weekend trip on Good Friday. 

Yes, crazy girl got in the freezing cold pool. 

One morning Ryan brought Reece upstairs so he could get in the shower. Reece was supposed to be waking up but he kept falling back to sleep. Hailey said, "I'll watch him mom. You go downstairs." sweet girl!

Reece loves to stand in Hailey's tower and see what's going on. This day I was showing him how to color. He colored on paper for a minute and then he colored on the tower instead. Oops!

Hailey got a stuffed animal pillow to store her stuffed animals in and has insisted on sleeping on it for her naps. It is precious

Reece got another hair cut...and his first lollipop 

And then poor baby took his first tumble. He fell off the front step and skinned up his face. It looks terrible and I'm pretty sure I felt worse than he did. 

And this sweet girl's imagination amazes and cracks me up everyday. This day we were playing vet and she said, "this is my duck Reece. He seems to have a quacking problem. How can you help?"

Life around here is never dull and full of smiles!

Easter Pictures

A little late but it's still the appropriate month so it counts, right?!

I love thinking of and planning out eater baskets, birthday presents and Christmas presents! It's so much fun to think about and plan what to get my kids. This year they had new placemats (made by grams and Julie). Hailey had a workbook, bubble basket, headband, dog figurine, two dinosaur figurines, toothpaste, new plate, and bunny fruit snacks. Reece had an extension for his car track, snack trap, water bottle, football and yogurt raisins. 

We tried for cute Easter pics...we really did. But this is what happened 

Starting off well

And then downhill

I can't help but laugh at Hailey's expression in this one. 

Then I gave up and we asked a friend to take one at church. It wasn't terrible 

Good picture or not we still had a great day celebrating our risen Savior!

Easter Egg Hunt

We hosted an Easter Egg Hunt in our cul-de-sac this year! We had so much fun! 

I think we ended up with close to 14 kids...and all but about 5 live in our cul-de-sac! It's a busy place! :)

We quickly explained the boundaries and such and then the craziness began. 

The kids were hunting for lots of candy filled eggs, but also a special empty egg. 

These dads ended up hanging out with the littlest ones

After the eggs were found, the kids had fun checking out the loot 

Then we all gathered together to see who found the empty egg. Ty did! We hid the empty egg to signify the empty tomb that was found on Easter morning because Jesus had risen and He is alive!

After Ty won the special prize we read the Easter story to share with our friends the reason that we celebrate Easter. 

Then we had some time to enjoy bubbles, chalk, friends and food! 

We had so much fun hosting our first annual Easter egg hunt! We are looking forward to making it a tradition. 

(Several of these pictures were taken by our neighbor, Linsley)

Conversation with Hailey

Outside Fun

Last week we got to enjoy some more spring weather! 

We had a st. Patrick's Day party with our neighbors for the kids. They had a rainbow lunch, had a blast playing outside and did a rainbow craft. I am so thankful for other stay-at-home moms close by!

We got out the corn meal to play in one afternoon and Reece was in heaven. Give that boy a shovel and he is happy!

We went to lowes one day with Ryan to get some things to finish up a backyard project and of course the kids had a blast running around and getting into everything ;) doesn't everyone let their kids loose in lowes??

The pastors' wives at our church get together each month for a prayer and fellowship time. This month we had one of the wives lead us in making a painting. I was way doubtful that mine would look anything like hers but I was super proud of how it turned out! It is even hanging in our living room for the spring season 

And we had a big treat on Saturday when mimi and poppi came to visit for Hailey's birthday! They took her to Build-A-Bear and then met us for ice cream. 

Hailey was in heaven!

Reece decided he was going to eat the ice cream himself. 

Ahhh! Spring, we're so glad you are here!

Picture Round-up

I have lots of cute (well I think they're cute) pictures on my phone and I just can't delete them without sharing ;)

These two love sitting at the table in the playroom for snack time (or anytime) and Reece's squished up nose is just precious

Reece has discovered the joy of playing at target. We had to go there for a few things last week and he was practically jumping out of the cart to walk the aisles 

We have spent lots of time outside soaking up the spring weather. We took a trip to the playground last week but someone wasn't really a fan of the sand on his hands

Ryan refinished a picnic table for the kids and he had a little helper when he was putting it back together 

And two happy kids when he was done! I foresee lots of picnics in our future

Our neighbor celebrated her first birthday party this past weekend. It was bunny themed so we had to wear our bunny shirts. 

Hailey loved that they had a real bunny to hold!

My little bunnies weren't interested in taking pictures 

Hailey wore one of the dresses my mom made for me and my sisters on Sunday to church 

She looked so big before school yesterday! I can't believe we only have one more year left before kindergarten 

And as Reece said after lunch "all done!"