Easter, Easter

Last weekend was awesome, awesome, awesome!

Mainly because we had Daddy for 3 whole days, since he got Good Friday off, and also because of all the fun holiday activities. Saturday, morning we headed over to Home Depot again for their kid workshops. We built the same planter again but this time they gave us Easter/Earth Day stickers and two strawberry plants. Needless to say Pepper was more interested in the stickers.
Morgan was pretty excited about his hammer and awesome orange socks and pink dress shirt. Yep, this kid has his own fashion sense.

Daddy finally got Pepper focused. Not that she is actually hitting a nail but she's trying.

Abby and Jerry hard at work.

The workers and their finished projects.

Later that day after naptime, Becky, Jerry and kids and our neighbors joined us for our first official bar-b-que and Easter celebration. This was the super cute dessert Becky made.

Everyone hard at work dying eggs.

Simon supervising.

Abe making sure the chips are good.

Pepper showing off the yummy bean dip that Amy made. I couldn't believe how much of it Pepper ate. Though I don't blame her because it was delicious!

Abby and Morgan hard at work.

All the kids chowing down at our new kids table.

Cody, Eric and Amy enjoying all the good food.

Jerry and Becky looking very cute in brown.

After dinner and cleanup, we all went for a walk around our cul-de-sac.

It was such a beautiful day. We really lucked out because it has been non-stop rain around here lately.

Morgan getting a nice swing from Daddy. All the dads were having fun making the kids dizzy and fall over. Seems like a great idea after they just ate a bunch of food!

The kids Easter baskets all put together. Thank you, Gramma Goodier for basically getting most everything ready before you left.

Here's a video of the kids discovering their baskets Easter Sunday morning:

I think they're happy about what the Easter Bunny brought them.

The new Easter outfit fashion show before church.

Morgan seems much more enthusiastic than Pepper but she was really happy about her "ballerina" dress.

I always got new white patent leather shoes, along with a new dress for Easter growing up, so I was very happy to pass the tradition along to Pepper.

The after church, I'm ready for a nap look.

Pepper showing off her curls and the new outfit the Easter Bunny brought her.

Despite the weather, the kids still wanted to have an Easter egg hunt outside. So we suited up and spent a while outside hiding and rehiding the eggs while Daddy made shish-kabobs on our new grill. Happy Easter to us!

And just for fun, this is how Pepper looked before bed.

We had a fantastic three day holiday weekend and felt very blessed this Easter. We hope that you also had a fun weekend and felt the Lord's blessings in your family.

Guess What?

Number 1 has a secret.
Number 2 is excited.

Really excited!

They are gearing up to help take care of...

Number 3!

Gramma Goodier was pretty happy about this news as well.

(And yes, I realize I put a white patch on a white onesie! Who knows?!)

Pepper Doodle Turns 2, Easter Egg Hunt and Gramma and Papa Visit

Last Thursday, on April 14th, my little lady turned 2 yrs old.

We were all very excited!
Daddy came home early so we took Pepper to Toys-R-Us so she could get a balloon and crown and pick out a gift from Gramma Goodier. She of course picked out a little baby doll.

Then we took her to McDonald's for "popeyes and chicks," aka french fries and chicken nuggets and to play on the playplace. When we got home we sang to her and let her open a present from Grandma Adams and the next door neighbors.

Here's a video of that:

Friday afternoon, my father flew in from Florida and on Saturday morning we celebrated 2 fabulous years of pretty Pepper with a princess party!

Morgan showing off the treehouse we got for her on the Target clearance aisle and the princess balloon we got her.

My mom and I got very excited about the theme and had fun getting ready for the party.

I made, with the help of my mom and Cody, 10 little tutus for all the girls at the party. During the party they got to decorate glittery crowns with stickers. I planned on letting them open the princess pinata we got and filled to the brim with candy but I completely forgot to get it out. Oops. I guess we'll have to have a summer party and have a pinata then.

Here's Hannah sporting her tutu and crown.

Not the best picture of super cute Eleanor but you get the idea.

I love this shot of Pepper showing off her birthday girl crown and tutu.

The amazing princess castle cake Heather made! Once again she out did herself!

Pepper was not quite sure what was going on but she was pretty excited.

Here's a video of the singing:

Pepper had fun opening her presents but after the first one was a baby doll, she was a little distracted.

Becky made her this adorable summer dress, crown and wand.

You'd think this great face would be reserved for some of the awesome presents but no it is for the butterfly card. Go figure!

Pepper, Natalie, Dominic and Morgan enjoying some cake and ice cream. Of course, Pepper was the only one who spilled her food all over the carpet. We had a great time playing and partying with all the little girls and boys who came to help Pepper celebrate her birthday. I'm also very grateful for my mom and dad who were able to come for this festive event. I know it seems like a lot of fuss and a big headache but I have a lot of fun planning and putting on these parties. I guess the stage manager in me is just crying out for an event/show to organize:)

Immediately at the end of the party we all packed up and headed to the rec center that is only a few minutes from our house. They were having an Easter egg hunt and a chance to take pictures with the Easter Bunny. It was a little cold and rainy outside but when we got there it stopped raining and the sun came out. It was perfect and free....a winning combination!

Ava and Pepper, with the help of Gramma, finding some eggs.

This will be Morgan's last year for finding eggs in the "Bunny Pit," next year he'll be with the big kids in the field you see behind him.

We did this last year and were very happy to be able to go again and this time bring along some friends to share the moment with.

This isn't the official photo, they haven't emailed it to me yet, but you get the idea.

We took a picture just like this last year of Abby and Morgan. Hopefully, we'll be able to keep the tradition alive for a few more years.

The kids decided to take advantage of the fact they were wearing boots and enjoyed the puddles outside the rec center/library. Morgan's got some great air!

Here's a video of the kids having a splashy blast:

Sunday afternoon we took a walk in Sand Run park with Gramma and Papa. It was a little chilly and super windy but we had a great time wandering the woods together. I added some jeans under Pepper's super cute dress and I thought it was a great look.

Monday night, before Family Home Evening, we gave the kids a bath and took pictures with Gramma and Papa.

It is never easy to get everyone smiling.

We were very fortunate to have my mom here for such a long time and that my dad was able to come spend some time with us as well. We are all a little lost without them but trying to cope.

Thank you guys for everything!

Pepper and Papa, showing off her princess earrings she got as a party favor.

Not that this post isn't long enough and on a total side note, my brother-in-law, Kevin's, dad made the kids some wooden banks. The man is a wizard when it comes to wood crafts. Pepper got a pink piggy bank that she absolutely loves.

And Morgan got this super cool T-Rex that he thinks is the coolest ever. Thank you, Brother Terry for sharing your talents with us.

And thanks again, Gramma. We miss you!!!!!