Easter 2013

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life"

Sweet girl

Me and my big girl

Mommy and her girls

Love this one

Mommy with her babies

Sweet boy

Family pic take 1

Family pic take 2

sisterly/brotherly love

Squeezing tight

Cassidy pulled Ella Catherine's hair and Carter got so tickled.

Could they look more a like?

LOVE

Could they look more a like?

LOVE

Sibling LOVE

Dying Easter Eggs

In good Easter tradition, we dyed Easter eggs tonight.  I honestly had not planned on dying eggs this year.  It is always a fun time but we have been so busy that I had just forgotten to gather the appropriate supplies.  Never fear, Daddy to the rescue.  He took Ella Catherine the other day to run some errands and they returned with an Easter egg dying kit.  She had picked it out all by herself and was super excited to dye some eggs.  

Don't you remember as a kid how hard it was to let the egg just sit in the dye?  I can vividly remember constantly lifting up the eggs to see if the yellow had become more yellow or the orange more orange etc..  Good to know things never change. :) After multiple times of lifting up the eggs to see if they were a deep enough shade of the desired color, we decided to set the kitchen timer for 5 minute intervals.  Long enough to allow them to play a bit in between checks but not too long so they would completely lose interest in the project.  It worked great.  I think some colors in those kits are never going to get very dark.  I've heard that using the natural dyes from vegetables etc. gives more brilliant colors.  I'll go on the record today and say that we will try that next year.  :)  No turning back, it's in print

Easter Egg Hunt

A local church puts on an Easter Egg hunt every year at the elementary school Ella Catherine attends.  This was the third year we have taken the kids.  It was overcast and a little cold but that didn't damper the fun.  The church does a great job.  They have face painting and bounce houses/slides.  The Easter Bunny usually makes an appearance and comes via helicopter( this year due to the wind he came via Volkswagen :) ). 
It was a little cold for Cassidy, so Matt stayed with her in the car until it was go time for the hunts.  Carters age group hunted first and then Ella Catherine's age group had theirs.  Our good friends and Neighbors joined us this year.  Unfortunately their little girl was sick so it was just Shaun and daddy. 
Due to the weather, we didn't stay long after the last hunt.  However, the kids got a lot of eggs and had fun the rest of the morning opening the eggs to see what was inside.

Waiting for the hunt to begin

Waiting for Carter's Hunt to begin

And he's off!

Carter and his loot.

Ella Catherine had her face painted while we waited for her hunt to begin

Hugging the Chick fil A cow

Ella Catherine and Shaun waiting for their hunt to begin

And They are off!

Ella Catherine in the crowd of egg hunters

Ella Catherine and her loot

Cassidy as snug as a bug watching all the festivities

Shaun, Cassidy, Ella Catherine and Carter

4 months old

 Cassidy is still such a sweet baby.  She is becoming more and more vocal.  She has rolled over a few times but it surprised her when she did it.  She LOVES her siblings.  Her whole face lights up when they walk in a room.

Gymboree

One of Carter's friends had a birthday party at Gymboree today.  It was the first time we have been to Gymboree and he had a blast.  I didn't take many pictures and the ones I did are with my phone so not the best quality.  However, I think you can see that he had a blast.  It was fun for me to see him in action playing with his buddies too.

Cassidy's Baptism

We are very thankful that some of our family was able to come in town this weekend for Cassidy's Baptism.  It was a short ceremony on Sunday morning but it was great to spend the weekend with them celebrating this wonderful occasion.

Getting Dressed.  Cassidy wore the same baptismal gown that Ella Catherine and Carter wore.

Talking with Pop before the baptism

Baptismal prayer and promise

Being Baptized

No tears, all Smiles

Good Friends being very good during the baptism

Baptism over now they are being silly

Our family that was able to make it for the baptism.  Nana, Pop, Uncle Brian, Aunt Lori, Mimi, Aunt Katie and Uncle Shannon

Cassidy with her Godparents and our great friends Mike and Katie Rosenhagen