Easter Weekend

We enjoyed a much-needed visit with Papa and Gigi over Easter Weekend. It had been 5 months since we had been together -- a lot changes for 1 and 2 year olds in that time!

We had some gorgeous weather (Thank you Lord!) for our weekend together, so we enjoyed as much of it outside at the pond throwing rocks and at the parks. We also made a visit to the train station/museum just East of us. Colden just loves the trains and keeps talking about riding the train this summer!

We also celebrated Jesus' resurection in an early morning family service followed by a pancake breakfast and an Easter Egg Hunt in the backyard (just in time for the rain)! Since then, there have been many requests to hunt eggs... what's inside really doesn't even matter. So cute!

Happy Easter

We have been getting ready for our big Easter Celebration this weekend by reading our Easter Story book that Lydia gave to Colden last year. The cross is a pretty tough thing to teach kids about, but he knows that Jesus isn't on it anymore because He is risen! We've had some fun making crafts (aka: gifts for the grandparents) and coloring bible pictures as well.

Last Sunday, we were just finally getting over ear infections (Blakely), 4 consecutive days of fever (Colden) as well as nasty colds, so when we were invited to the neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt, that sounded like good place to spend a sunny Sunday morning! As we walked to our neighborhood park...

Colden: "Mom, are the eggs for Easter?"
Me: "Yes, eggs and the bunny are just a silly thing that kids like to do for Easter"
Colden: "Are we going to celebrate Jesus?"
Me: "Yes we are, not really at the Easter Egg Hunt, but the real reason for Easter is that Jesus is alive--right?"
Colden: "that's right mom, he's not dead. Can we sing the song?"
So precious!

Happy 1st Birthday Blakely

Looking back on the past year, we have made so many new memories with Blakers as part of our family. It sure is a different experience watching your baby grow up with a big brother in the picture. Blakely has learned how to "play" in ways that are far beyond his age as well as "tricks" that his brother has taught him. Yet we are just as proud and filled with love for him and his accomplishments as we were his big brother. Jeremy and I share just as many glances and hide our laughs at the cute (and naughty) things that he does.

He loves to say "mama" more than any word. Although "uh-oh" and our monkey imitations are close behind. He can say "dada" no problem, but mostly chooses to say "mama" (stinker!). He also has the cutest wave goodbye and sometimes says "bah" to go with it. He can also catch a ball, which is kind of amazing. He is quite the walker, very confident and often refuses to take my hand, especially when we are outside and he has his own agenda for where he wants to walk (grass or mud). Our favorite is how he watches his big brother with such admiration and love and laughs at him when they are playing together.

His big birthday plans were cancelled due to double ear infections that just showed up. Instead, we played outside at the pond and had a little family party. Betty Crocker did the cake (sorry Blakely) but he didn't seem to mind! He had a great time playing with the cake and mushing the icing around on his tray while Colden watched and wondered why on earth he wasn't gobbling it all down!

Spring?

We thought that spring was on its way with all the nice sun we had 2 weeks ago, then last week we remembered that spring in Seattle = LOTS of RAIN!

Today... snow? Well, at least Colden enjoyed it!