Easter Egg Hunt {Palm Sunday}

Palm Sunday, our church had their Easter egg hunt for the kids.  It was Brady's first egg hunt.  I wasn't so sure how well he'd do, but it did really well.  I was surprised and of course very proud!

We dressed him in a spring outfit for the occasion.  I waited until the last minute to make him an Easter shirt and order his Easter outfit so this was the next best thing.  Well, I had no idea how cool it was going to be.  And oh the wind was awful!

The hunt was after our 2nd service.  We had lunch (sandwiches, chips, cookies, & other sweets) while everyone gathered in & waited to be called by age group.

Brady enjoyed a PB&J sandwich with an oatmeal cookie.  Lunch happened to be right during his nap time so poor little guy was so tired.

His age group was the first to hunt.  I held his basket while he "hunted" for eggs.  He got a total of SIX eggs all by himself!  All while holding his cookie ;) that's my boy!  He did put the cookie in the basket at one point, then realized it was in there & quickly retrieved it.  ha!  Love him!!!

I think he did great for his first hunt!  And I think he really enjoyed it.  Success!

Getting a drink after all that hard work ;) we were laughing so hard because while he's taking a drink which needed both hands, he was not about to let go of his cookie.  Daddy's shoulder was the perfect spot for it.  Y'all it just doesn't get any cuter than this...

A boy and his cookie.  And a father's love...nothing sweeter!

Pigs, goats, & cows -oh my! (a play-date)

Last Thursday, we had fun play-date planned with some of our Kindermusik friends.  It is livestock show time around here so we took advantage of taking the kiddos out to show them around.

Brady was all about the animals.  He wasn't scared to pet them or call them.  According to him they were all either "dawg" or "We-no" even though I tried to explain they were neither a dog or Reno.

We met up with our friends and went through all the barns looking at the exhibits.  First up was the pigs.  And oh my how I had forgotten the awful smell of livestock shows...either that or when you are "young" you just don't notice those things!  Because I do not remember it smelling that bad when I showed pigs, hmm almost 11 years ago.

Our first stop:  the pigs!

Next the goats!

Brady really liked the goats.  Kept calling them "we-no, we-no" and reaching into the pen to pet them.  So cute to watch!

Then the rabbits...a sweet mom let all the kids pet her son's bunnies. 

 Sweet friends.  O & Brady.

 

Next up...the ugly birds!  Turkeys & chickens.

 Lots of walking...

And looking...and smells! ;)

We stopped and looked at the lambs, then our last stop were the cows.  By this point, Brady was in melt-down mode and mommy was sweating from chasing him.  He insisted on walking through this exhibit but it was filled with cow manure so he was not the happiest about being held.  I was also probably breaking out into sweats as he "squealed" at the cows, all while me panicking he didn't startle one of them.  I'm sure the exhibitors were thrilled to see us go, ha!

We did manage to get a group photo...and ha what do you know we are the only ones not looking, ha!  This is real life folks...B wanted a snack during the picture and we are missing a shoe!  The other kiddos & moms look great though :)

Brady refused to stay in the stroller.  He wanted to be on the loose, Mr. Independent!  Walked until his little legs just shouldn't anymore!

It turned out to be a beautiful day!  After a much needed nap, we made a trip to the mall for B. some new clothes and jacket.  Thanks to his Mimi!!!

These are the moments/day I live for.  Seeing the world through my child's eyes...there is nothing sweeter!  I'm so thankful I am able to experience and make these kind of memories with B.  I cherish these so much, even if they aren't always easy on this sweaty, nervous-wreck momma! ;)

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about."

Childhood Friends

Yesterday we took a day trip to Wharton, the small little town I grew up in to see one of my childhood friends get married.  I moved from Wharton the summer before my 8th grade year and we ended up losing touch.  But thanks to Myspace we reconnected a little over four years ago.  It was perfect timing because it was about 2 months before my wedding so she was able to attend my big day.

We have known each other practically our whole lives and I hate that we for whatever reason grew apart.  I was so excited to be there yesterday for her big day!  She was absolutely beautiful & they had some of the best reception food I've ever had, haha!

After one long hug & tears!  I was so happy to see her!!

Nicole & I at my wedding, just a little over 4 years ago.

My mom met us in Wharton and watched Brady at a friends house while we attended the ceremony and the dinner part of the reception.  I think he had fun with his Mimi & I was thankful it worked out that she could come & watch him.

We went to go get him & ended up missing the first dance & cake cutting :( but I won't lie I was ready to see my sweet boy!!  We picked him up & changed him into a smocked bubble and went back up to the reception to show him off :) and for me to eat a piece of cake.  I love wedding cake, especially red velvet wedding cake!!  We danced one song together as a family, introduced B to Nicole & the rest of her family before heading back home.  We got home around 10:30 last night...which made for a very long day but it was so worth it!

Love my two boys!  Thanks hunny for driving us!!  I had such a great time and saw people I hadn't seen in some 15 plus years and got to see my old hometown.  Brady also got to attend his first wedding reception and we had our first dance! :)  And of course, everyone gushed over how handsome/cute Brady was.  We couldn't agree more!

And God bless camera phones otherwise I'd have no pictures from yesterday!  This momma was doing good to get everyone packed & in the car on time...actually we were a tad bit late for the wedding but thankfully the bride hadn't made the walk down the aisle yet!

So thankful for friends where you can pick up, right where you left off...I wish Nicole and Billy a wonderful, blessed marriage!

Easter Lunch {Part 2}

After church we had lunch at my in-laws.  We served chicken & dressing (one of my favorites from Backstreet Cafe), honey glazed ham, green beans, candied carrots, broccoli cheese casserole, watergate salad, deviled eggs, a relish tray, a green salad, & rolls.  We had quite the spread.  But to me it is not Easter lunch without ham, a relish tray, and "green stuff" aka watergate salad.

 

For dessert, we had a white cake I ordered from Sam's, a pineapple cake that AB's grandmother made, petit fours, bunny bark, & these amazing iced cookies my mom picked up from a bakery in Houston.  On a side note, the cakes from Sam's just can't be beat!  They are so good, always moist and so inexpensive.  We really don't have a local bakery around here that does cakes or not one that I have found yet, so Sam's is the next best thing.

 

My "carrots" I made, thanks to a Pinterest idea.

Brady napped while we ate

Brady with his Nanna & Dandy

Brady with his Mimi & Papa

Brady was so intrigured by one of those little wind up chicks.  He would watch with such intent as it hopped across the table.  Here he is sitting with his great grandmother, AB's grandmother enjoying the little chick.

So sweet!

Daddy rocking his baby boy

And talking...Brady has started babbling so much lately. 
By the way, I absolutely love this picture of them two!

Our first Easter together as a family of three.  

My cup runneth over...for great things He hath done!

Stay tuned for another Easter post...Brady's baptism then I think I'll be caught up on Easter.