Easter

Easter is my favorite holiday. So much hope and joy in that one celebration, without all the distraction that surrounds Christmas. This year was a little more "cluttered" with more things going on than usual (update soon, I promise!), unfortunately, but we still celebrated in a big way in our hearts. Is there anyone who can hear the words "He is not here" and not get goosebumps?!

(Plus BUNNIES - who doesn't love bunnies?)

Last week I ran to Goodwill and picked up a bunch of silk blouses, then wrapped them around some eggs and boiled them - Pinterest is full of great ideas :)

We also dyed some Easter eggs the old fashioned way.

AND I dyed some egg whites to make deviled eggs for the church brunch - they made me happy, with their bright colors.

Last week we were showered with Easter baskets and bags from friends and family - how blessed are we?!

I picked up some lilies for our table. They are HUGE and very fragrant.

The kids woke up and hunted for their baskets really, really early this morning. At least it gave us plenty of time to get ready for church ha!

At church we had a brunch, egg hunt, and the Easter Bunny even made an appearance. That was funny!

I love our church. I didn't even see Wyatt for the hour we were there before the service started - he was too busy being passed around the loved on. And after church, so many older ladies came up to me and told me how much they loved my children and their smocking. They even told me my children were well-behaved and we were good parents. I'm pretty sure there is no greater compliment in the world!

Henry was completely fascinated and horrified by the Easter Bunny. When he first saw him, Henry started growling ha ha ha! Then after pictures, Henry just following him around. He couldn't look away. But if the Bunny turned around and looked at him, Henry would look terrified. I can't even imagine what it must be like to be two years old and trying to make sense of it all.

Henry scoped him out and followed from a distance.

I made this roast for dinner - sooooooooo yummy. We all ate way too much, even with bellies full of candy. Sophia made place cards for everyone at dinner. I remember doing that when I was girl, so fun!

Hope your Easter was blessed.

Alleluia, Christ is RISEN!

Things I Love ~ Baby Christmas Gifts

This is the second of my posts about some of my favorite things. Here is the first.

Baby Wyatt is my youngest Christmas baby, and the first time I have had a little one too small to enjoy toys at Christmastime. Plus, with four kids, we really have more baby toys than we need. I asked Sophia what she thought Santa might bring a little baby, and she nailed it!

Some of our favorites are below, with Wyatt to show them off :)

Wyatt's "big" gift was a baby book by Rag & Bone Bindery. Sophia has one from the same company, and I love it.

Found at Anthropologie.

These booties are so sweet and snuggly warm. And because they are Robeez, they actually stay on his wee feet.

I know, if I were a truly dedicated blogger, I would have put the booties ON Wyatt to show them off, but he was really happy in his sleep sack, and you don't mess with happy babies.

These little lovey blankets are the softest things! Amelia's "Buppy" was the bunny from this series, and she had to have it for sleeping with until a few months ago. We still love Buppy, even though he's no longer essential for sleep. Maybe little Lion will become Wyatt's bup.

I got a three-pack here (it's always good to have extras!)

I didn't realize until I saw all these gifts together, that Wyatt's Christmas had a bit of a lion theme to it - he also got this sweet thing

Wyatt also got some practical gifts, and he didn't mind one bit. He got more of these bottles, to help Daddy get through the day while I'm at work.

We used Avent with Sophia and Amelia, but they had changed their design when Henry was born and were pretty awful and extremely expensive. Thankfully they're good again, and we love them. Five-pack found here.

In his stocking, Wyatt also got another one of these favorite diapers

and some sleepers, wash cloths, a rubber ducky, a set of bamboo baby spoons, Sophie the Giraffe's cousin, my favorite baby wash (smells DIVINE!), and socks.

He got two blankets to go with his black stroller and I love both of them. This one will be great for cold or drizzly days, and I love that it clips on.

And this one is sooo cute with soft gray minky on one side!

Found on Etsy by my mom.

This was Sophia's favorite board book when she was a baby - she would get SO excited about it! Sadly, it literally fell to pieces from so much love, so Wyatt got his own copy

Shopping for a little baby wasn't nearly has hard as I thought it would be, even with a fourth child who has pretty much everything he needs!

Best. Christmas. Ever.

There is nothing better than Christmas with little kids, NOTHING! Here are just a few of the eleventy billion pictures I took last night and this morning.

On our way to church, where the girls were angels in the pageant.

When we got home, so thankful for the awesomeness of crockpots.

Grandma Judy's Christmas pajamas - one of our favorite Christmas traditions. The kids open their pajamas that Grandma made, and then call her to say thanks and merry Christmas!

After bedtime...

And Christmas morning - do you think we've been THIS good this year??

Christmas Twenty Eleven, brought to you by American Girl Doll and Lego (and Anthropology - lucky Mom!)

Henry got some big boy underwear for Christmas... do you think this is his way of telling us he's not ready?

Coffee, lots and lots of coffee! Mommy and Daddy got three hours of sleep last night.

(Although another favorite Christmas tradition - the Christmas nap! Mom and Dad got a little nap while the boys napped and the girls played - NICE!)

In the wake of wrapping carnage, a little baby sleeps

The whistle on my old tea kettle broke, and a few weeks ago I forgot about it on the stove and MELTED it. Now I have the one I've always wanted!

(please excuse my ugly wrist- one of six failed attempts to start an IV on me in the hospital)

Sweet Henry - see how he's wearing his sister's Crocs? The boy LOVES shoes. So Santa got him some firetruck (another favorite thing) slippers!

Merry Christmas!!!