Easter 2013

Evie had her fill of Easter parties and Easter egg hunts! At school she learned the Easter story. We reenacted the story when Jesus came into the city riding a donkey and all the people waved palm branches shouting, "Hosanna!" She really liked that part, and she was thrilled when we sang a "Hosanna" song at church. I'm so glad she has started to comprehend the reason why we celebrate Easter. The Easter Bunny, egg hunts, candy, and Easter baskets are fun, but I'm so thankful she is already acknowledging that the holiday celebrates Jesus. As she said when we walked into church on Easter Sunday,

"Mommy, today we are going to have a party for Jesus!"

Egg Hunt at Church

The Easter Bunny visited our garden...

Easter Best

33 Weeks

Spring Cookout

We have had such beautiful weather lately, my friend decided to have a spring cookout complete with dying eggs and an egg hunt for the kids! She had a great idea! Unfortunately, the weather to a turn for the worse, but that didn't stop us! It was pretty chilly and a little rainy, but the kids had a great time.

Spring Break

We spent spring break doing a lot of fun little things like going to the park, planting carrot seeds in our garden, going to the dentist, getting a hair cut, and spending time with friends. It was simple. It was what we needed!

29 weeks

Evie went to the dentist for the first time! She was a champ. The only thing she was afraid of was the hose that sucks the water out of her mouth. Once, the hygienist convinced her to just "kiss" it, Evie didn't mind it at all. She actually enjoyed it! If you ask Evie, the best part was she got to watch a Tinkerbell movie during the visit.

During break, I also had a chance to see our baby in 4-D! She's getting pretty big and is measuring about a week and a half ahead.

Independence

This month Evie hit the 3 1/2 years old mark, she and has really grown in independence. It all started one Saturday morning when she announced that she was awake like she usually does. Then she proceeded to tell us with excitement that she had dressed herself! Sure enough, she dressed herself in a cute little pair of shorts and a shirt with a bicycle. She even changed out of pull ups and into panties. 

On another occasion, as I buckled her in on the carousel, she told me to go away and that she was riding alone! 

After dance class one evening she asked if she could wash the dishes! It was more like playing with bubbles and the scrubber, but to her, she was really cleaning the dishes!

Most recently, she has started helping me pack her lunch box. Her job that she can tackle quite well is to make the peanut butter sandwich. In between spreading the peanut butter, she licks the knife and eagerly sticks her fist in the jar scraping out more peanut butter to lick. She comments, "It's tasty." 

All this does not make me sad as it would some moms. I take so much joy in watching my daughter grow into a confident little girl. With each new discovery she makes, my heart leaps with excitement. 

First Day

> It's February, but we are starting at a new school anyway! We found a preschool close to our house that meets three days a week. My mom will watch Evie the other days. We've found that we no longer need the convenience and expense of a traditional daycare. Now that my mom is here, we have the flexibility to send Evie to a part time preschool! She was so excited to meet her teacher and new friends. Her teacher used to teach elementary school, she's young, and is expecting her second child in June. The school has "fine arts" classes like music, chapel, p.e., science, and outdoor learning, so she'll have quite a few teachers! There is also a garden that the children help plant and maintain! I'm so thankful for this opportunity!
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Snow Fun!

The day after Christmas there was still plenty of snow on the ground! Judd and Evie made a snowman together. I was feeling under the whether with a fever, so I snapped a couple of quick pictures and then went inside to get back under the blanket! The snow melted by the end of the day. What a pretty Christmas it was!

A White Christmas

On Christmas Eve Evie set out cookies for Santa and eagerly waited for the morning to arrive! I think this is the last year she will go to bed easily on Christmas Eve! Now she knows about all the excitement that awaits on Christmas morning!!!

Christmas Eve night we had CRAZY weather come through. A cold front with lots of thunder and lighting and a little bit of hail slammed through the night, waking us all. I slept with Evie part of the night. She asked me, "Mommy, why is my be making all that noise?" (referring to the thunder)

We woke up bright and early at 6:30am to get the homemade cinnamon rolls rolled out and baking. Also, Grandma Deb had an 11:00 flight to catch. We hoped it would beat all snow that was on the way (and it did). Grandma Deb has the perfect video of Evie discovering Santa ate all the cookies on Christmas morning. Evie insisted he ate the cookies, but he forgot the presents. Then she turned around and looked at the tree, and there were ALL the presents!!!

She really wanted an excavator...

and a puppet show

After Judd returned from the airport, we headed over to Grammy Papa's house to open presents. We got better pictures there. It wasn't early in the morning by then...

my 5 month belly

Christmas hugs!

When were at Grammy and Papa's we kept checking the radar to see where  the snow was. Judd said it was close, so we as soon as we climbed into the car, it started sleeting! By the time we got home, it was snowing! It was the SECOND white Christmas we have had since living in Texas. Apparently it is very rare. We wouldn't know better.

I can still zip my jacket closed!

And just for fun, Evie at her "first" Christmas EVER!