Easter 2014

I am WAY behind in blogging. And I'm contemplating giving it up all together and just posting to Facebook. I've tossed this idea around before because I seem to never have the time to blog. But when it comes down to it…I love telling our story. And this is the place for it. So I'm going to keep trying. And I know I'll have more time this summer. So here it goes…a bunch of Easter STUFF. 

We love to dye Easter Eggs. 

The boys were super independent this year and had a blast! 

When Nolan and Heath were 2 we did it with them, but we didn't even attempt to let Brooks participate this year. It just seemed like too much. So next year for sure. Poor baby never gets to do anything fun! Ha! 

Here are the finished products! Heath would eat a few bites of hard boiled egg, but Nolan didn't really like them plain. I put them in a cold, tuna, noodle casserole that my Mom always made growing up and Nolan ate them in there! He just needed some really healthy mayo to go with it! Ha! 

We love Palm Sunday at our church. The boys were super cute in the palm parade! 

We've been going to church on Saturday nights and it has been the best thing for our family! 

We stopped afterwards and got shakes at McDonalds. 

Here are some pics of the Easter cards we made this year for our family. 

I found the image online and printed it on card stock. Then the boys picked which tail they wanted for each person and glued them on. Simple and cute. 

We planted daffodils, tulips, and crocus this year. They are beautiful! 

Heath had an Easter Egg Hunt at school. It was fun. He found them pretty fast! 

Mark and I got to come and watch him sing some songs for a little Easter program. 

He was adorable! He sang so loud! 

We enjoyed some gorgeous weather Easter week! 

A stop at the park before Auntie Kims! 

Another random photo from Easter Week...

We made our own Waffle Tacos for breakfast! Who needs Taco bell?! Nolan loved them! Eggs and bacon stuffed inside of a waffle with a drizzle of syrup on top! Yum! 

Auntie sent the boys each an Easter Package. We hid them and then they had to hunt for them. They each got some jelly beans, a card, and a Ninja Turtle! Thanks Auntie and Flobby! We love you!!! 

We spent the day before Easter painting our Living Room! 

Every wall in our house was beige. So we decided it was time to add some color here and there. 

It's hard to tell, but the color is called "Linen". It just makes the room feel warmer and more modern. We really like it. 

Easter morning the Easter Bunny always hides our Easter baskets. 

Here's where mine was hidden. Mark and I really haven't done baskets for each other since we've had kids. But this year my Mom asked him to put a little something in my basket just for a fun blast from the past. I've had this basket since I was born! I LOVE it! 

These were inside my basket! Garbage Pail Kids. Did you collect these when you were little? So funny! 

Brooks found his basket in his favorite spot! The ball basket! 

He grabbed the basket and tossed it aside to get to his "Pete the Cat" book! 

He looooves Pete the Cat!!! 

He looked so cute in his little Easter outfit! 

Nolan found his next in the hutch in the Dining Room. 

And then Heath found his in the Turtle basket. 

They were so excited! Just a few fun things. 

Easter candy bracelets, Easter bubble tape, NFL stickers for their sticker book, Ninja Turtle Eggs, Pac Man markers, and some NFL mini figures they've been collecting. 

The Easter Bunny left a note for Mark and told him to find his Easter Basket this year too! 

He got some cool new shades! 

He'd been wanting them. But they are kind of pricey. But the Easter Bunny thought he deserved them for all of the extra effort he's put in to our family the past 6 months! He is the best! 

We ended up going to church on Sunday this week because it was Easter morning. It just felt right. ;) We are so thankful that our boys know the true meaning of Easter. We like to do all the fun stuff, but more than anything they know Easter is all about God's love for us! His grace, his sacrifice, and the hope it brings us! During the last song of the service, our number flashed up on the screen! Oh no! We had to go pick up one of our boys. Poor Brooks had a MAJOR blowout all up his back and all over his new Easter outfit! So that was eventful. We had to clean him up and take him home for a quick bath and outfit change before heading over to Mark's parents' house. 

When we got there our kids were actually kind of crabby. They wanted to hunt for eggs right away and did not want to wait until after lunch. What a tough life they have. I'm glad they ended up snapping out of it, because nobody wants grouchy kids on Easter! 

Nolan and Lucy

Our first attempts at family photos. They didn't turn out so hot. 

So we decided to try again later when they cheered up and were more willing to participate. 

The kiddos anxious to eat and hunt! 

Oma and Opa did a few kid rounds before we ate. They are so good like that! 

Nolan and Peyton like Peeps! 

Eating lunch in the sun! 

My little in outfit number 2! 

Chillaxin'

Look at this kid. He's pretty hard to resist! 

Love these guys! 

Mark actually took a picture of me too without me even having to ask him! 

Nolan was being funny and trying to Photo Bomb us! 

Every egg Brooks found he cracked open and emptied out into his bag right away. 

Oma called the colors for each round as usual. Nolan sure loves her. They are kindred spirits. 

Nolan had his eye on this egg from the very beginning. He was happy Heath let him have it! 

This pose cracks me up! Silly Heath! 

Who knows what is going on with these two! Looks like they were caught in a pretty compromising position! Ha! 

More hunting...

Poor Heath got stung by a wasp and had a huge meltdown! He's so dramatic. Then he nursed his hand for literally over an hour afterwards! You can tell how he's holding it in this picture! 

Hunting for the few last missing eggs. 

Nolan had fun helping Auntie Sue and Carla sort out the eggs by color after we were done hunting. We actually ended up finding every single egg this year! 

Brooks and Daddy playing some ball in the sun. 

After most people had left we stuck around to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather. 

Then we attempted one more family photo. It think this one turned out better. Brooks isn't smiling and my make up is gone, but the big two are smiling nicely. 

And finally, the next week at school, Nolan had "Dress like your favorite Holiday" Day. He chose Easter because that was what was out and fresh on his mind. So he wore his new Easter shirt and some funny bunny ears! Love this kid! 

O.k. so now I'm a little more caught up! It feels good!