Easter Egg Hunt

We had our Easter egg hunt at church last Saturday.  It was a great event and much better weather than we usually have for the egg hunt.  The Moore kids joined us and helped to hunt 20,000 eggs!

The preschool egg hunt is always funny to watch.  Eliot was happy with 1 egg and stopped to see what his prize was.

It took a lot of encouragement for him to move on to other eggs.  Look at his face...he's totally excited!

Elese was so excited for the egg hunt day.  She counted down and couldn't wait!

I think Eliot's bucket is just about as big as he is.

How cute is that?  They even match and I didn't plan that!

I felt kind of bad for the school age kids.  We were suppose to have the egg hunt up in the woods for this age group but it was too wet.  They didn't seem to mind though.

At the end we recycle all the eggs.  The girls were working hard to dump out all of their goodies.

Tyler & Eli were hard at work too!

Scott was helping eat candy.  Check out that hair...it's the longest I've ever seen it!

As we were getting ready to leave, Eliot jumped up on this big rock.  Such a boy and a lover of anything outside.  He stands by the garage door saying, "Side!"

Girls Night!

We try to get together a couple times a year and catch up.  A while back we got together and went out to a nice dinner.  Kelly & me before we headed out!

Kim & Karen joined us too.  Kim chose a fabulous restaurant with white table cloths, a jazz band & yummy food.

Kelly & I even splurged and ordered a drink!  It was probably a $12 drink but who was counting?  We were just excited to be at a restaurant without our kids!

Here's my dinner...pecan crusted fish, mashed sweet potatoes & sauteed veggies.  It tasted as good as it looks. :)

Park Time :)

The weather has been so beautiful lately and we've been spending a lot of time outside.  A couple of weeks ago we went back home for a visit.  We met my Aunt and has some fun at a local park.

The boys had fun throwing some football.  Uncle Jason showed up and threw to the kids.

My Aunt Cindy & me!

Check out Eliot's smile...priceless.

Em was goofing around.

On Sunday we visited another park and met the cousins there.  Elese was all dressed up for church.

My monkey

Monkey see, monkeys do!

Nothing like playing in the dirt!

Father Daughter Dance

Every year Meadowview Elementary has a Father Daughter Dance.  Emery & Scott have gone together the past 2 years.  It's always a special time and we spend a good amount of time picking out the right dress and then making sure that Daddy has something to match.

There wasn't time to got out to eat this year.  We rushed back from the hospital and had just enough time to eat some Chipolte that Scott picked up for his ladies!

Last minute touch ups on the newly casted foot.

Eliot never wants to be left out so he was running around the bathroom getting into EVERYTHING!

Such a beautiful girl!  Emery's health has improved so much in the last 2 years...it brings a great big smile to my face to see her glowing and at a healthy weight.  She made good choices on the cast...it blends right in!

My favorite picture! 

I like this one too!

My first baby!  The years are going by so quickly.

Scott was kind enough to take the camera along to the dance for me.  The girls were doing Just Dance projected on the big screen.

Katelyn was there with Mr. Moore & her sister Sidney.  In 2 years Scott will take both Emery and Elese.  Elese is already counting down :)  Scott said that Emery & Katelyn danced the night away!

Jackson Family Cast #2

Emery came home from school complaining of her foot  a week ago.  She slipped on a jump rope in gym class and had to sit out.  By Wednesday she was in pain & limping.  Off to immediate care she went with Scott.  I was pretty surprised to find out that she had fractured it in 2 places.

The day after immediate care I made her stay home.  She needed some time to get used to the crutches and she didn't get home until 10:30 the night before.  She was mad!

I'm not sure how much rest she actually got...the boys were all over her about those crutches!  I mean seriously, watching tv & holding them?  Scott told me later that the nurse told Emery, "Don't let other kids play with your crutches!"  In true Emery fashion she.took.every.word.to.heart!

Two days later we made the trip down to Cincinnati Children's fracture clinic.  We were a little nervous about the time frame.  Emery & Scott had a dance that night so we needed to be home quickly.  After a look at the x ray and feeling her foot, they recommended a cast.  Just last spring Eli was in a cast for fracturing his leg.  We are starting a Cast Hall of Fame in the basement!

Emery was thrilled to be getting a cast.  She said, "I was praying for a cast so I can dance tonight.  I need a boot so I can dance on it!"  The cast guy TJ was a riot!  He was goofing around and having a grand time in the casting room.

Our appointment lasted a total of 2 hours...which is exactly what they told me to expect.  We were out the door and didn't run into any traffic on the way home.  Praise God!  We had just enough time for eating, hair & make up before the dance!

Light Fixture Improved!

It seems like the project list is never ending!  We spent the weekend working outside and loving every minute of it.  I couldn't be more thankful for the beautiful weather!  A couple of weeks ago Kelly & I covered the light  fixture in our family room.

Before...just a tad plain.

After...what a difference!  The color is actually a burnt orange even though it looks pink in this picture.  Kelly was so awesome helping me with this project.  I wanted to do it for a long time but was scared to death since once you start, you can't really no do it.  Kelly was fearless and jumped right in!  Want to make over some of your lamp shades?  All you need is spray adhesive & fabric (courage & a best friend helps)!

Just a little shot of our family wall that I recently re hung.  I saw this on Martha Stewart and fell in love with the way all the frames are hung above or below the imaginary line.

Check out this personalized subway art...my most favorite thing on the wall!  My friend Chessa created this for me.  She can create a personalized one for you too!  All I had to do was give her a list of things that are specific to our family.  Let me know if you're interested :)

Little White Bunny

This is a memory that I do not want to forget.  Life goes by so quickly and the sweetest moments make my heart swell.  For most of you this story won't stir your heart, but for this Momma, it's priceless!

Emery bounds off the bus on Friday with something white in her hand.  "Momma, look at my little white bunny!"  It was a tiny little bunny that she had chosen from the Token Bin at school.  I looked down and saw the bunny but what I remember vividly was the smile on her face.  She adored this tiny bunny!  I'm tearing up now thinking of God's love and how he has gifted her with such a great heart.  Even at 7 years old she is filled to the brim with a mothering instinct.  At bedtime she wanted me to feel the softness of her little white bunny.

All of this is rushing back to me because I just went in to check on Emery before I went to bed and there on her floor she has created a bed for this bunny...just like any mother would do.  I'm remembering something she asked me today as I was preparing lunch.  I approached the fridge and I noticed that she was standing there with a snack baggie that had carrots in it.  "Mom, what do rabbits eat?"  "Well, carrots and I think grass as they are hopping along."  I didn't even realize why she was asking or put 2 and 2 together...I know, slow down and enjoy these moments!  She turned and walked away and I went on preparing lunch.

As I glanced down at the little bunny in the bed that Emery has prepared I see the little baggie with both carrots & blades of grass.  Such a nurturer at heart.  I'd be lying if I didn't mention that I feel guilty for not giving the little white bunny more attention.  I truly had no idea how much it meant to her.  I'm reminded of that song by Alan Jackson where it says,  "Faith, hope & love are some good things He gave us, and the greatest is love."  Love God, love others, love, love, love...it's all that really matters!

School Swim Party

Last Saturday Grandma surprised us by coming up to visit!  She was just in time to head over to the family swim party that Elese's school was having.  Elese was super excited counting down the days till the party.  However, once we arrived, she decided that she wasn't going to swim!

Eliot absolutely LOVED it!  He would jump in to Scott over and over.

My favorite part was watching him hold up his fingers and go, "1, do!" for 1, 2, 3!

Eli's favorite part was jumping off the diving board.  He was a little leery at first but then jumped right off!

My sweet boys sharing a towel :)

Getting some snuggle time with Grandma!

Emery's really growing up these days.  She is such a big helper on Saturday mornings.  She takes all the kids to the basement to watch cartoons while we get a little extra sleep...woo hoo!

Even though Elese didn't swim, she still had a good time watching all of her friends from the side of the pool.  I'm hoping it's just a phase because we spend about 90% of the summer at our pool!