4.26.2011

Easter 2011


We had much to celebrate this Easter, as it was also my Gram's birthday and my aunt & uncle's anniversary!  The festivities were held at our house this year, and we had a great time celebrating with the whole family. 


The beautiful birthday girl. 



Easter baskets started the day, of course! 



Then Grandma and Grandpa came over to complete our Easter Experience series and
give the girls fun Easter baskets.  My mom made these adorable aprons out of a recycled skirt....SO cute!  The girl has the creative gene on overdrive! 
 


We had a whole gaggle of kiddos with mine, my sister's and 2 cousins'. 


After lunch, the kids headed out for an Easter egg hunt.  (Pretend you don't see the socks and shoes on this one...I never know what I'm gonna' get when I let her choose clothes/accessories).



We told the kids to line up for a picture with their egg hunt eggs...but gave the adults behind them confetti filled egg shells (cascarones) to surprise them with.  You can see it all began nice and easy. 


But it wasn't long before you could see a steady uprising from the back row. 


Uh-oh. 


I think they're starting to suspect something. 


And finally, it all broke loose.  Check my sister...a girl after my own heart!  LOL 




My Easter beauty who went and turned 8 on me last week.  **sigh**


Cutest little bunny ever. 


Next came the confetti egg war.  The line was drawn. 



Ready.  Set.  Go! 



Wait a minute...who's that big kid on the far right?? 



Does that even look like he's PLAYing???  A picture says a thousand words. 
I love the expressions on both of their faces.  LOL 



Turns out we have some passionate confetti egg warriers in the fam! 








Confetti head. 


More confetti head. 



Oh my cuteness. 



These two just crack me up.  Their faces say it all.  First friends. 



The boys crackin' their eggs. 



We decided to break up the sibling groups for some Easter portraits. 
These are my cousin's cuties, Bryce and Jayden.


Oh my gosh...how am I not chewing on these two RIGHT NOW?? 


My contribution to the lot.  BTW, Luca's growing approximately
5 inches every single day.  She'll be 6 foot by the end of spring. 



My other cousin's bunch, David, Jonathan and Christina.



**sigh**  You're killin' me here, kid. 



Love this gal so very much....happy birthday, Gram! 


Happy Easter
...and birthday
...and anniversary!

:-)

4.20.2011



Brenin turned 8 on Sunday, and we spent the weekend celebrating! 


We started the day off with the traditional breakfast donut.


Happened upon the Easter Bunny at the store!  Fancy meeting HIM there!!  


We went to M@gic Quest for the first time, and the kids loved it.  They each got a magic wand that everything in the place reacted to and a book full of clues.  It was kind of like a scavenger hunt, and they had to solve the clues and complete 9 different missions.  This guy was...um...rather into it, if you get my drift.


Oh, and um...so was Bren.  :-) 


...and Tuck. 









We had plans to meet the family for dinner afterwards (or so Brenin thought), but actually we were meeting at Kofi's hotel for a SURPRISE swimming party with friends and family!  Brenin was totally surprised!!! 











Natilie, Liv, Bren and Naomi





Carissa and Luca







Goody bags were easy...everyone got a beach ball! 



 The theme was Hello Kitty


I LOVE birthday candle pictures...there's not a happier, more magical place to be as a kid. 


Brenin got SUPER spoiled.  She got a camera, an electronic drum set, a giant Tangled Barbie tower and dolls, makeup, nail polish, clothes, a fancy new guitar tuner, a reading light (since she plumb wore her's out!), a HeadBands game, a DS cooking game, a Carmen Sandiago computer game, Tangled Wii game, a Webkinz, Magic Rocks, a Ty (all the things little girls know about...ha!), Squinkies and Squinkie holder (sound like a foriegn language?), and lots more goodies. 


It was a splashing great day thanks to Kofi for hooking us up with the pool! 


Had so much fun planning and celebrating Brenin...she is a true gift in my life, and there are days I just can't help but stop and say, "Wow, I am blessed to have this one!"  Happy birthday to my big EIGHT year old...love you so much, darlin'!