Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! We had the best day. Church was amazing, the kids were amazing, the food was amazing, our family was amazing...just a really great day.  Alyssa started the day by finding the eggs and candy and umbrella the Easter Bunny left for her. She found this umbrella in a gift shop back in December and has wanted it ever since. I've held out waiting for the right season to roll around. I'd love to say she was so excited this morning when she got it, but she found it in the back of my car last week...grrr. She's pretty attached to that umbrella...if opening an umbrella inside really does bring back luck...she's in trouble!

We headed to church and then over to Grandma's house for lunch.  The Easter Bunny at Grandma's house really knows what she's doing.

cupcakes!

A book with peek-a-boo flaps and sounds...perfection!

Gels!  These are a huge hit at our house. We have a large window in our kitchen that is decorated very well by this three year old.

"The Magic Railroad."  She has been wanting this Thomas movie.  It has Diesel 10 and Lady in it...be still her heart...

a snow globe,

and bubbles!!

pretzles...tell me, would you rather eat the pretzel or him...oh my goodness!

Sunglasses...ummm...what a little man!

He's even got the moves already...

The aftermath.

We packed up and went home and took naps and then went over to Nana and Papa's.  The Easter Bunny had been busy over there too!  There were lot of eggs to find!

Ok, I can't even look that good without a pretzel in my mouth...

He spotted one.

but she picked it up...

I love this pic.

Time for a book with Nana.

Look at them checking each other out.

Ok, this next little exchange is priceless.  I think Alyssa ADORES Kate.

What a girl...

Sorry for the picture overload...I just couldn't narrow it down anymore. 

Happy Easter!

I feel it only fair to brag on Evan after the last post about Alyssa. The little man is changing so much and becoming so much fun as he gains more independence and tries to communicate more. Mom and I went shopping Friday night and got Evan his first official pair of shoes! Here he is checking them out...

He likes them!!

He found his way into the pantry, pulled out the Cheerios and had a snack. He was entertained for much longer than it took me to clean it up, so I say...go for it!

I just think he looks so sweet here. There's something about him in his pj's that melts my heart!

Ok, how could you not love that face. What a little peanut. I love you Ev...

Are you still there???

If you're reading this, you're officially a faithful reader. Sorry it's been so long...I just haven't felt like blogging. Real life happens apparently... Since I've been gone, Spring has arrived, the snow is gone, Evan now walks almost exclusively, Alyssa started gymnastics, we went on retreat with the High School students from church, I turned 30!!!!!, Chris made me an AMAZING desk which I am currently sitting at. I L-O-V-E it! So yeah, we've been busy, but having a lot of fun.

Here she is ready for her first gymnastics class.

Adorable...

Oh that face...

Nothing like a balloon, a swing set and the sun on an early spring day.

Ok, nothing like a Halloween necklace, a gymnastics outfit and a sandbox on an early spring day.

Care to splash?

Aly-G, you're the best...

Walking feet!

Yesterday Evan took his first real steps!! We have been certain this would happen anytime now for weeks and yesterday was the day!

Here he is in action.



Isn't that great! Already today he is much more sure of himself and walking three times as far. His default mode is still crawling, but it won't be long until he's chasing Alyssa around. Could you tell the attention Evan was getting was just about to kill her? Oh they are fun.

Winter Blues...

I'm officially ready for winter to be over.  I'm longing for the days of throwing the kids in the stroller and heading to the park.  I'm longing for no more bulky winter coats.  I'm longing for the sun...oh the sun... But alas, it's February in Michigan which means we have at least one if not two more months of this...  Here are the latest pics and we try desperately to be entertained inside for just a little longer.

Put the toys in a new basket and they look like new toys!

Thank goodness they're easy to entertain!

See the two new teeth!!  There are four more coming through on the top this week!!

Nothing like a good book.

A package arrived in the mail yesterday from Uncle Brian and Aunt Kim and saved the afternoon.

Alyssa doing what she does best...lining things up!

Thanks guys!!

Here's to spring...come soon!

Evan's First Birthday

I still find it amazing that in the course of a year babies go from this...

to this!

I had so much fun preparing to celebrate Evan's big day.  Who he is and what makes him tick has really started to show in the last month.  Because of that, picking out presents was easier/more fun than even at Christmas.  Toys that play music/flash were the big hits this year!

Alyssa picked out this star toy that turned out to be the fav.  

He also got several leap frog toys, a Thomas train, a puzzle and a chair for his room!

Cute, cute cute!

I had started out the day with Alyssa baking Evan's cake while he was napping.  I checked it, thought it was done, pulled it out of the oven, flipped it over to release from the pan and...

oops!

Luckily, I had enough of all the ingredients and had started early enough in the day that I just whipped up another one.  (Thanks mom for helping clean up!)

Take two...

The finished product...always worth the effort!

What is this?

are you sure??

I think there's more in here...

Hello?!

This doesn't work like the phone...

So much fun!  I'm so thankful for this little boy.  He is such a sweet little guy.  He lights up when he sees you in the morning and loves his big sister.  Oh the conversations they will have.  I can't wait to see what the next year brings...