Easter 2019 Festivities

Easter weekend has come and gone and just like Christmas, I'm sad it's over. Easter is my second favorite holiday (apart from Christmas, of course). I've mentioned in before, but back in 2006, Jason and I were engaged over Easter, married the following Easter, had Brayden around Easter time in 2016, and I just love the overall special time this year brings, not to mention the significance of our risen Savior. The promise of spring, the colors and blooms, new life, new possibilities...it's all just so exciting!

We had so much fun during this Easter holiday and I hope you did as well!

It all began with our church's annual Easter Egg hunt last weekend. We had a "practice" run of hiding eggs in our living room the night before and lemme just say, it was a disaster. Brayden was throwing his basket, throwing the eggs...he just didn't want to "hunt eggs" the way we wanted him to hunt eggs and it was quite comical. I decided that I was just going to let him go to the egg hunt, have fun, and see what happened because...toddlers!

So, imagine my surprise when they called "GO" at the Easter egg hunt and he began running to the eggs and putting them in his basket!

 He racked up with quite a few....then he wanted to eat all of the candy inside, of course!

They also had horses and a train at the egg hunt and Brayden loved them both!

He had a chance to ride the horses twice and the train three times! So much fun!

Over Good Friday and this weekend, we spent a little time dyeing eggs. We had fun choosing colors and placing stickers all over the eggs!

After a birthday party for a nephew on Saturday, we decided to try the Easter bunny at the mall one more time. Remember the Santa incident from Christmas where it took three tries and we finally got a picture? Well, the bunny took two. I didn't warm him up enough on Thursday after picking him up from school and needless to say, he wanted nothing to do with the Easter bunny!

On Saturday though, it all came together and he was totally ok with seeing the Easter Bunny! Toddlers are funny creatures.

We also spent time at my parent's house on Saturday afternoon for a crawfish boil! My dad also set up Brayden's new swing set in the back yard and he had a blast playing on it!

On Easter Sunday, the Easter Bunny visited us and left a fun Easter basket as well as a few "hidden" eggs. Brayden also enjoyed a leftover breakfast of bunny cinnamon rolls!

So yummy!

We attended church on Easter Sunday morning followed by dinner at Jason's Aunt & Uncle's house.

The kids loved having an Easter egg hunt and checking out all of their goodies!

Brayden also had fun playing with his BFF, Brody. He LOVES this dog!

I hope you all had a blessed Easter and enjoyed your weekend! He is risen, risen indeed!

Easter Weekend 2018

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend! The weather was perfect here and we enjoyed spending time with our families!

Saturday morning began with a day-long change in plans. Initially, we were going to attend an Easter Egg hunt that was being put on by Jason's workplace followed by a few errands for Brayden's upcoming birthday party. Well, Jason got called into work first thing on Saturday morning. Since the egg hunt wasn't actually AT his physical workplace, we decided not to go. It's like I told him, Brayden didn't know any different this year anyway.

I had also planned a solo run that morning but instead, I grabbed a few things for Brayden to eat and set out on a 4 mile run around the neighborhood. We added a new route this time which gave an extra half mile so that was nice, too!

After the run, we cleaned up and headed out to finish a few errands. On the way to Toys R Us (since we have gift cards and they are closing), I turned to check on Brayden in the backseat for half a second and veered to the right. Whatever was on the right side of the road decided to take a chomp out of my tire. I instantly knew it was flat but was thankfully very close to Toys R Us, so I parked in their parking lot. Since Jason was working, I called my dad who agreed to come rescue me and teach me how to change a flat. (The last time this happened, I was a teenager in high school!)

I am so thankful for my amazing dad!

Once we made it home, Brayden napped while I boiled a few eggs for egg dyeing! We hadn't attempted this yet and I wasn't sure how it would go, but I decided to give it a whirl anyway.

He participated in every part of egg dyeing and loved watching the tablets fizz!

His new favorite phrase is "There you go"...so after every egg, he would say it! So funny!

We made six eggs and now I wish we had dyed more because he enjoyed it so much!

He LOVED doing this and I'm so glad we took part in this together! So fun!

My favorite egg is Brayden's stickered one. So precious!

After egg dyeing, I had dinner with a couple of high school friends who were in from out of town!

It was so fun to catch up with them!

Easter Sunday morning came and so did the Easter Bunny!

Brayden loved his basket and enjoyed finding eggs around the house that the Easter Bunny hid for him!

For breakfast, we had cinnamon rolls that were pinterest inspired...although my bunnies looked more like bears or Mickeys to me! Oh well!

We attended church on Easter Sunday followed by Easter dinner at Jason's parent's house.

Another egg hunt ensued although Brayden wasn't terribly interested this time. Oh well, what can I say? He's only (almost) two.

After Sunday nap time, we stopped by my parent's house to say hello and also drop my car off at the auto shop. I wrote on the paper "Another tire (yes, another one)" - since this is my fourth tire repair (second brand new tire) since January. The others all involved nails although I have no idea where they are coming from!

...and that about wraps it up for our Easter weekend filled with fun! I hope you all had a great Easter Weekend as well!

Easter Weekend Happenings

Happy Monday! Yep, baby boy and I are still hanging out over here, just waiting for something to happen! :) We had a fantastic Easter weekend with family and although Jason had to work, we managed to see him a bit, too!

My weekend began with a half day of work on Thursday! My dogs were groomed that day, so Jason and I had a late lunch, grocery shopped, then picked up our girls.

We sent this picture to our parents via text and said, "We have an announcement to make..." A little late for that, yes? Whoops! :)

Our girls after being groomed - I love it when they are both nice, clean, and have less hair!

On Good Friday, I slept in pretty late for me as I had a rough night the night before. I'm trying to absorb all the sleep now while I can!  We spent the afternoon split between the bank (did you know they are open on Good Friday cause I sure didn't!), a late lunch, and a little time with my dad. Overall, it was a good day!

 Friday officially made one week until my due date! (Now, we are at 5 days!)

I also worked on making this dessert for Saturday's family get together - I'll definitely share the recipe soon, but it was delicious!!!

On Friday night, my friend Kim and I saw the movie Miracles from Heaven. I CRIED through 75% of this movie and so did half the theater so I know it wasn't just the pregnancy hormones (although I do know that contributed)! This seriously is a great movie! 

Saturday morning was a super productive day as I ran an errand for my dad, stopped by Michaels for a frame, then came home and made these delicious Cadbury chocolate brownies. Again, I'll share the recipe soon! (They were AMAZING!) 

We spent the afternoon with Jason's family for lunch and an egg hunt which was super fun! 

 I loved watching my niece open each egg to see the "surprise" inside...so cute!

Saturday also happened to be my parent's 39th wedding anniversary! We had dinner at OCharley's followed by cake at their house!

Oh yes, and the Easter bunny also visited their house and "dropped off" baskets for Jason and I! Yes, we still get Easter Baskets from the Easter Bunny and I love it! My basket is even vintage...it's been in use since I was 2ish years old! :)

 
On Sunday morning, I helped in the coffee shop which was probably my last time for a while. Since our church is under construction after major flooding back in December, we've been holding our services in the Kids Building. We've also had to split to two Sunday morning services as the Kids Building doesn't near hold everyone for just one service. For Easter Sunday, we also had overflow rooms where the service was being live-streamed from the Sanctuary. Overall, I do have to say that everything came together and worked out great without any major hiccups! 

The coffee special of the day was a Chocolate Bunny Latte, although the bunny turned into a chicken peep instead! It still worked...and was super cute, too!

Another tradition on Easter Sunday for our church is the flowering of the cross. This symbolizes new life after Jesus' death on the cross on Good Friday. Everyone in attendance on Easter Sunday morning has the opportunity to place a flower on the cross and although it takes a while, it's one of the most beautiful and touching moments I've ever seen.

As I was placing my flower on the cross, the realization of how far Jason and I have come in just one short year really hit me and I became overwhelmed with emotion. Last year at this time, we were in the middle of our infertility journey, full of uncertainty, and had no clue where the future would take us. Jason's surgery was a month later...would it work? Would we be able to conceive on our own? Now here we are, exactly one year later...just days away from delivering our baby boy! Call it what you want, but I know where my hope lies...and it's in a God who is faithful and answers prayer!

Needless to say, one of those "emotional hormonal moments" that I discussed in my pregnancy update on Thursday hit me and I couldn't stop crying. Easter Sunday mess, I tell ya! Hah!

With the cross from our first service!

Lunch on Sunday afternoon was with my dad (Just him and I because my mom and Jason both had to work). We drove all over town and finally found something open (besides OCharleys which we had the night before). I'm always up for McAlisters, so why not?! :)

On Sunday afternoon, my high school friend and bridesmaid in my wedding came over for a visit. We got to catch up and discuss all things OB. It was great visiting with her!

After she left, I had an interesting dinner. For some reason, the thought of a PB, banana, and honey sandwich came to my mind. I hadn't eaten one of those since I was like...12 maybe? It was good, although I don't think I'll have another any time soon! As you can see, Madalynn enjoys being a little beggar! I also enjoyed some of the remaining strawberry dessert from the day before and again, there's Madalynn. She's so funny!

 I spent the rest of my afternoon/evening on the exercise ball, trying to encourage this little boy to get going!

We'll see if it works! :)

Have a super Monday!

How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun for Easter?