really, really long and picture-heavy post. but what a week it's been - and we survived!! we spent the beginning of the week running errands and getting ready for our jam-packed weekend. on wednesday, the cotters' had us over for dinner...even though they had six brand-new mouths to feed! ella and max met their new chicks.
dessert outside. love these kiddos!
on thursday morning, ella was super excited to celebrate her birthday at school. she also lost her third tooth!!! yay!!
friday afternoon, we dyed our easter eggs!
first up was an easter egg hunt at reid park zoo.
showing off their brand-new easter baskets - gigi did an amazing job on them! thank you!!!!! they are so lucky to have such a talented grandma to make them stuff like this!
they pet a bunny rabbit, named fiona.
and then met the easter bunny, himself!
we ran back home to open a few gifts and Skype with family.
then, it was off to zinburger for lunch, where we met up with auntie elaine, uncle norm, nolan and rachel!!
a few of us continued on to sabino canyon for a short hike. it was a gorgeous day!
then back home for cake - we celebrated nolan and steve's birthdays too!
making silly faces via FaceTime to uncle steve and auntie B.
she only liked the raspberry filling in her cake. she proceeded to extract just that part from her cake and was left with the letter "E!"
decorating uncle nolan's hair.
while most of the family stayed for dinner, els and my mom (and jenny) joined me and roger for the easter vigil at corpus christi. i received the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and first communion. so efficient! this was a journey that i began more intentionally about a year ago - primarily with the goal of uniting our family in one faith as a portion, a piece, of the foundation that we are building. and while this remained the primary focus, i have in turn, begun to gain some more peace (admittedly that is not demonstrated in a very outwardly fashion for me) and definitely more compassion. while our faith may be an element of their upbringing, so too are other influences - just as important, if not more so - us as models, family, friends, school... i want you, ella and max, to know how proud of who you both are, and for who you will become. whatever choices you make and paths you pursue, wherever life made lead you, whoever you may encounter, may you continue to be loving, accepting, respectful, kind, generous and gracious. in your actions. in your words. you are so loved. i am beyond grateful. i'm thankful for the support and love that i've received - especially from roger, ella, max, my mom, jenny, and my sponsor, rachel.
on sunday, we celebrated easter!!
did auntie elaine and ella coordinate outfits?? ;-)
after brunch, we headed to my parents' house where the easter bunny hid eggs in their backyard.
...and he set up a special hunt for the kiddos inside!
the kids did an awesome job reading the clues hidden inside the eggs.
afterward, we went next door for some pool time.
"fishing" for daddy!
they worked up an appetite for doritos and peeps. we had a delicious easter dinner that my mom made. thank you thank you!! we had a fabulous easter!
p.s. i also came in first place in our march madness bracket!! woohoo!!
