Easter 2011

I was looking more forward to this Easter, because I knew Annabelle would be able to get into waking up and finding a basket full of goodies next to her bed. I know she would love that! I was out of college and still living at home, and the Easter bunny was still leaving an Easter basket for me! It's pretty exciting. I had fun putting this one together this year.

I also incorporated a fun little toy or two to go with it. I thought this would be a good start to potty training, by buying her a potty set for her doll. Eh. Hasn't worked yet...but there's time, yet.

Her eyes absolutely lit up when she saw the fun surprise next to her bed. She marveled at it for a couple of seconds before digging in.

I started a new tradition this year - the Easter bunny leaving her a card. I always struggle with the true meaning of the holiday (s) vs. the fun meaning of the holiday. So, I thought it would be fitting for the Easter bunny to explain it. So, that's what he did. The Easter bunny left Annabelle a card wishing her a very Happy Easter, but to remember that Jesus is the one to whom all glory should go. He explained that the holiday was about Him and how He died on the cross for all of us. The Easter bunny was just a bonus...but not the true meaning. Of course, she's too young to really grasp any of this right now, but years down the road...she will understand and appreciate it.

After we read the card from the Easter Bunny, we let her explore her goodies. She was quite please, I think.

Unfortunately, Easter morning wasn't all fun. Annabelle came down with a fever and a very runny nose. Just the 15-20 minutes of Easter basket fun took all of her energy. She was soon up in her Daddy's lap, all worn out.

Some little bug got to her. We couldn't go to church. *Sigh* The very first Easter morning that I didn't go to church. I'm not gonna lie, I cried. I don't know why, I guess it was sadness and guilt. Of all mornings, Easter should be the one where we make the most effort...sickness or not. I guess that counts when the adult is sick, but when the baby is sick - you just shouldn't chance it. So we stayed home.

We actually turned it on the Bible channel, as I like to call it, and found a cartoon about Jesus' resurrection. AB wasn't that into it, but it made me feel better to have it on. So, we watched that for a while.

Despite her fever and {extremely} runny nose. She was in a pretty good mood. She did a lot of smiling and laughing...in between short little rests. Even though we didn't make it to church that morning, we made sweet memories as a family. I have to share this one, even though it's a little silly. After the bible cartoon, and an episode of The Donut Man, the movie Nanny McPhee came on one of the channels. I'm not sure how or why we stopped on that channel, but we did. I absolutely adore Collin Firth, and he was the dad in the movie. This is probably the reason I kept the channel there...hee hee. Anyway, AB only watched about 15-20 minutes of it, and then it was time for her nap, but Austin and I laid on the couch together and watched the whole movie. We were a little glued to it. Now, I can't remember a time, during the day that Austin and I have just sat still long enough to watch such a sweet little movie. I don't know why it made such an impression on me, but it did. Now I want to buy it!

After the movie, AB woke up and we got dressed. We headed over to Mememama's house for Easter lunch. It sort of made me sick that AB didn't get to wear her Easter dress to church...but it was ok, she wore it for family.

Everyone was there. We ate and then Daddy went outside to hide the Easter eggs so AB could hunt them. There was zero competition this year because all of her cousins had other places to be, so AB was lucky enough to get to find all the eggs herself...and keep what was inside!

I loved once the hunt was over and she was ready to dig into those eggs. I even gave her some candy that was inside one of the eggs. I love the picture with her little mouth open like a bird just anticipating eating that candy. (Can you tell she doesn't get candy very often?!?)

A fun time was had by all. It almost made up for missing church. Happy Easter!

Easter Pictures with Bebe and Papa

 Before Easter, AB and I went with Bebe and Papa to Turtle Creek to take some pictures in AB's Easter dress and a little dress my mom had picked up for AB before she was even born! AB loved the bridge and holding Papa's hand. She was very cooperative and would even stop and pose for me.

Austin and I had our engagement pictures taken in this very location. It was very special to bring AB to this same place, nearly five years later to have her picture taken.

My mom and I love this picture, it's very "Secret Garden-esque."

She was such a sport for all the picture-taking that was going on. She even stopped long enough to take a couple pictures with Mommy.

We then changed into her {amazing} Easter dress. I love everything about this sweet dress. The color, the fabric, the flowiness. When Jill and I found this dress when we went Easter dress shopping, we knew it was, "THE ONE!"

What a fun day we had playing at Turtle Creek and capturing sweet memories!

Cooper Sleeps Over

I always hated when Austin is gone...especially over night. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, I dread it. Luckily, AB and I had not one, but TWO friends stay the night. I had a friend and so did she! Aunt Jill came and stayed since Uncle Jonas was with Daddy in Austin, and Cooper's Mommy and Daddy were running in Fort Worth early the next morning. So, Cooper stayed with us! How fun!

I set up AB's table in the kitchen so they could eat together! So cute!

AB loved having a friend to play with!

Then, I thought it would be super cute to put them in the bath that night. This is wonderful "embarrassment" material for when they are 18 to show them later!

They were so cute and had so much fun! Cooper was a perfect little guest and gentleman! He was very well behaved and AB and I just loved him there! He was quite fond of Aunt Jill, though. Hence the big smile in the last picture. He was looking at her. Ooooooooh. Look out, AB!!

A Trip to See Our BFF's!

Oh, how Mommy LOVES our family trips down to Spring to see Evan, Cole (what you've recently started calling Aunt Nicole), Audrey and Harper! I get so excited to spend time with my favorite girls! This was an especially fun trip for Annabelle, because she loved holding baby Harper! Audrey is still her BFF, but I think AB is experiencing some baby fever right now, and she got her fix through Harper!

The girls started out their time together taking a bath! This is one of AB's favorite things, and to get to have a playmate, well that made it even more fun!

Flashback - here is Nicole and I in the tub when we were younger! We were a bit older, but still...I love that we have this picture together. The comparison is really neat!

My favorite pictures are of  AB holding Harper. She was very still and patient and you could tell she took this "job" very seriously. I think she's ready for a sibling!

Flashback - here is me holding Nicole when she was about Harper's age. I was four instead of 1 1/2. What sweet memories!

We had a blast in Houston, but cut our trip short just a little early. This way Nicole, Audrey and Harper could come back to Dallas with us. It was a blast for Audrey and Annabelle. They got to ride with each other in the back seat the whole way! It's a little blurry, but this is one of my favorite all-time pictures of the girls! I love that they are holding hands in the backseat! They really love each other!

We had a blast! I can't wait to do it again!

In Daddy's Shoes

Literally. She's standing in her Daddy's shoes!

I love that you can see Austin's foot to the right of her and he has no shoes on! AB has started taking an interest in my shoes, and this particular evening found Daddy's shoes intriguing! She wanted them on, and when Austin literally had to put her in the shoes...she thought it was great! It was a funny moment and had to capture it!