Easter

Doug and the girls in their Easter finery getting ready to head into church.

Well, another Easter has come and gone. While the girls did get baskets and new Easter dresses, we didn't make it to see the Easter Bunny and we also didn't go to an egg hunt this year. I thought I would just do one here, but I didn't even do that. We really tried to slim down (even though they did get baskets) and focus on Christ, the atonement, and the resurrection. While the kids did listen, they were really excited about their baskets. I didn't get any pictures of their baskets or anything. I did remember to snap a few pictures as we headed into church, but they were quick and while you can see their dresses, I don't think you can really see their hair. finding the right dresses took a little bit and even though I looked and looked, I still ended up with dresses that needed a shirt underneath or a sweater over the top. Both girls actually picked out their own dresses and they loved them!

This was the best I could do to try and show off their hair since I forgot to take actual hair pictures (funny since I planned out the hairstyles at least a week in advance - Kamryn's looked like a basket and Riley's was more of a bohemian look)

After church (we actually left early) we went to meet the family for Easter brunch/lunch. It was great because almost all of us were here in FL. Only Girard was missing, but we made sure we called him later. We met at a restaurant in The Villages and then went to my in-laws for some family time. The kids got gift bags from their aunt, uncle and cousins from Ocala and Aunt Josie brought some eggs and toys that they had fun hiding and then finding. It was a really fun afternoon for everyone!

Playing in the Park

Crazy, upside down girl! she thought it was so cool that she figured out how to get up and down all on her own (even though she was scaring me to death).

Today we fore go the Easter Egg hints in the area because they are always so crazy. Plus, we really like to focus on the real meaning of Easter. The Bunny does make a visit, but we try to talk about Christ and the atonement,etc. Well today, after we did some things around here, we went to meet Emily, Joe and Jake at the playground. We had hoped to go swimming, but it was cloudy today and there was a breeze so it didn't get as warm as we thought it would. The kids were a little disappointed (at least mine were), but they still enjoyed the park. They played on the slides, swings, monkey bars, etc while Emily and I sat and talked and tried to entertain Jake. It was really a nice enjoyable afternoon and despite the overcast day, it was good weather.

Yes, those are Easter eggs in her hair. I saw this on a hair website and she wanted to try it. It was very cute, but I would need to do it a little different next time because the eggs would fall out when she was running around.

Riley pushing Joe in the swing. He later moved to the bigger swings and he and Kamryn tried to go as high as they could.

Jake playing in the tunnel. It took us forever to get the other kids to move out of the picture so we could get just him. He thought we he was cool!

Cousins!

Peyton and Piper (along with Desta) came to FL for some R'n'R. They arrived on Tuesday, that lovely cooler and VERY breezy day (thank goodness it warmed up for them). Doug spent some time with them on Wednesday and the girls and I went down and saw them on Thursday. They were staying at the Nickelodeon hotel. It was a very cool resort and our kids have already asked more than once to stay there sometime soon. While we were there we did a lot fun things around the resort (we weren't allowed to use the pool since we weren't hotel guests). Desta had planned out a fun afternoon. Three of the girls got tattoos (airbrushed) and one got a hair wrap, we saw several characters, they decorated chef hats and then a cookie, and they played in the arcade. It was a really fun afternoon and Riley and Kamryn told all their friends about it that night. They loved showing off their tattoos and the goodies they won in the arcade. Friday we went back to pick them up and headed to the Villages where they are spending the rest of their time here in FL. Since we have 4 young ladies, we took them to see the new Hannah Montana movie. We went to the Villages thinking it would be less crowded (and it probably was) but we still ended up in the third row. Luckily, the seats were super comfy so it really wasn't that bad. The movie was great and all of us came out singing songs from the movie! Then, it was off to Grandmas so we could drop them off. We're excited that we'll be spending Easter with them (and the rest of the family)!

Riley, Kamryn and Peyton in the "thinkin'chair" with Blue

Peyton sporting her hair wrap and decorating her hat while Piper is already working on the cookie.