Celebrating Easter

Somehow, Mommy buys the kit, but Daddy ends up doing the egg dying every year. I love watching the two of them hard at work together.

The Bunny hopped by. Sutton slept in, so Natalie brought his basket in for him.

Pretty excited for a new shovel for the beach.

Ironing her Easter dress.

A little post church, pre hunt play time.

Forgive me for all the photos of Natalie on the 3 wheeler in her Easter best. I just thought it was too cute and such a good representation of her personality.

We went to a huge egg hunt and pig pickin right across the street from Granny and Grandaddy's. It's been a tradition for the Harrells (folks across the street and great friends of our family) for over 50 years now. It was really neat for me to take my own kids to the hunt I remember so fondly.

The little guy with Sutton is Maddox. His Daddy, Mac and I grew up hunting eggs together for our entire childhood. I LOVE being back home for just these very occasions.

The Lucky Egg. She was so proud.

This was the prize she chose for getting the lucky egg. "A blue bunny friend for her gray bunny she got in her basket when she was just a tiny baby."

She really is just as sweet as the photo appears....most of the time! :)

Easter Sunday

I can't help but celebrate our risen Saviour, especially on this day. I look at my children and the husband I still don't deserve and can't help but rejoice. Christ defeated death so we may live. And live victorious! Praise Him!

This picture makes me even more excited to get into our new house...so I can frame this sweet photo and put it somewhere I can look at it often.

People already ask if they are twins. Won't be long till Sutton is taller than his "big" sister.

Biker Chick

The weather here has been amazing. Lots of walks and rides.

One Saturday Morning

Couldn't help but snap a picture of these three all reading at the table after breakfast.

Sutton Reads

From 4 to 100

Today was our first real beach day, swimsuits, sunscreen and all. I was hoping that between the box of beach supplies we brought from KC and the leftovers from last summer at Granny's we would have some sunscreen to use today. What I found was 36 bottles of sunscreen. I think it's safe to say we're protected!

Three Year Old

This picture captures so much of the 3 year-old attitude that defines our sweet Natalie these days. Fancy Nancy glasses chosen to wear to Mrs. Cheryl's house and pushed up just so. A butterfly painted on her cheek that you can barely see because it had been there for days and better not get washed off. A writing utensil in her hand, drawing in a book that belongs to Mom. Princess tee shirt she insisted on wearing that day. A little African doll on the counter in front of her, no doubt getting a play by play of the picture she is drawing. Sitting at the bar in the kitchen to be RIGHT by Mommy while she cleans up after lunch. And a hand in motion to take those shades off her head ASAP because she knows that's exactly why Mom has the camera in her hands. A picture really is worth a thousand words.

Easter Party

Natalie started a new preschool here in NC on April 1. She really seems to be enjoying it. What's not to love about cupcakes and parties though?

Just when I think she can't get any cuter...

Getting the "basket" she made from her teacher, Mrs. Williams, while Bubby watches close by.

That itty bitty one in the center, that's our Nat!

Ready. Set.

Go!

Love the excitement on that little face.

Not 10 seconds had passed when she stopped to make sure little brother was finding eggs for his basket.

Counting out her loot.

Stanley Goes to the Beach

Our niece, Jaycee, sent Flat Stanley to Natalie in the mail. We are having a good time showing him around the town. First stop, the ocean.

Note: Sutton is also taking a photo of Natalie and Stanley with Mom's phone.

Stanley was excited to get buried in the sand. Lucky for him, the sand fell right off and he didn't need to go out in the water to get clean.

Sutton's disappearing feet trick.

You'll have to forgive me for all the photos of these kiddos at the beach that are sure to follow. We are truly LOVING it here already.

Party

My college roomie has a little guy that's just a few months older than Sutton. Noah lives in DC, so we were really surprised, but excited to be invited to his 2nd Birthday Party in Wilmington. Nothing like a birthday party to make you feel like this is home.

These two are exactly the same size and obviously into the same things.

Party goers enjoying cake.

Sutton, stepping up to the train table. A train party for a 2 year-old, no surprises there!

This little train went all around the park.

Natalie pulling one of the "babies."

Party game, train peek-a-boo.

Just a Little Guy

So far, everyone is happy with our new living arrangements!

So cozy by Gran.

Little Lefties

Kylee and Natalie taking a break from running all over the yard.

Vintage Entertainment

Natalie and Sutton are both enjoying playing with all the old toys and books Granny has saved all these years. I can't lie, I love it too. Anyone that knows me knows I am a total sap when it comes to remembering, well just about anything. I mean, how could I not be ecstatic about the entire set of Sweet Pickles books and books I used to read in the hallway of my Grandmother's tiny trailer. Sweet memories remembered. Sweet memories being made.

Caterpidders

In Missouri, Natalie befriended earthworms. Here she has taken to caterpillars. I remember loving them as a little girl too. Her excitement about literally the smallest things is so endearing.

TRADITIONS

The NC Azalea Festival comes to Wilmington every spring. As a kid, my parents would take me to the circus (some years) and the parade (EVERY year). It was really fun to be back in town just in time for the festivities.

Sutton, admiring the "braloo" (the sound an elephant makes, come on people). :)

While the circus felt like it had shrunken significantly since I was a kid, the elephants haven't gotten any smaller.

Somehow Natalie knew that at the circus you get to ride an elephant. From the moment she heard we were going to the circus, she couldn't wait. She actually really liked it and kept telling me how fun it was.

Cotton candy with Jake. Natalie has been missing her "kids" from KC, so having Jake around has helped lessen the blow. He is such a sweetie.

Saturday morning we went to the parade. These are the stands Grandad made years ago and has been improving on ever since. They were actually quite the lifesaver and have stood the test of time. I used to rest my little tooshie right where Nat is sitting.

There were lots of pageant princesses to wave to. Natalie saw "Snow White (princess with black hair), Belle (yellow dress) and Cinderella (you guessed it, blue dress)." I guess we can save the cash on a Disney trip and just hit up the parade every year!

Showing us something wonderful. It really doesn't get much better than seeing the world through the excitement of a 3 year-olds eyes.