planting

We're keeping it simple and easy this year.

Sunflowers and zinnias.

 Oh and Arden's bean plant she brought home from school. 

We planted these back at the end of March.  

I'll try and post some some "growing" pictures soon.

Easter celebration

The weekend before Easter, the girls and I attended one of my favorite events since moving to our city, a celebration of Easter for mothers, daughters, sisters and friends hosted each year by our friend, Judith.  We get all dressed up for a great time of fellowship and make Easter crafts, decorate cookies, eat yummy snacks and all the little ones hunt Easter eggs.  It's all very "girly" and so much fun!  

I'm very thankful for the following pictures taken by Brittany who very graciously took pictures for me upon the realization that although I had brought my camera, I left the battery charging in the wall of my kitchen at home.  Yes, sadly, this is the state of my mind lately-ha!  So thank you Brittany!

One of the girls...this sweet little girl was coming to our home twice a week for a couple of months, but now just occasionally, and the girls just love her so (and me too)! 

Easter 2011

We had several opportunities to hunt Easter eggs this year with one being at a party I helped coordinate with another mom for Arden's dance class.  We dyed eggs, made Resurrection rolls and then had an Easter egg hunt after a pizza dinner.  The girls are in action below... (E's in the bottom of the pic and A's to the right with the green basket)

The very next day, Arden had an egg hunt at school followed by snacks inside.

Later in the week, the girls and I joined some dear friends and dyed Easter eggs.  Even though there were eggs to dye at the dance party, A and E didn't partake, so they were thrilled to have another opportunity.

All of this led up to Good Friday, and on that evening we went downtown to the plaza for a time of reflection and communion with our church family.  

These were taken afterwards... with some help from Daddy. :)  

The weekend of Palm Sunday, we attended the annual Mother/Daughter (and sisters and friends!) Easter celebration hosted by Judith and her sister, Amy.  It's going to get a post all it's own because it's just that wonderful! 

Easter Sunday arrived and our house was in full swing pretty early.  I sang with the worship team that morning and Woody was the official coordinator of the brunch at church, so we all had to arrive at 8 am.  (And yes, the pictures from Easter morning were taken before we left the house!)  I must say that Woody did an incredible job pulling off the brunch with the help of a great team of ladies and gents from the Body.  Our church ate brunch as a family and then had a time of worship afterwards, celebrating our Risen Savior!

After an afternoon of much needed naps, we did something as a family that I think is going to become my new favorite tradition.  We have a set of Resurrection eggs that we usually go through several times leading up to Easter.  This year, I got them out a few weeks before Easter, but did a horrible job of actually going through the eggs and discussing the story of Jesus' resurrection with the girls.  So... late in the afternoon on Easter Sunday, we took off to the mission with a simple picnic dinner and the Resurrection eggs in hand.  After eating, we "hid" the 12 eggs (we had to get one more hunt in!) and then had the girls go grab them one by one.  After all 12 eggs were back on the blanket, we went through the story of Jesus' resurrection using the eggs.  It was sweet and simple and a glorious reminder of the sacrifice our Savior made for us and of His victory over death!

Easter morning

18 months

Well, I did it again.  Chloe is actually now 19 months, but here's a look at 18 months!

"She's on the growth chart!" were the words I heard from our sweet pediatrician, Dr. Amy, when I took Chloe in for her well check up.  Yay!  She finally hit 20 lbs.!  20 lbs. and 5 oz. to be exact, putting her in the 3rd-5th% in weight.  She's 31 inches in height, in the 25th%.  Although she's still petite, she's growing up fast and definitely a toddler!

Chloe is a very busy little one, keeping me on my toes.  She's more of a climber than even Esther at this age, and can climb up into the top bunk where Arden sleeps in a matter of seconds.  Chairs, couches, even the suburban are no match for little Chloe.

Even though she's little, she has a big personality and I am so thankful for it!  Chloe makes us smile, she makes us laugh, she seems to be the comedian in the family.  I do have to watch myself though to make sure I'm not always laughing at the things she does or how she reacts, especially when it's behavior we don't want to encourage!

Chloe gives incredible hugs.  The kind where she puts both arms around your neck, buries her face and squeezes with everything she's got and doesn't let go.  I hope she always gives them this way.

Although her vocabulary had slowed down right before turning 18 months, the week following the 18 month mark, it picked up again and hasn't stopped.  Her newest word is "buckle."  She is quite entertained in her high chair for lengths of time buckling herself.  I do have to unbuckle her though, but hopefully she won't learn to do that any time soon!  

She also still has great interest in shoes and loves putting them on and taking them off, as well as trying on others' shoes.  It's also usually the first thing she will show someone that she sees... she will put one foot up in the air and say "shoes" as a way of greeting.

her curly q top

Chloe, you are a precious blessing from the Lord and we love, love, love you!