3.5 years old (ish)

WOW!!!  I can't believe it, this little big is 3.5 (ish) years old.  Where has the time gone?  She has grown into an amazing little person.  She is a true lover of life and soaks up every new experience in front of her.  In fact, she thrives on new experiences.  She isn't always sure about the "people" involved in those new experiences, but she adapts and breathes in every moment.  I love to watch her explore and engage in her surroundings.  I feel this sense of peace watching her.  Her being is so refreshing and I love the moments that I allow myself to soak up every inch of her self.  She is worth every second of parenthood.  There are tough moments that test every inch of my being, but then I hear her say "I can do it all by myself(s)" (emphasis on the more than one self) and my heart sinks into soaking up every minute of her being.  As her mother, I am learning how to be a better mother everyday and she teaches me that.  For that I thank her!

G- pa Frank

The girls have this grandpa wrapped around there finger.  Grandpa Frank absolutely LOVES his grand babies.  He is the kinda guy who keeps to himself and who is quiet in nature and therefore doesn't outwardly express himself likes his wife (grandma Cindy;)  I know that he adores the girls because he shows it in simple sutle ways, just his style.  We are lucky to call him grandpa!  

Easter Day 2012

G-ma Cindy & G-pa Frank joined us at the lake... 

The gardners checking out our clover weeds... looking for chance of growth

 Like Mother, Like Son

 The Greats joined us for Easter:)

 We hunted for eggs and baskets filled with tons of goodies...

 Imagine 2 crazy:) grandmas in on the egg hunt...

 the girls were bound to be spoiled...

 showered with love...

 snacks...

 and gifts!

 We fished for a couple hours...

the water had yet to be let into the lake and so the fish weren't biting like we would have liked but there were a lot of laughs and simple time spent together.  You can't ask for much more than that if ya ask me!

Easter Eve

Is there such a thing as Easter Eve?  For us Easter eve consisted of dying eggs and hanging out together at the lake.  A very relaxing evening.  The usual immediate family was there plus Jaime & Ben who have really have become family.  Liv wasn't much into the dying of the eggs so instead she tried on shoes, hats, and read with Aunt Shannon.  "The Good Life"...thats where we're at:).   

Easter 2012

 All signed in and ready for the egg hunt

Waiting patiently for the fire truck siren to tell us to start the egg hunt

 A quick pic with the bunny himself

 Eating chocolate (a first for Liv)

 Proud of herself for hunting the 5 eggs

 Visiting the Veteran Memorial right by the courthouse where the egg hunt was. 

Grandma pointing out my Grandpa Leland's name

 1st sign on our "take pictures of me by all the signs we saw" adventure

 jumped out of the car to get a quick pic

the last sign when we got back to the lake:)

The Saturday of Easter weekend Grandma and I took the girls to an egg hunt in town.  It was a quick egg hunt where each kiddo could hunt for 5 eggs.  There was a drawing at the end for raffle prizes which we didn't win.  Harper was stoked to eat ALL of her candy from the eggs.  Liv held onto the same piece of chocolate for like 30 minutes.  By the time we were back at the lake she had melted chocolate all over her hands and face.  We had a nice little outing to start the weekend.