Easter 2011

This year was a St. Louis year for Easter, so we started by dying eggs Saturday morning. We were going to do it Friday night, but severe storms that produced tornadoes (including one that took out a good part of the airport) had us camping out in the basement instead. Saturday brought slightly calmer skies, so we were able to come out of the basement to dye eggs.

Preparing the dye.

Picking out colors.

Why wear pants when you don't have to?

Waiting for the eggs to color.

Audrey was a big help.

Easter morning! The Easter bunny left these baskets and the stuffed animals (that are also a pillow and blanket) on the girls' beds. Such a surprise Sunday morning!

I have no idea what is going on here. These girls are weird.

Checking out her goods.

There was a very brief break in the rain, so we went ahead and had our hunt outside. The Easter bunny hid the eggs we dyed in the backyard.

Now what do I do?

She started to get the hang of it and found all the eggs pretty quickly with very little help.

Look what I found!

All done!

We went to church after breakfast with my Aunt Robbie, Uncle Scott, Paige and Morgan. Robbie made the girls' dresses, so I wanted to make sure she could show off her handiwork. That, and their church is only five minutes from our house. I, of course, forgot my camera. There was an Easter egg hunt for the kiddos after services, so Charlotte had her second hunt of the day. She was super timid, but after I unwrapped a sucker for her, she started to get into it and collected quite a few eggs.

After the girls' nap, we headed out to my parents. Robbie, Scott, Paige and Morgan were there as well. I tried to get the girls together for a photo, but it seemed a fruitless effort. These are the best shots I got.

Aren't the dresses beautiful?

Such pretty girls.

My mom used her grandmothers lamb mold to make this cake. It turned out beautiful.

Mom's lovely table. Dinner was fabulous. It was a really nice evening.

The girls both received Easter baskets from my parents, chock full of goodies. Audrey's was full of Mum Mums and a personalized Winnie the Pooh book. Charlotte got some candy and a personalized Disney Princesses book. Charlotte L-O-V-Es that book. It's is super cute. Despite the rain, we had a pretty wonderful Easter with my family!

Fun Times with Old Friends

A couple of weekends ago we went to Hallsville to visit my best friend, Kristin, and her family. Matt, Kristin, and her husband, Peter, all met freshman year of college. They lived on the first floor of Hudson and were part of the same FIG (freshman interest group). I had met Kristin through our friend Meredith before Matt and I started dating, but we became really good friends sophomore year. He wanted a "guys night", so as to not feel bad about leaving me alone, he told me to come over to his dorm and have a girls' night with Kristin and another girl on the floor, Karen. After three consecutive hours of Mario Kart, we all became pretty good friends. I was Kristin's maid of honor and she was the matron of honor in mine. We've grown up and started families, but spending time with Kristin is always nice. It's like picking up right where we left off, even if there are months between conversations. Those are the best kind of friends. :)

It had been a loooong time since I had spent more than a few hours with Kristin (probably since right before she got married), so when Kristin and Peter moved from Columbia to Hallsville, they invited us over for the weekend to show us their new home and spend some quality time with their family. It was one of the best weekends I have had in a very long time! Peter made us french toast for breakfast and then we took a walk to the park, where the kids played and the grownups caught up. It was nice. We picked up some Casey's pizza for lunch (yum!) and then I finally got some nice time to chat with Kristin while the kids napped. Hamburgers for dinner and then we hit the road at bedtime. It was fabulous. I can't wait to do it again!

Unfortunately I am a parental failure and forgot to bring our camera. Peter took a few and sent them to me, so here are the only three photos documenting the trip.

The kiddos right before we left for the park. Charlotte rode along with Cole and Emmalee while Audrey had a stroller. Charlotte could not get enough of Emmalee. She worshiped her! Emmalee just turned five this past November (yikes), so I think she liked playing the mother hen. For days after we got home, Charlotte would ask me if we were going to see Emmalee. After I told her no, she would say "Hopefully soon". It was too cute. She had so much fun with Emmalee.

Off exploring with Emmalee.

Hanging out with Cole (he just turned 3 in February).

Corn on the Cob!

Audrey had her first corn on the cob at my parents house this past Sunday. Matt cut off the kernels at first, but she just wanted to gnaw on the corn cob. I swear this girl is part puppy.

A Fairy Tale Tea

Because Charlotte has been doing so well with potty training, I decided to surprise her with a Fairy Tale Tea at the Magic House. We invited Karlee and her mom, Becky, to come with us. It was so cute. The girls made their own crowns, then watched a short Beauty and the Beast play. There was a short intermission where the girls had apple juice and pastries. Afterwards they got to meet the actors and have them sign the autograph books they were given when we arrived. It was really sweet. I think the girls had a good time!

Charlotte had a rough start. She was running on a 20 minute nap. Not an ideal scenario.

She perked up when she heard the music from Disney's Beauty and the Beast over the intercom.

Decorating their crowns.

Such concentration.

Nothing was keeping Karlee from her brownie.

Drinking her "tea".

The best picture I have of the two us. Charlotte is such a stinker.

Trying to see the show.

Beauty and her prince.

The girls enjoying the roses they received at the end of the tea.

Beautiful girls!

Getting a little silly while waiting for our turn to meet the actors.

Meeting the fairy godmother (the narrator).

Belle's Papa

The prince. Charlotte was so excited to meet the prince. She practically climbed into his lap. The girl loves boys.

Isn't this picture adorable?

Opening her autograph book for Belle

Giving Karlee a hug goodbye. We stuck around for a little while after. Belle's papa asked Charlotte who her favorite character was and she said "Beast", so he told her if she stuck around, the Beast might come out again. The prince put the Beast mask and gloves back on and came out after he signed his last autograph. Charlotte was jumping up and down she was so excited, but when he came closer, she got a little nervous and wouldn't take a picture with him. But, gosh, the idea of meeting Beast was a pretty huge deal for this little girl.

Painting before we left.

After I took her out of her princess dress, we took a few pictures outside the Magic House in the garden. Isn't she precious?

She loved this fox. She asked me to take picture after picture of her and the fox. It was pretty cute.