Our Easter Weekend Celebrations

We had a fun filled Easter weekend spent with family and friends, some of it spent reflecting on the sacrifice of our Saviour and how he indeed RISEN, and some of it spent on family time and the commercial aspect of Easter.  We realized this year that our children are grasping what is more important at Easter - Ezra said "Easter is more important than the bunny because Jesus died for our sins".  Heart melt!  A proud mom and dad moment!  

We were all decked out for Easter Sunday and I was hoping to capture a nice family picture.  That is always a way easier thought than reality.  I do laugh at the progression of Ryder through these photos (note: Mckenzie no longer has a soother.....so now she uses her fist in it's place....working on that!)

Left picture is after Ryder wouldn't stand up for the pictures.  

Right picture is Steve speaking through his cleaned teeth something like "stand up and smile for the picture for your mom or you will get a spanking on your bare bum...now SMILE".  hahahahahaha  Totally can tell that's what that picture is saying :)  

And voila :)  Maybe next year the fist will be out of the mouth :)

When we arrived home from Church, we discovered that the Easter bunny had broken into our house and left his footprints around....the kids followed the footprints (the bunny was even up on our table!!!!!)

.... Easter gifts from the Easter bunny.

This year they received a new swim suit, new markers, paint, paint brushes, lego books and other books, and a small bit of candy for each (oh yes, and Ryder received a superman lunch kit).  

Mckenzie was pretty much "what the heck, I get a boring bag with a bathing suit and a small bag of candy....not cool....not cool!".

Easter snack that I made for Ezra (I hardly doubt that I will make this again)....very finicky but he was really happy with them!  

The Jones' had a gathering on Easter Saturday.  I can promise you that it is never a dull moment when this group of children are together.  LOUD but very fun!  Can't wait till August and the wedding to have a blast with this fun crowd!  

These two are only 6 months apart.  

Saturday evening the weather was beautiful so we decided to head out for a walk after supper.  It was so nice to enjoy spring air finally.  Mckenzie longs to be like her brothers.  I can only hope and pray that she will grow up to want to scrapbook and cook with her mom and not be hunting and turning wrenches with her brothers and dad.  

Awana Sunday

We reached the end of our Awana year the other week - so as a wrap up, the Church hosts an Awana Sunday - allows a chance for parents to see their child(ren) up on stage and for some getting awards.  It's always interesting watching the Cubbies - they are still at the age of innocence....they don't really care how they look up on the stage.  This year we graduated in the "how you look on stage" department....no picking his nose like last year - I was so very proud of him :)  

Ezra received his "Cubbie award" during the luncheon.  

Next year Ezra will be in Sparks and Ryder will be in Cubbies.  

Watch out Cubbies!!! :)

Quinn Turns ONE

Rewind a year ago to when our great friends, Troy & Falon Willis had their baby girl, Quinn at the end of March 2013.  She was born early and was TINY.  Today, she is still TINY but is MIGHTY and such a sweetheart.  We were thrilled to be able to celebrate her day of birth with them and many others!  

Falon did a fabulous job planning a cute little bunny birthday party.  The kids loved the play stations!  

There was A LOT of young children! 

Happy Birthday Quinn!  Auntie and Uncle love you lots!

Special Lady Tea

Each year, Doodlebug Preschool hosts a Special Lady Tea around Mother's Day (it's such a sad realization that they don't call it Mother's Day Tea for because of the children that don't have any mom's present in their life).  

When I asked Ezra who he wanted at his Special Lady Tea he replied "Grandma Park and Grandma Farm".  I asked him if there was anyone else that was a special lady in his life that he wanted to invite.  "Hmmmmmmm, nope".  Good thing I didn't take it personally and decided to invite myself :)  

It was a cute little tea - they did a few songs for us before headed back to their classroom for snacks.  We got to see Ezra more in his element (he can sing loudly if prompted!) and to play with his peers.  The little (but much taller) boy in the blue and green plaid shirt is Ezra's great friend, Jake - they are such good little buddies!  

An activity to do once we had partook in snacks was the painting nail station.  Grandma Park didn't jump on the bandwagon but Grandma Farm was all over that idea (and yet, she could wait to get them off 5 days later - she made sure they lasted over Easter just for Ezra!).  I stayed strictly the photographer!  

Ezra and his two special ladies!  

Boston Pizza Field Trip

Ezra's preschool class had a field trip to Boston Pizza one morning.  The kids got a great tour of the kitchen area (Ezra's favourite was the big pizza oven!), got to each make their own individual pizza, pour their own pop, eat their pizza, and get Boston Pizza goodie bags.  All in all a fun morning and kudos to Boston Pizza for some pretty fabulous PR work!  

When I asked Ezra what his favourite part was he told me his orange pop and his tattoos :).