Easter Weekend

What a lovely Easter weekend!  We celebrated with my family at the farm on Saturday.  The kids enjoyed an Easter egg hunt.  Zach, Kyle and Evangeline went on a fruitless mushroom hunt.  Aunt Rita and Uncle Steve came to visit.  The weather was perfect.  It was just a wonderful day.

Here's a picture of Aunt Rita trying out what we like to call, Grandpa's Goodie Getter, a.k.a. black walnut cracker.  Dad's been sending home jars of freshly hand cracked walnuts.  What a treat.

Evangeline left this sweet note out for the Easter Bunny.  It reads, "Dear Easter Bunny, Every time Easter is here, I think of the happiness you spread!  And I thank you!  Sincerely, Evangeline"

The weather was super nasty on Easter Sunday.  The Easter Bunny had to hide the eggs in the house this year.  No matter.  The kids had such fun searching for eggs. 

It was next to impossible to get a picture of them together in their Easter best.  I had to say, "Evangeline jump in fast!  Jed's standing still!".  The stillness never lasted more than a millisecond.  Ammie took Evangeline dress shopping again this year per tradition.  She bought Jed's outfit too.  They looked absolutely adorable if I do say so myself.  Evangeline's doing a lovely job picking out her own Easter dress.  The girl's got taste. 

 

I finally got a few good pictures at church, but had to remind Evangeline how to sit like a lady when wearing summer clothes.  :)

Later that afternoon we went to Wayne and Karen's house for more celebrating.  Papa had a glove, bat and baseball in Jed's Easter basket.  He was thrilled!  The boys wasted no time trying it all out. 

Once again, trying to take a picture with Jed was quite a task. 

There was also a little birthday celebration for me, Savannah, Wanda and Ira.  Such a special day. 

Art, Eggs, Adorableness

Spring Break already seems like ages ago for some reason.  I've been doing so much reading lately trying to finish a book that's taken me WAY too long to finish.  I've spent all my spare time reading and taken no time to record here.  I'm way behind. 

 

Evangeline participated in the annual cheer clinic.  It was nothing short of adorable.  She was so proud.  We were too.

 

We had a lovely spring break.  Me and the kids spent a night with my mom.  The weather was so perfect.  We took advantage and spent some of the next morning at Deming Park.  

Kyle took a half day off of work to take Evangeline to an art shop in Champaign that he used to purchase supplies at when he was in college at EIU.  Evangeline was so inspired when she got home.  She set straight to work with her new sketch book and charcoals her daddy bought her.  He's been giving her lessons on shadowing.  She's gotten good.  She was pretty taken with drawing shapes and shadows for the rest of that week. 

We decorated eggs while Jed was napping.  Evangeline was excited to do this and spent much time at it until Kaiden showed up and the two of them went outside to pick four leaf clovers.  (Nothing like decorating Easter eggs in your Christmas jammies.)

Kyle put the screens up in our home which has been a wonderful addition.  We've all enjoyed the fresh spring air breezing through the house. 

Jed likes to make what we call his "cute face".  This is where he clasps both hands under his chin, scrunches up his shoulders and gives a big, adorable grin.  After he does it, he likes to hold out his clasped hands under everyone's chins and have everyone in the room make the "cute face".  Why not!  No one can resist this baby.

Did Grandma Esta ever imagine her enamel strawberry bowl would be one of her great grandson's go-to hats?

 

Jed has been saying "yes" in context lately more and more.  He also says "tay" (OK) as a yes response to a question.  He has so many new words in his vocabulary.  He's so smart and good.  I just love him so much.