Easter Sunday!

Well, Easter Sunday came! 

That Easter bunny went overboard, again. It seems he never learns how much is too much.

Have I mentioned Russell's thing with hats? He always wants to wear one. Taking them off is an ordeal.  I love how cute he looks in them, even if he throws a tantrum when we take them off. 

After all this fun, we got dressed for church and made it just on time at 9 AM. 

Later that day, we headed to Grandma Nicholas's house, where there was yet another egg hunt with even more candy.

Of course, after all this, we had Grandma Smith's house as well. Although I didn't take any pictures. Elaine does this real unique and interesting thing with the grandkids.  She put pictures showing different parts of Jesus's life on the walls and they talk bout each scene and the real meaning behind the chocolate.  While she does this, the dads hide the eggs outside and afterwards they are let loose for a hunt. It is a great thing, in my own opinion! 

We are very blessed to have such a loving and large family to share these things with! 

Easter Hunt at Grandma James and Dying Eggs.

The Saturday before Easter, the home where Grandma James lives had an egg hunt.  It is quite an ordeal! The must have thousands of eggs and the kids from the neighborhood plus the grandchildren of the residents are all invited.

We ran into one of Keldrie's primary friends, Isabella. They were tickled to wait together and show each other their baskets. The hunt is divided by age group, so parents don't have to worry about the big kids trampling the little ones.

We went home with quite the haul! These kids kids know how to do an egg hunt. 

Later that day, Grandma Smith came over to dye eggs with us! It is usually a big event at her house, but there were quite the scheduling conflicts this year, so it was just us!

A lot of the eggs turned out very nice. It was more fun this year than in previous years because Keldrie is starting to understand that you have to leave the eggs in for longer than 5 seconds to get a real good color on them. 

We were so happy to be able to make some special memories with our kids this Easter season!

Special Mother's Day at Preschool

This last Thursday, I got to do something very special.  Keldrie's preschool had a Mother's Program.  We were to arrive at 2 PM and wait at the door.  The kids came one at a time and put necklaces on us and took us to our seats.  Then they sang us songs and Miss Mary read a list that each child had made about her mom while also showing us a portrait the child had drawn. 

Keldrie said that I look prettiest in my Easter dress, that I get angry when Keldrie doesn't do what I say, and I am happiest when Keldrie is helping me with the laundry.  It was pretty adorable.

It was super cute and a fun chance to spend one-on-one time with my sweet girl!

Easter Egg Hunt with Friends

Last year, a group of us moms had our own little egg hunt at the park.  It was so much fun and such a success, we did it again this year! 

The kids played and had some lunch, but they all kept asking when the hunt was going to be, so we threw out the candy and let them have at it!

For Keldrie, this was SERIOUS business. 

Russell wanted to open each egg he found and eat it's contents before moving onto the next one. 

The whole gang! 

The hardest part was taking pictures after because all the kids wanted to just chow down on their candy instead of smile pretty for their moms.  Sometimes we just have unreasonable expectations.

It was a blast and I was so happy we got to see so many of our friends!

Keldrie turns 5 Part Two: The Celebrations

For Keldrie's birthday, we decided we would do something to make the day special since it would be 3 more days until her party.  So we let her open her presents after Daddy came home from work around 11.  Keldrie got to spend the morning with Grandma Keller getting a Mani-Pedi like a little lady, so it wasn't too hard of a wait.

After opening her gifts, we headed to Chick-fil-a, Keldrie's favorite resturant for some lunch.  We let the kids get the wiggles out and then headed for Salt Lake. 
 

We told Keldrie that we would go down to the Disney Store at City Creek and she could pick anything she wanted at the store. She of course went to the jewelry and came home with an Arial crown and necklace.  At the Disney Store, if you tell the employees that your child is having a birthday, they will announce it and play a special song for them and put their name on the TV screen. Keldrie was her out-gowing self and danced with one of the employees.  We also finished off getting some ice cream at Cold Stone.  

 
On Saturday, we had a wild, crazy and very fun party for Keldrie with cousins and friends.  She had a blast and we were happy to make her day special. 

Keldrie's 5th Birthday!

Dear Keldrie, 

Your momma is a little late on your birthday letter this year, but I promise it is only because you and I have been having so much fun lately!

You are now 5 years old and you are more fun than ever! You and I are able to do so many things now that have been dreams since we found out that you were a girl.  We paint our nails together and sometimes I even put some lip gloss on you.  I lend you my jewelry and you tell me when you like my shoes.  You are already a fashionista.  Which is good, because I could use some help in the fashion department.  You sure can make me feel special when you tell me I look pretty.  I know it is my job to build your self-esteem, but your ability to make someone feel important is a gift that you have been born with.

Keldrie, you have another very special gift.  You have the gift of happiness. People notice you and your special smile.  Some days you are less happy because you are an emotional person, too. Your big bright spirit sometimes seems frustrated with the big emotions that come with your little body.  But usually a chance to play with a friend or do something special with your daddy cheers you right up.  When you are happy, you sing and dance and smile.  It warms my heart and the people around you notice.  

Right now you have a few favorite things.  You have three blankets that you love: flower blanket, Hello Kitty blanket, and Holy Ghost blanket.  Your favorite food is pasta.  Your taste in food has grown so much in this last year.  I am really grateful for that.  You love anything princess these days.  You, like most little girls right now, have a Frozen obsession.  You are taking dance lessons and you are having lots of fun.  You have improved so much in the last few months.  You are learning so much at school and just from life.  You constantly ask questions.  Lately, you want to know what all the knobs and buttons and pedals in the car do.  You want to know about right-of-way and all sorts of other things.  You keep me on my toes!

We love you so much, Little Princess! I can't wait to continue on this journey by your side! You are going somewhere special Little Lady! Happy Birthday Miss Keldrie Lynn!

Disney on Ice!

This year, Grandma Keller really wanted to take Keldrie to Disney on Ice.  So she got the tickets and we three had a girls night out! 

We started at dinner at Z Tejas.  It was scrumptious! Keldrie ordered the chicken nuggets, the chicken.  My mom and I enjoyed our Mexican food quite a bit.  

After dinner, we walked around the Gateway to kill time before it was close enough to go sit in our seats for the show.  Keldrie loved all the open fires they have to keep you warm in the wintertime. 

Keldrie was absorbed into the show.  She loved all of it, except maybe when they used fireworks.  Her favorite part was during Merida's story, whenever the little brothers were out.  She loves the mischief making trio.  

We got home really late, around 10:30, but she had such a blast and I think she felt like a special little girl.  Several times, the princesses would come over to the corner we were close to and wave up into the crowd.  Keldrie would wave her hand has hard as she could while she waited to catch the princesses eye.  It was adorable! She is growing up way too fast! But it was nice to take her and know that she would sit through the whole thing.  That Grandma sure does spoil her!

Busy Saturday: March 1st!

We went to the train show! Our next door neighbor volunteers at the Union Station and so we went down to see all the hard work.  

I love this picture of Russell's eyes peeking over the top to get a view of the train.  He and Keldrie were enthralled with everything there. 

I was amazed at the tiny details that had been added to all of the displays!

After we came home and had some lunch and a rest, it was off to Julia's 8th birthday party!

Keldrie loves Julia's dress up collection! 

I loved getting to hold Caroline, the current baby of the family! 

Julia is such a sweet and clever girl.  I am so glad that Keldrie has her to look up to as the oldest girl cousin. We sure were happy to get to spend a few hours celebrating her.  

That was how our March started! It has been a whirlwind of year already and we haven't even reached the Spring Equinox!