A busy two weeks with no camera!

What a busy but fun December we have had! So so many things going on over the last few weeks, and of course it seems that I have forgot my camera at every event. So, I have decided to write a quick recap of the past few weeks events, just for the record.

November 29th,
The Advent party at Leslie's house. What a blessing this has been during christmas. My friend Leslie invited 24 people to take part in this daily devotional, and hosted an ornament exchanging party at her house. We each made 24 identical ornaments to swap at the party. After swapping each person had a complete set of 24 ornaments matching each Advent story. Every night our family participated in a nightly devotional and hung an ornament on the tree.

December 3rd,
A great day celebrating our cousin's Payton 4th birthday. It was so great to see family from out of town, my cousin Chris and his wife Danielle and there sweet little one year old son Jaxson. We had a wonderful Saturday.

December 8th,
Erik's 36th birthday. We had a great time celebrating at Primos with our friends Lancce and Brennan.

December 16,
Hagen's class Christmas party.. Yes I forgot my camera in the hurrying of running in the school in the rain, and my brand new camera card I had just bought for it. There were so many parents their and Erik even got to come. What a fun afternoon in Mrs. Busby's kindergarden class.

Gulf Shores Here We Come.

Sunday August 7th, it was time for our long awaited family vacation. Our destination Gulf Shores, Alabama. We had visited Gulf Shores four years ago with some friends and have wanted to go back ever since. Our traveling partners were Lance, Brenan (my cousin) and Payton Popham and Kathy (KK-Erik's mom). She so graciously came along to help with Harper and we were so thankful. Saturday night, we packed the car so we would be ready to head out at 4 am Sunday morning.

As you can see we do not travel light! Ha!

We deed indeed leave promptly at 4 am. We were able to make it to Alexandria, La for breakfast, at Cracker Barrel, yum. At that point Cooper decided he needed to ride in the car with Payton (his 3rd cousin and BFF) they are only one month apart and get along great.

Cooper and Payton.

Harper did so much better than I expected on the long car ride. We have never traveled over an hour with her in the car, so I was a little apprehensive. The only obstacle we faced was the sun in her eyes, which she hated. So, we took a receiving blanket and would move it around the car to block the sun from her eyes. It hung from both side windows and the sun roof at times.

Relaxing in the "shade".

...and sucking her thumb.

We made it to Dolphin Island around 2:00 and had lunch at McDonalds. After lunch we headed around 10 miles down the road and boarded the ferry, that would take us across to the Fort Morgan area.

When we arrived it had just rained and the temp was in the 80's. It was a welcomed change from 107 degrees at home.

The boys first ferry ride, so exciting. Almost there.

We arrived at our house around 4 pm, we stayed in a cottage at The Beach Club, in the Fort Morgan area. It was great, we had a house with it's own small pool and had only a short walk to the beach.

Easter Sunday

He Lives! I am so thankful I can say that about my Lord. There is not another religion on Earth that can claim that fact. What a testimant to our faith. Easter is the most precious day of the year, in my opinion for a believer. We all like to have egg hunts and pretty dresses, but I am so thankful that is not all there is to Easter Sunday! Sunday morning started early for me around 6 am, I was having Easter lunch at our house and had to start on the meal. Thankfully my mom, cousin Brenan, and grandfather's friend Bobby pitched in so I was only partly responsible. Around 7 am Hagen came running in the living room to see what the Easter bunny had left, Cooper was not far behind.

I just LOVE these Easter baskets. My cousin Brenan made them for the Easter bunny with her cricket, I think they are great! Yes that is a Rapunzel doll in Cooper's. Let me just say, not my idea. But Cooper,has won his daddy's heart and Erik instructed me to put that in his basket, because "it will make him so happy" and it did!

Hagen was so excited to find a power necklace in his basket. He has been asking for one of these for ever, and since t-ball season is about to start the Easter bunny figured he might need it. LOL

Cooper spotting his basket and Rapuzel.

Hard at work going through their baskets.

Harper with her basket.

I did not take Harper long to figure out what to do with Sophie the Giraffe she found in her Easter basket. She loves this toy.

Ok, here are our two attempts at family pictures. Not an easy task!

My three children. Yes I know this is not a great picture, but the best I could do.

My sweet Harper's first Easter outfit. Please excuse the wind blown look:) I just loved her dress, it was monogrammed in pink on the collar. I purchased it from Kelly's Kids, a few months ago. Her hairbow was made to match by Shannon at Cary Hairbows. Shannon does FABULOUS WORK, she even handmade the flower in the center. And every little girl needs a pair of patton leather white shoes for Easter. I thought she was so adorable.
After the photos, we headed to church and had a wonderful Sunday school lesson, on the events that took place early that Easter morning. Is God not great all the different things he meticuously put in place to show us that Jesus had risen, and not just taken from the tomb. The linens he was barried in laying perfectly in place where Jesus was laid, untouched or moved. Mary being shocked when she realized that it was not a gardener behind her but Jesus! And Jesus appearing behind the locked doors to the disciples. These stories give me chills just typing. God is great. We also had a wonderful sermon that morning.
After church we came home for Sunday dinner. Brisket, ham, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, pinto beans, devilled eggs, salad, rolls, fruit salad, banana pudding and strawberry cake. It was wonderful. After the meal the kids were all so excited to go hunt for the eggs that were hidden in the back yard.

They have their baskets and are ready to go.

Look at all my eggs mom!

Cooper cracked me up how he was carrying his basket.

Payton finding eggs also.

What a great Easter Sunday

It's Raining, It's Pouring....

The old man is snoring, seemed to be the theme for the day on Saturday. Erik had originally planned to play paintball on Saturday with my cousin's husband Lance, and may I add was very excited. So we took the boys to a local arcade/paintball/go cart attraction, What's Up. We arrived 2 hours before the scheduled paint ball game so the boys could meet their cousin, Payton, and play games. By the time the games were over, paintball had been cancelled due to the rainy, cold weather. We had a great time anyway. As you can see!

Cooper and Payton riding the merry-go-round.

Hagen in a race car I believe he was a little too big for.

Look at all my tickets mom!!!

Showcasing their basketball skills...Aunt Mae-Mae would be so proud!

Payton came over later that afternoon to play with Hagen and Cooper.

Cooper and Payton were playing Beauty and the Beast, and performing their dance. As you can see Hagen chose not to participate in the dance-a-thon.

What a great Saturday it turned out to be.