Spring Time!!

Last weekend finally felt like spring!  We began our weekend with dinner at Gran's house where Grandpa hid plenty of eggs in the backyard.  Sylvia was a master egg hunter.

Easy.

I think she yelled out, "Look at meeee, Grandpaaaa!" at least three times.  And, "DERE'S ONE!" at least ten.

The boots are back, by the way.  She totally owns it!

We continued our weekend festivities on Saturday with Scarlett's birthday party in Lexington, and Scarlett's marks the first of a SLEW of spring birthday celebrations.  It's always a delight to see our old friends and watch our kids grow right before our very eyes!  Here are some fun pics.

Ben and Emily with the Birthday Girl!

Not sure who the three folks on the left are, but there's Ellie enjoying a cupcake next to Laura.

Sylvia, Clover, and Scarlett.  Just like last year, these three girls found a moment to be together long enough for me to get goosebumps.  It's been ten years since their Mamas lived together on Aylesford.  And John and Ben were there, too.  Crazy town. 

Margot bounced on Daddy's knee for a large portion of the afternoon.

Li'l Alasdair.  Except he's not little at all.  Margot was smitten.

My favorite pic of Scarlett.  Look at that sweet, happy face!

Blixa enjoyed the fresh air and wrapping paper.

John and Clover.

Sylvia pulled Scarlett to the back of the yard, then shouted, "Okay, Scarlett!  It's your turn to pull ME!"

Scarlett was all, "Nah, girl.  I can't pull a wagon!  But my Daddy can.  Hop on in!"

Margot was having a blast on the couch!

On Sunday, we celebrated Easter with all the bells and whistles.  We managed to get ourselves to church for the first time in a loooong time and I was SO WORRIED that the girls would have meltdowns.  Margot slept the WHOLE time and Sylvia played with her new stickers and books from the Easter bunny.  She did a FABULOUS job staying quiet and singing and praying.  I think we'll try to hit that 8:30 mass more often instead of our usual 11:00.  After mass we headed to Grammy's for some Easter fun with Charlie.  Then it was home for naps and on to Grandma Neltner's for dinner!  Phew!  It was a wonderful day. 

The Easter Bunny hid Sylvia's basket behind the couch.  Tell me that's not the cutest outfit you've ever seen in your entire life!

Margot says, "Hey Sylvia!  Open my present for me while I play with these other toys."  Look at the cheeks on that girl!

I said, "Charlie's going to be at Grammy's house!"  Sylvia laughed hysterically and said, "Charlie?!  He's my FRIEND!!!"

Waiting for the indoor egg hunt to begin.

The Easter bunny put pennies in the eggs and the kids had to buy their treats from the Bunny Hop Shop!  Pretty sure Joyce was a primary teacher in a previous life.  That or she's in the wroooong profession!

Fun with Aunt Jenny!

The only child without a sugar rush.

Sylvia: "What do you mean there's no more candy!"  Margot: "Your kidding me, right?"

Racing to find the eggs at Grandma Neltner's house!  The fun never stops.

Phew!  I know that's a lot of pics, but I just couldn't narrow it down and I wanted to get all caught up!  Sylvia's birthday celebrations are this weekend, so get ready for more CUTENESS overload!

The Perfect Christmas

I could go on and on about how wonderful our Christmas was now that we live closer to our family.  I'll sum it up by saying that I am so blessed to wake up in my own bed and spend the day in my own house, only venturing out into the cold for Christmas Eve Mass, followed by G.G.'s house, then again for Christmas dinner at Grandpa's house.  It truly doesn't get better than this.  I got to sit back (for the most part) and watch my girls have the time of their lives.  Here are the picture highlights...and there are many!

Getting ready to put out the reindeer food before we head to church.

At G.G.'s house, tearing through her first present - an Ariel doll!

Aunt Dar gave her a toy puppy - hopefully this will quell any desire for a real one.

G.G. got some Bailey's chocolates!

Margot was passed around like a sack of potatoes...

...but she likes faces, so she didn't mind!

Sylvia had a front row seat for the exchange games.

We got home late, but not too late to set out some cookies for Santa!

Santa's really good at wrapping big things in the playroom.

Christmas Morning

The girls slept so late that I had time to make tea AND take a picture of the family room!

Sleepy Nugget.

A new set of princess books - squeee!!!

Sylvia uncovers the new play kitchen.

Margot woke up just as Sylvia finished opening her own gifts.

She's intrigued by the sound and the taste of wrapping paper!

Ahhh...much better.  Thanks, Santa!

New slippers from Papi and Mamie in France!

They match.  My heart melts.

And the rest of the morning is spent baking cookies.

Mamie Brigitte arrives and we chat with a sick Mark.

More gifts!  She is one lucky girl.

Margot watches from the safety of Mama's lap.

A banana and cookies for lunch.  *Facepalm*  I do the best I can.

To Grandpa's for dinner!  Margot has the coziest spot in the house until....

Grandpa opens his gift from Jordan!  Yikes!

She never gets tired of opening presents...

...even when they're somebody else's!

That would be my brother, wearing a gift from my other brother.  Hilarious, especially with that beard.

Grandpa and Gran gave Sylvia her very first, 15*F sleeping bag!!!  She thinks we're going camping, like, tomorrow.  She's wrong.

This isn't the first year for remote control helicopters for the boys, but it IS the first year for SMART PHONE controlled helicopters.  I'm not even kidding.

Uncle Jordan helps put on her first pair of TOMS, which happen to match mine.  What is it about matching footwear that makes me melt?

Phew!  And there you have it.  I didn't even get to include pics from my Mom's Christmas with cousins Charlie and Claire because I don't have them yet, but Sylvia had the time of her life there, too!  We are so blessed.  In fact, Sylvia is blessed to the point of being absolutely spoiled rotten and I do feel a little guilty about it.  A little.  Not much, because I remember being a kid at Christmas.  And for what it's worth, I think she said "please" more often than she said, "more" or "now."  Also, I know she knows what all these gifts are for.  She watched the Christmas pageant at church last night with stars in her eyes.  She told me this morning that baby Jesus is in the manger with Mary, his mommy.  We had a few snugly moments today where we gave thanks for our presents, and for our own baby Margot, and our Daddy and everyone else who loves us so, so much.  It was really the most beautiful Christmas I've ever had!