Easter 2013

"HE IS RISEN!" is something that I have grown up hearing from the moment I wake up on Easter morning.  To this day, I still get a text on Easter morning from my mom with this phrase.  Responding back, we say, "He is risen INDEED!"  It is such a great time for us to celebrate Jesus Christ's victory over death and that we can now have a personal relationship with God because of this.  It's a fun time to hunt eggs with treats inside, but it is even better that we celebrate JESUS!  He is what it is all about!

This year, Brayden's preschool had an Easter egg hunt.  The kids had to find only the eggs that had their name on it.  With 14 kids in his class, it was the longest egg hunt I have ever seen!  It was pretty hilarious...and genius!  After a good 20 minutes, all the 4-year-olds had found all 14 eggs with their names on them.  

Saturday morning, we headed out to the high school for the Easter Egg Scramble.  It is appropriately not called a "hunt."  It's more like "scoop up all the eggs you can."  The eggs were empty and there were certain eggs that were marked as prize eggs.  I was cracking up when they started, because Brayden was walking amidst piles and piles of eggs, but he was meticulously walking through them to only pick up the prize eggs.

 

Easter morning...

Brayden - 4 1/2 and Karis - 5 1/2 months old

We were so thankful to have some good friends join us for Easter lunch.  Since we aren't able to be with family on Easter, it was so nice to have people join us to celebrate!

Happy Easter!

Valentines 2013

Happy Valentines!  This year, Brayden had to bring a box to Preschool for Valentines.  We could decorate it however he wanted to.  He is obsessed with Legos now, so it was perfect to put together a Lego-man box for his friends to put Valentines cards into.  I found several ideas on Pinterest and from his Lego men...this is what we came up with!  He picked making a Lego policeman.

I wrapped a shoebox in blue and black paper for the body.  The arms and hands are toilet paper rolls cut and wrapped in colored paper.  The head is a small can of fruit that 

I wrapped in yellow paper and drew the face on.  The tie is cutout 

as the hole for Valentines cards to be put into the box.

 Brayden's Valentines party at Preschool...

Me and my boy...

 Brayden and his teacher, Mrs. Jennifer

He made a craft where I put my handprint first, then he put his on top.

I CANNOT believe that his hand is almost as big as mine!  Crazy!

For the last couple years, I've put out these mailboxes (from the dollar section at Target) at our house a week before Valentines Day.  We each have our own mailbox, and throughout the week, we each put notes or small treats inside for each other.

 This year, I had to add a "K" box for Karis!

My amazing Valentine!  I have such an amazing hubby!  

It's hard to believe we've been married for almost 10 years!

 Happy Valentines!

Elizabeth's Bridal Shower

Recently, we gave a bridal shower for my good friend, Elizabeth.  She is marrying, Zach, who works in our student ministry with Jonathan.  It was such a fun shower to put together, because it's been awhile since I've done a bridal shower...we tend to have more baby showers going on lately with all my friends!  Doing a bridal shower again was a blast!

Tissue paper garland (tutorial)

I made a "Can of Dates" to give Zach and Elizabeth.  Each person at the shower wrote down a fun date idea for Zach and Elizabeth.  It was great seeing all the creative ideas people came up with!

I put pictures and doilies together to create a photo garland.

I love this pic of Elizabeth when Zach pulled out the ring to propose.

Tissue paper garland

MadLib of Advice for the Happy Couple

Nottingham sugar cookies...Elizabeth's future last name!

The party favors were small bags of African coffee.  Zach grew up in Namibia, 

so this was a little touch of his home to share with Elizabeth.  The tags said, 

"The Perfect Blend ~ Zach & Elizabeth" with their wedding date.

I painted a mug for Elizabeth with the monogram "N"

I used enamel paint on a plain white mug (Dollar Store!),

and I baked it in the oven and voila!

Elizabeth with all the hostesses