Easter Weekend

We headed to Clay County Saturday morning (after our dear child slept until almost 9:30!). We played and played....and accomplished another big milestone - we'll tell you about that tomorrow...and played some more.

Sunday, Avery Claire must have been excited about the Easter Bunny's visit because she was up at 6:40, which required an 8:30 nap.

She woke up with a belly just begging to be tickled.

And Daddy obliged.

Then she saw the loot left by the Easter Bunny.


Oh, boy, Daddy, I need you to open these now!

There was lots of waiting while Daddy and Mommy opened toys. If you have children, you know it's like trying to get into Fort Knox when you're trying to open up two tiny plastic rolling toys that cost $2.49.

Attempt #1 at a family picture:

Attempt #2 at a family picture:

We headed to Aunt Betty's for lunch and our first Easter egg hunt of the day.

One of Avery Claire's least favorite things is walking on grass, which makes it kind of hard to hunt eggs properly. She spent a lot of her time like this, just curling those sweet fingers towards her so the eggs would come to her basket and she wouldn't have to go get them. Believe it or not, it usually worked.

We had her a soft basket so she wouldn't have to lug around a big basket. Hers, of course, wasn't near as much fun as Melinda's basket. Thanks, Melinda, for sharing.

Then we headed to Mamaw and PaPaw's for our second egg hunt of the day (and our second dessert). Yes, that would be our child - in Ashley's arms - fast asleep for the only 30 minute nap she got that day. I knew when I laid her down on the floor, changed her diaper in a crowded room with kids all around her head and she didn't wake up, that there was no getting her up from that nap until she got ready.

When she did wake up, she was ready to swing. And Ashley and Maggie were ready to push!

Avery Claire was in such good hands in the swing, Mommy and Daddy relaxed for a second.

We started the trek home with Aunt Steph in tow (to get her car in Cullman). That two hour drive probably added at least two years to Aunt Steph's "when to have kids" timeline.

Avery Claire really didn't do that bad...she just requires constant entertainment, and that can wear a person OUT! And when she got really, really sleepy, it required a mama to keep her awake. We were all restless by the time we stopped to drop Aunt Steph off.

Thank you, Easter Bunny, for that handy-dandy medical kit you brought. It saved us during the last 30 minutes of our ride.

We were a tired bunch by the time we got unpacked and ready for bed last night!

Today, daycare had their Easter party since it was cancelled due to bad weather the Friday before last. I caught the snacking part of the party this afternoon.

Group shot:

Avery Claire and her BFF, Leah. They were both sooo happy to see each other this morning after a 2-week break!

As busy as our weekend was and as hectic as life gets, I have so tried to stop and thank God for my many, many blessings. We are so thankful for a RISEN Savior, for a wonderful family and for the best of friends. I am so grateful for my husband, who is more to me than I could ever have asked. And, certainly, we are more grateful than we could ever express for our healthy, happy, sweet, sweet girl. God has blessed us abundantly, and we are forever thankful.