Easter 2011

Easter egg dying on Saturday.

The easter bunny came bright and early. Alex got up at 4:30 a.m. to check it out and eat a few chocolates. We stayed at my parents house, so sleeping arrangements were not our normal ones and I think the kids were too excited to wait.

The night before, we swam and hung out with our cousins. Mackenzie loved the waterfall!!!

There's nothing better than ice cream on the porch after a long swim!!!

This year I decided that Gabby and Mackenzie would be matching. This is something I rarely get to do with their age difference, and believe me, Gabby hated the bow, but I thought they were so cute in their matching dresses!!!!!!

I snapped this one right before we walked into church. I just loved the sight of my girls with their daddy!!!!!

Okay, so my pictures are getting scrambled here. This was all of the kids with their stuffed dogs that the Easter Bunny brought to them!!!

Here is after church behind my parents house on the golf course. The kids loved this open space for running and chasing the resident ducks!!!! But, we still attempted some family pics...

Only 3 weeks left!!!!!!!!!! I am soooo ready!!!

The kid dyed easter eggs again at Grandmommy's house.

Mackenzie might have dyed her hands as well!

Then we hunted easter eggs with our cousins!

It turned out to be a real 'hoppinin' easter celebration!

Everyone would agree!

A New Bed, Willy Wonka & Valentine's

We recently bought Mackenzie a new big girl bed. The next step is having her sleep in it! Her crib still fits in her room, so we still let her sleep in it. It's so much easier, but with new baby coming, we need to train her within the next few months!

As a special treat, we bought the old movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and let the kids pick out their favorite candy at the grocery store to eat while watching. Believe me, that movie makes you want to eat chocolate. Try watching it without craving chocolate!

Speaking of chocolate....between Girl Scout cookies and this past Valentine's day, I am going have to roll myself around the house like the character Violet (blueberry girl) from Willy Wonka. I've got to stop! Here are some pictures of the kids opening their presents on Valentine's Day.

Yum!!!!

In other news, we are on Skunk Watch 2011. Apparently a family of skunks thought under our deck was a great place to set up camp. We've had to hire a company to trap them one-by-one. So far we've caught 6 skunks!!!!!!!! Exciting news, I know! Also in a soon to be posted post...our nursery is coming along nicely. I will post our progress soon!

Birthdays & Christmas Celebrations

All the Grandkids on the Dick side of the family.

Presents at Grandma's

New shoes for Mackenzie!!!

I think Gabby's likes her present!

Santa came!!!!

In front of Grandma's house.

Chad almost wins the ping pong tournament.

Picture with cousin Katie (a little blury because no one holds still)

Hooper & Noble Cousins come visit our home.

Alex turned 4!!! We had his party at Bounce U where the whole family had a grand time!!!

Baby Jackson even had a blast!

Happy Birthday, Alex!!!

My sister Erica was in town from North Carolina!!! Her kids got to celebrate!!

Eventually Alex was so worn out he couldn't jump anymore.

Colton and Caleb came!

Hannah and Emma!!!

Grandma and Gido!!!

I'd say he had a great celebration!

We finished off the night of his birthday by going to his favorite resteraunt Rain Forest Cafe!

When the thunder and lightning started his sister Gabby was right there by his side to comfort him.

Everyone had to get a snake soveneir before we left of course...

Christmas at the Hooper's...

Gabby gets prissy in her new boots!!!

New Year's Day with my best friend Lexi. It also happens to be her birthday! Happy Birthday, Lex!!!

Alex goes back to school and gets to put 4 pennies in the bank at chapel.

Mackenzie wakes up on her birthday morning.

" Yippee!!! It's my birthday!!!"

We had a small family party for her at our house.

We love you, Mackenzie!!!!!!!

Present time!!!

We had to end the party just in time to go view Gabby's artwork that made it into the Rodeo again this year. She was awarded a blue ribbon. Out of 900 students, she was one out of 22 that got picked to go. We are so proud of her!!!!!!

We are happy to report there have been many celebrations around our household. First, Christmas, then Alex's 4th Birthday, and finding out our baby is a boy and lastly, yesterday Mackenzie's 2nd birthday. This time of year is our busiest, but it's just a reminder of how incredibly blessed we are!!! Happy New Year!!!!