Happy (belated) Easter

Making this a new family tradition ... a family picture in the courtyard at our church after Easter Mass. This shot was done on purpose. I have always remember last year's picture: it has become my mental picture of our family last year. I wanted to see *one year forward*. I like what I see. Our lives are blessed.

Oh, note to self, don't have L wear the same shirt two years in a row. Especially if you plan on doing this every year. LOL!!!

Spring Fling in Full Bloom

Easter is upon us and we are in full bloom with celebrations. Last weekend, fun at the Irvine Regional Eggstavaganza with Grammy and Papa. Is it possible to be loved more then these kiddies?! I don't think so!

Then ended our weekend with our Annual Palm Sunday celebrations with Godparents and God-siblings complete with their very own Easter Egg hunt.

Spring is in the air, love is in bloom!

Alone Date Day with Mommy & Daddy

I truly enjoy my time at Treasured (Rick Warren's Saddleback Church's version of MOPS). I go once I week and always feel uplifted afterwards. It is there that I felt encouraged to periodically plan one on one fun time with each of our 3 kids. Yesterday we did just that with our Little Miss Middle, E. And what a treat for us ... enjoying Disneyland through 3 year old!!!

Pictureberry

Just seconds after this picture my (fairly) new Canon compact point and shoot camera took a hard fall on the cement. Lucky for me we have a National Canon Service Center located in the very same city we live in. I will not say this is by accident, I definitely think God knew this when Canon became our choice for Point and Shoot cameras (Nikon for the big guys!)! I have seen the inside of that service center 3 times more then I should in 5 years. But this time my sincere thanks goes out to them!!! It is under warranty and being repaired FREE of charge ... music to my (I mean DH's) ears!!!

I am sure you can gather from the above pic why the camera fell hard on the cement but just in case, let me explain ... while trying to capture my sweet 19 month old eating frozen yogurt on this GORGEOUS Southern California Spring day last week I quickly had to lunge to catch that pushed over falling frozen yogurt.

Final score: Yogurt: 1, Camera: 0 (or dare we say)

C: 1, Mommy: 0 (I have a feeling this is going to be a trend)

Raise your hands

More often then not (I am embarressed to say) the DVD is turned on in the car. I did make it a point a few months back to ONLY play educational DVD's (& it is working as all their spelling and reading skills have exploded) and any Disney type movies would only be reserved for long road trips (oh, if dead I would *surely* be rolling over in my grave at just the thought of this!). But Parenthood can certainly challenge you in many ways and make you "eat your words" because I can't recall a time before kids that I would ever say a DVD would or should be played just to take L to Pre-K! *sigh* But, safety first, right? Can you really drive with three whiney, screaming kids ... SAFELY?? I think NOT!

But yesterday, after a long, oh I mean, LOOONNNNGGGG day ... we all enjoyed each others company (IE: NO DVD) on our way to meet Daddy for our weekly Friday night dinner OUT. We played our "raise your hand" game. If you are not familiar with this game, it goes like this ... "Raise your hand if ... (insert what ever you want here).". That is it. Simple. And the kids LOVE it. The best part last night was that C actually is now really participating. At her 18 months of age she would raise a hand here or there and give that devilish smile we all adore. And when this one came ... "Raise your hand if you love your big brother.". She instantly threw up TWO hands in the air and gave a big smile and "yeahhhhh!". To which the big brother responded with a beaming smile and proud eyes, "Wow Mommy, I think two hand means she loves me double-y.". With a bigger smile, "right?". Yep, he is right, his littlest sister adores him ... okay more like AAAAA - D-O-R-E-S him. I love to see these life long relationships unfolding before my eyes *think*breath* take it in*, I will never forget these moments. Will they ever believe at this young of age I knew they would be forever connected? It is an amazing thing ... to create a FAMILY!