At the cross

We had overcast, rainy weather on Easter morning...Landon was only slightly disappointed that our meeting at the cross plans for pictures might not work out this year {smile}. This truly is one of my favorite places to take the kids on Easter--to the cross. It's just simply beautiful. For years, all the children brought flowers from home to adorn the wooden cross, but now it looks professionally groomed.

It is also special to show the kids where mommy & daddy said "I do" It was on these very grounds that we took some of our wedding pictures. And, now look at us! Two crazy kiddos running all over the courtyard laughing and chasing eachother. We feel blessed.

The weather was slightly chilly, so we all made wardrobe adjustments the day of Easter. Miller just barely pulled off  his shorts from last year & it was still too cold for sandals with Easter being so early this year. I must add that I scored Miller's shirt on ebay for a steal & EK's dress was a whopping $8.00. I pulled the monogram out with my new tool and had a friend fix it up with new initials. The consignment sale high can be addicting. I never got into it as a part time working mom, but now have the time to find good deals.

 

I'm in love with this picture--a favorite for sure. I just wish I could have backed up 5 feet in my heels:) They stood still for 30 seconds at least!

Easter Sunday

He is RISEN! An exciting morning knowing that our Saviour is alive. The grave could no longer hold Him.
We reviewed & retold the real reason for Easter tucking the kids into bed on Saturday night. This instruction needs to be told & retold for retention. We're really honing in on the fact that the Bible is not fiction or a fairy tale-- even though at times it seems like some of the stories sound like fantasy to him.


Easter morning brought the joys of discovering grass stuffed baskets full of sussys that the bunny hopped on over. Ok, twinge of guilt here that we're teaching our kids biblical truths tempered with the LIE of the bunny. But, part of childhood in my opinion needs to involve elements of fun. I want them to remember the anticipation of special traditions at holidays sprinkled in with the magic of it all. We try to keep it fun & avoid getting trapped in a lie. I know the days of him figuring out the whole story are numbered, so for now we soak it up that both kids are wrapped up in the mystery.

Wicker baskets ready and waiting- HIS & HERS. All things princess for the missy & an LED flashing bike light for the mister. It will come in handy for all of his night riding {not}.

Before we knew it, it was time to load up these peeps of mine in their Easter best with their own marshmallow peeps on a stick. We're always crunched for time on Sunday morning-- Easter morn' especially. We're lucky if Miller chooses the correct shoes & belt & that EK has her ruffled bloomers all situated before we get out the door. It's never a tense situation, I promise. We have it all together.
 Muffins on the road and peeps in the car make a healthy Easter breakfast for sure.

Later on in the afternoon, we enjoyed a more leisurely dinner at Grandmama & Poppy's house. Grandmama always takes such care to set the table up for the littles with all kinds of details that they appreciate. What little girl doesn't swoon over ballerina bunnies sitting in the candles?
 It was the traditional Honey Baked Ham with all the southern fixings that brought the family together.

egg hunting

The weather held out long enough on Easter weekend to enjoy an impromptu backyard plastic egg hunt. The kiddos tried to cover their eyes inside while I hid our stash of eggs all over the backyard. I'm sure their excitement got the best of them and they stole a peek or two.
 Since we have one big and one little, each hiding place was carefully chosen. Some eggs were really obvious for EK & the others carefully hidden to require extra looking power. Hunting for anything in our house can prove challenging with Miller man--this was great practice for him.

6 years and almost 3 is a great season in our house. Miller's beginning to really understand and apply how he should nurture a little sister. We're coaching him about opening doors and helping her. He is enjoying taking on the older brother with wisdom {lots to share} role.

There was a lot of ground to canvas. Eggs in between branches, on the playscape, in our barren garden chicken wire fence, under leaves and  laying out in the open camouflaged in the grass.
Our Easter baskets were already assembled in the basement so I had to scramble in our storage room to find additional baskets for our spur of the moment plan. Miller's always a "go with the flow" champ--even when his basket didn't have a handle on it.

Candy eating on the deck. Their hard work paid off! 

 

Colored jelly beans made this girl so happy--especially the pink ones!

gifting time

A small part of the joy of turning another year older involves presents. Miller really did get excited about opening his packages all wrapped with care. We're teaching him the etiquette of opening the card first. I can barely record what he's opened before he's tearing into the next. We don't gift throughout the month with our little dude. Christmas & birthdays are really the only spoiling fest around here. Landon and I are on the same page about not overindulging our kiddos.

The neighborhood trend around these parts are playing Beyblades. I had to be schooled on the whole art of stadiums and Beys. It's the Kindergarten boy fad &  Beyblade mania has captured our boy's attention and swept through our playroom. It was nice to ramp up our collection turning the big 6:)

Miller's lovely gift wrap assistant patiently watched him enjoy his day. There was no jealousy or screaming "mine" {this year at least}.  It isn't always easy to watch your sibling basking in all their gifting glory. We reminded Miller to replicate this attitude for Eliza Kate in just a few weeks.

Then, the 25th {Miller's actual birthdate} rolled along. I decorated the kitchen with a balloon drop, donut breakfast just to make my guy feel extra special. He was floored to receive an electric razor scooter as a joint gift from Omi & Papa and our family. We have the grand unfolding of this gift all on video. He sure does add lots of drama and excitement to the wonder of gifts. Unbridled joy swept over him. It's in these moments of pleasing & wowing Miller that I truly enjoy being the giver.

 

As most of our schoold afternoons are spent in our driveway with a buddy, he'll get lots of use out of this new outside toy. I did have slight hesitations about this purchase as it is the lazy American kid's dream. Landon joked that all it neede was a pudding cup holder on the front to make it all the more laughable. We made a deal with Miller that he has to balance his stationary riding with actual bike riding exercise. That's the goal of outside time, afterall.
Wishing our boy a very blessed sixth year of life!

Celebrating SIX!

This handsome face stole my mommy heart six years ago. He's the one that made me a first time mommy. He came into this world with such a zest for life. A high maintenance baby wanting his way from day one--a natural born leader who makes friends with ease & loves being the center of attention. He's just a lot of fun with a plastered on grin on most days.  A spitfire ball of energy, this one!

I'm eating all of my teacher phrases shared with parents over the years about their boys. I know have a new understanding of just how the male species of 6 years are wired.
God must of known what he was doing when he chose me to parent this boy of mine. We've grown together over these past six years. Parenting a boy is an awesome privilege that keeps me on my knees in prayer.  We're praying marvelous things for his life in advance--plans for a future & a hope-Jeremiah 29:11

Miller has loved race cars since he was a wee one. He was all about this theme until a week before the party when he insisted we change the theme to Beyblades. Seems like his six year old coolness took over a little too soon. We stuck with the theme & as long as I promised checkered flags, he was going to go along with our decor:)
He was over the top excited about the donut wheeled favors.

Now,  turning 6 years old calls for a dance party. After our blowout 5th Disney trip last year, it was Miller's turn for a friend party. We celebrated racecar style at Catch Air Activity Center. I really do love just showing up & meeting a party planner for these shindigs. The revved up guest list included all boys from Miller's class, sprinkled in with new neighbors & a few longtime besties. A few sisters were brave enough to come too:)
The party room was dressed up for hungry boys to make a pit stop to refuel their tanks for more jumping, climbing, sliding & partying.

Loved seeing the JOY light up over my birthday boy's face. That's what makes the hours of cutting & crafting into the wee hours of the night well worth it. Who knew that the lollipop stick flags placed in punch cups would be the one detail that stuck with my Miller man? He surely didn't know my love thoughts towards him while I crafted his race car centerpieces. Birthdays have a way of making this momma take time to remember that March day that a blue bundle graced our lives.

 I sometimes wonder if he has any ounce of thought towards the time & consideration put into a birthday occasion for him. Whether it's a revved up race car party, an elaborate posh tot circus tent hoopla throw down in your backyard, or a casual family celebration at home for our kids, the one message that we hope to get across is that the day they were born is remembered & that they are cherished. I hope he knows he's a gift to us.

This revved up boy of ours is cherished.

Nothing likes seeing him in his friend element of all boys waving his flag in a celebratory way.  I drank up every detail in this picture. Miller's BFF Grant sweaty headed and happy & Miller waving a race car towards the finish line with his pretzel flag--oh the cuteness!

Grayson, our new neighborhood friend stood  by Miller for moral support during his birthday chorus. Thank you to Miss Paula for getting Miller all situated. He didn't want to face the crowd {so not like him}

Eliza Kate was in full party mode. She was happy that there were a few girls to sit with:)

He had lots of steam to blow off while making his wish.

You're six! Can't believe it Miller man.  Happy Birthday to my boy. Love to you!

In like a lion...

This little girl of mine comes home from preschool with the cutest of crafts. Of course, being the girl that she is--she takes great pride in the artistic measures behind her craftiness. Her paper plate mask featured a lion with yarn on one side & then on the flip side was the cotton ball lamb. We've had a lion of a March here in GA weather wise. Cold, blustery days sent us scrambling to hunt down our turtlenecks and winter coats for school.

It even snow flurried one Sunday morning on the way to church. Nothing says March like wearing a smocked snowgirl dress at the beginning of the month followed by bunnies ushering in Easter.
If you haven't noticed lovey always is up for a photo op too..snow flurries, rain, or sun-- she's still EK's best friend.

 

Miller landed his first mobile landscaping job in the hood. Our neighbor Mr, Jeff recruited Miller for the job. The incentive of a penny for each pine cone he picked up in the front beds was all the inspiration he needed. We lost count with two full bags from the radio flyer. Before Miller knew it, he was holding 2 crisp one dollar bills.

Brainstorming all the ways this momma can exercise the penny perk of yard work with my little man.
We have quite the yard to work in all weekend long this season! Please excuse the camera dump.
The iphone photo tour was fun to sort through. My goal is to start carting around the big momma camera again. Sometimes for convenience sake, the camera phone has to cut it.

partying it up

It was an adventure to journey back to our old neighborhood one weekend for Jack's 6th birthday. We parked across the street from 406. Eliza Kate said, "Want to go home?" --melt my heart. She's still so confused about this whole takiing up a new residence operation.

 All the little swabbies met up on Jack's pirate ship playscape for a party. It was the classic backyard party full of relay games and sword fighting--just like a scene from a movie:)Wild chasing, jumping, and giggles filled the air. Painted pirate moustaches, one eye covered with a patch & tied bandanas helped them play up the role.

Kindergarten boys are full of imaginative play. It was just darling to see them get into full character. Shiver me timbers!

Little sister Eliza Kate was the only girl. She found the slide to escape the swashbuckling fun. Smart girl for abandoning ship!

EK attended her little friend Lincoln's Thomas the Train party. Miller sat this one out. It's good for him to realize that she has a life outside of his. Our weekends are beginning not to revolve soley around his social agenda. Eliza Kate loves having something of her own every once in awhile. Ambry and Eliza Kate sat back and enjoyed a moving train ride around the block. They look so serious, but I can assure you they enjoyed the ride. All aboard!