Homemade Love

In two days (on Saturday) our baby turns three. It's almost impossible to comprehend. It feels like just yesterday i was lying in the delivery room counting Nicci's fingers and toes, wondering how someone so tiny and new could surpass perfection like she was. It's so strange that it's been almost three years since that night. As it got closer to May this year we talked about all the different things we could give her for her birthday... a bike, a pool, a trampoline, an elaborate party... but then one night we knew. Homemade Love. The perfect gift. So with my two hands (and the help of my sweet husband) we made her a lap quilt and a scripture bag to match. We are giving Nicci her first little scriptures with Mommy & Daddy's testimonies on the inside cover. Nicci has such a bright little spirit. So many Dr.s told us there was a possibility that she would have mental complications, but instead she is growing into such a delightful little girl who absolutely loves, and i mean really LOVES church and her Savior Jesus Christ. So we felt that with a mix of homemade love and her first set of scriptures that on her birthday she would not only feel the love of her parents who simply adore her, but the love of her Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ who love her even more. We finished her gifts today and my heart is so full of both excitement and joy. Excitement to wrap Nic up in her quilt and show her her very own scriptures... and joy that Heavenly Father has so kindly blessed us with such a special little girl who teaches us more about love than we could ever teach her. ...In 30 hours my little princess turns 3!

The Joys of Easter

Easter was amazing this year. We created a lot of special memories that we will cherish forever. We also took a million pictures. What tells a story better than pictures?! I put them into collages to reduce the scrolling. :) Enjoy!

Our Easter Story 2009...

On the Friday before Easter we colored eggs and we all had a blast! I made Peanut Butter Popcorn and my parents brought a million fun things to decorate eggs with!
Nicci actually understood the whole Easter Bunny concept this year! It was a lot of fun. When we went to see the Easter Bunny at the mall she ran right up to him all by herself. I almost cried she was such a big girl!! We colored eggs on Friday night and then left a note for the Easter Bunny asking him to come on Saturday morning because Sunday morning we would be at church thinking about Jesus. Sure enough, the Easter Bunny got our letter!! All night Nicci kept telling us she "heard" the Easter Bunny coming! It was so fun.
When Nicci came downstairs and saw that the Easter Bunny had dropped some candy on the floor she looked up at me and said, "Oh no Mommy, Easter Bunny made a mess!" haha. It was awesome.

*EASTER SUNDAY*
Be prepared to drop dead {drum role please} I cooked our entire Easter Dinner, all by myself. :) We had Easter Dinner with my parents, it was so much fun! ...Honey Baked Ham & Turkey (thank you Mom & Dad!), Scalloped Potatoes, seasoned Corn, Spinach Salad with Strawberries and roasted Almonds, Rolls, Orange Glazed Beets, Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Apples. And Ice Cream and Sorbet for dessert. Seth was so excited i was cooking he couldn't stop breaking out into song. :)
Nicci had A LOT of fun playing with Grandma and Grandpa...and WAY too much candy! :)

We had such a special Easter with so many fun family memories. It was particularly special to watch Nicci have so much fun with the Easter Bunny but THEN to hear her tell us what Easter was all about right before our Easter dinner. In her words: "Easter bout Jesus, not Easter Bunny. Jesus was resrected for me. I love Easter. I Love Jesus, He's my friend." ( {tear} she does listen to us!! ) We are so thankful for our Savior and for all the sacrifices He made for us so that we could be with Him and our special family forever.

Happy Easter 2009