Easter

We started out our celebration of Easter on Palm Sunday with a lunch and egg hunt with our Sunday School class.

The hunt was kind of a bust....

Margaret Gray stood there and pouted because she was told to go on the little kids' side of the yard and she's "not a little kid. I'm a big girl!"

On the opposite end of the yard, Mr. Henry was upset that he was told to go on the big kids' side of the yard... "But its too hard!" 

These kids. 

Simon had a great time walking around- even though he didn't have a basket.

Come Easter morning, Simon still didn't have a basket....

A bowl worked just fine :)

Sissy modeling her new PJs and bracelet.

Meant to get the boys new PJs, too... but that never happened.

Books

The Usborne 1001 Things to find books are amazing.

Be prepared to get one from us for a birthday...

Anyhoo, I found this Pirate one a while back at Half Price Books and it looked in great condition, but I never looked through it.

When Henry started looking through it, he said "Mom, someone did not take care of their book."

I thought a page was torn... oh, no. Someone had taken a red crayon and circled  the objects to find on most of the pages.

Fortunately, Henry did not mind.

New animal cars

New Cars cars

We got dressed.

Even with some resistance from the middle child, we had time to take a couple of pictures before heading off to church.

Wish I had sat them in front of some foliage.

Happy smiles, though

Like Simon's car on his jonjon.... It's an Easter car, I'm sure.

We sure missed Daddy!

This is where he was.... San Diego (please read in your best Ron Burgundy voice), attending a board review... 

He went to an Easter sunrise service on the beach with some friends. hard life.

I would be lying if I told you I didn't cry when he called me when he 1st got there and I could barely hear him due to the wind off the ocean.... I think I had just gotten back from the grocery with the kids.

After church, we picked up PatPat and PawPaw and went to eat hamburgers, french fries, and giant ice cream sandwiches!
(And no one got ketchup or ice cream on them!)

After lunch, we went to visit Tom's Grandmother Herndon.
PatPat had the great idea of having an egg hunt at her place.

Thank goodness for our Halloween buckets so Simon could join in the fun! :)

I'll tell you what, my kids are not very good egg hunters. They still open each egg and inspect what's inside before moving on the the next egg.

Don't ask.

PawPaw was involved.

Margaret Gray wanted to show Grandmother Herndon her new book PatPat gave her.

So glad we could share this special day with Tom's family!

It was a special Easter, even if Tom was many miles away.

Ranchin' It

We were so fortunate to make it down to Cloud 9 Ranch back in March!

Wasn't a real UTSW reunion without our dear friends the Hartzlers (who we missed greatly!) but we did have a really good time.

This year the Seamans family joined in the fun.

We got in around dinner time on Thursday.

Dress up fun

Miss Brinley

Bekah and MG

Friday

All of us have had boys in the last year and a half.... they are going to be quite the crew!

I have a feeling that Simon is going to get all of them in big trouble and I apologize in advance :)

Connor

Cason

Benjamin (any Aggie would love the position of his paci)

Somehow I didn't get 1 picture of Baby Paul Warminski (who was ~6 weeks at the time)

And to add to the group of boys, the Hartzlers just had their 3rd- Hugh! 

Getting her hair did by Miss Amy

T and Simon

Brin and MG

Grandmommy Nora brought a stomp rocket and let me tell you that Miss Margaret was the best stomp rocket girl!  So proud :)

Loved playing on the mule

Took a walk to feed the horses

Simon was in heaven!

 I think the horses were more scared of him and his lovely horse noises.

Take note of Simon's hand in the horses mouth and Tom's expression

MG was in love with Reba! 

Throwing rocks in water is always fun

Not humored at all by the bubbles

Racing down the porch

Someone got a hold of the markers- note his left hand

Sweet girls

We went on a mule ride that evening

And later that night, the Warminskis got in....

Saturday...

Could Audrey be any more of a doll?!?!

Fishing fun

Wait- there's Paul! All cozy under the blanket.

3 out of the 5 girls already had the dress... so Audrey and Bekah got one too.

Got to love Old Navy $8 dresses.

There was a little accident while trying to take the pictures....

Got the big boys in on the action

Back to see the horses

Miss Judy was so sweet to take Margaret Gray on a little ride. 

This little guy had a bad morning nap, so by the time we got back from the horses, he was ready to sleep. I handed him his lovie and blanket to carry and he just laid down right in the gravel.

Before dinner, Art and Judy (they live at the ranch and take care of everything- the sweetest people) took all of us on a hayride... since we can't all fit in the 2 mules anymore. Great idea.

MG and Ava

The kiddos (minus sleeping Paul)

If you think what Margaret is doing to Cason is weird in the top pic...check out the bottom one... what?!?

Henry has got to find a new silly face... its just weird.

Best buds

That night we had a birthday party for the March/ April birthdays

Henry, Audrey, Ava, and Bekah got to blow out candles stuck in marshmellows

Roasting marshmellows in the rain

Every kid in this pic looks horrified.... fun times.

The next morning was a mad dash to pack up and leave, but we took the time to enjoy a brunch made by Grandmommy Nora and present opening for the birthday kids.

Thanks, Burkharts, for introducing us to Piggie and Elephant!

And the pinata fun wrapped up our long weekend at Cloud 9.

We are always so grateful to Dr. Burkhart and Grandmommy Nora for opening their beautiful ranch to us. We have the best time with some of the best people we'll ever know. 

You bet your bottom dollar we'll find a way to get from Birmingham to San Antonio next year- we wouldn't miss this place for the world!!