Easter Sunday

(If you're observant, you might notice that I am wearing the same Easter dress I wore last year... when I was 8 months pregnant.  I figured it should have a whole new look to it this year.)

 This is the current condition of our house (on the outside).  I'm excited to report that we will finally be able to put stucco on in the next month or two!  We plan to include this picture in Jack's time capsule since the house should look quite different in 17 years.

 Jack's first Easter basket

Jack's favorite item in his Easter basket from mom and dad was the grass.  His favorite item in the Easter basket from his grandma and grandpa was the plastic eggs.  Sometimes I wonder why we go to the trouble!

Jack's 1st Birthday!

On Saturday afternoon, we celebrated Jack's 1st birthday.  We were lucky to have many of Jack's family members and some close friends join us for the celebration.  It was a fun party and Jack was happy and agreeable for the duration- a real blessing!

Jeff entertained the kids with bubbles in the kids' room.  There was also a floor puzzle, books, and wall coloring (an idea I stole from another party I read about- thanks, Deb!)

This great picture was taken by Drew.  I think he might have a budding career as a photographer!

Jack's first taste of birthday cake... 

He generously shared some of his cake with Genna, which she took.  And then realized he'd forgotten the  frosting, and she ate that off his finger too.  Now, there's a real friend!

Our friends do not follow directions well.  We said gifts were not necessary, but Jack still had a TON of presents to open.  Next time, I'll just have to be bossy and say no gifts allowed!

For Jack's 1st birthday, I stole another idea from a friend (thanks, Erin).  We had Jack's friends and family bring items for a time capsule for Jack to open when he is 18.  It was amazing the ideas people came up with.  I will share some of the wonderful and unusual items we included in a later post.  (Some items are still on the way!)

Thanks to everybody who came and celebrated our biggest blessing!

Happy birthday, Jack!  

Jack's "bonya" from Boise came to visit this weekend for Jack's birthday.  We had a great time with her!  On Saturday, before Jack's party she took us out for a delicious lunch.  Pictures of Jack's birthday celebration are coming.

High Heels

There is an adorable little first grader at our school who just looovvvees high heels. 

Is obsessed with them, really.

Around Christmastime this student asked one of the paraprofessionals why she never wore high heels.  She didn't own any, was her response.  The paraprofessional was told that she needed to ask her husband for high heels for Christmas.  Red ones.

At duty on Monday morning, this same student approached me on the playground and looked me up and down. 

"You look cuuuute!" I was told.  Then added, "I love your high heels."

He pulled up his pant leg and proudly showed me his cowboy boots before running off to start a game of hide-and-seek with his boy friends.

The Birthday Babies

A year after these beautiful babies joined our lives, we gathered for a mini celebration of one year of life.  Where does the time go?!  Chase, Analeyna, and Jack are growing up so quickly!

Seeing them together today got me reminiscing a bit so I dug out some old pictures...

Here are the three kiddos the last time we got together in October: 

And, before that, in August...

And almost exactly one year ago, here are the mommas...