He is Risen Indeed

Every year, Amber's extended family gets together to celebrate Easter at her Grandparents ranch in LaGrange.  They've invited us for the past several years to join them, and it's a total treat for us.

The first year we were there, was the day before we found out I was pregnant with twins.  

Fast forward two years and we have two little girls doing an Easter Egg hunt for the first time.  

Each girl had their own basket and they were able to put anything they wanted in and out of their basket for as long as they wanted.  

Caroline and Ellie were in heaven.

They were completely captivated the entire time.

The front yard of this ranch house is massive and they could walk wherever they wanted.

They kept venturing off walking one direction, but then realizing that their sister was somewhere else, they went to go find the other one.

Then, Amber's Granny comes over and shows the girls that the eggs actually open and there are things inside of them....

...and with that, the plastic eggs got a whole lot cooler, and the girls were trying to open and close the eggs for the rest of the time.

Well...and eating them.

Just like the last 2 years, I wanted to get a nice family picture.

Take 1:  Caroline crying and Ellie totally in the zone

Take 2:

Take 3:  Well, at least Blake and I are smiling....I guess this is the keeper for 2014.

Bobbie, Amber's mom, gave us bunny ears for the girls yesterday, so of course, we had to bring them and let the girls wear them for the day.

At home, they love to TRY ON bows but they love even more to immediately take them off, i.e. just give mommy a tease and not actually wear anything on their head.

Caroline having a brief technology distraction.  This girl and cell phones...

So, of course, we were cracking up when they wanted to keep wearing their bunny ears for the afternoon.  I never know with them.  

It was a great day.  They had fun and we probably had even more fun watching our babies discover new things.

...and as always when we're outside....hearing new things.

Groesbeck

We went to Groesbeck to visit the Byrds again a couple weekends ago.  Caroline and Ellie were just begging us for a weekend to simply "get away from it all."

This is our third time up there and 2/3 times that we've been there, it's been dreary and wet...but still gorgeous.

Caroline

 The girls did so great with the dogs and even wanted to get close to them several times, which is a HUGE step for them!

Ellie watching the dogs from afar

Caroline getting up close and personal.  

We found out while we were there that Debbie is going to have a little girl in August, and we are all thrilled.  Sarah Byrd.

Blake and I can already see it coming....Caroline and Ellie fighting over Sarah!

Blake with Ellie

 We're already looking forward to the fun all 3 girls are going to have playing together in the woods with the dogs and cows...

and who knows, maybe even learning how to hunt with their Daddies!

All that to say, we're all looking forward to the bonds that Sarah and the twins are going to have...or at least we HOPE they will have!

Can't wait to meet Sarah in August!

When you get to Timbuktu....Drive Another 10 Miles and Turn Left

Back in November, we went to visit Debbie and Wesley Byrd.  They on a lake outside of a small Texas town in the middle of nowhere.  We say, they live outside of Timbuktu.  It's only about a 3 hour drive from where we live and it's absolutely beautiful.

Debbie and Wesley just celebrated their one year wedding anniversary in December.

Debbie and I have known each other for 29 years.  We met when we were in preschool at the age of 4. Who knew I was was such an excellent judge of character at such a young age?  Or maybe it was because our moms were friends and therefore we became friends.....but, I'm going to stick with  excellent judge of character twist on the story.

Debbie was there for every birthday party I ever had growing up and even wrote me a little song for my 13th birthday to the tune of "Friends are Friends Forever".  I still have it.  Remember that, Debbie?

We haven't lived in the same state since I moved away when we were 16, but we've always stayed in touch somewhat.  We both visited each other at our respective Universities and watched each other pursue careers on the complete opposite ends of the spectrum.

Now with Blake and I in Texas, we're only 3 hours apart, and I'm already dreaming of Caroline and Ellie getting so excited to visit their Aunt Debbie and Uncle Wesley.

There's nothing like seeing your lifelong friend, love on your kids and think that they're special....

...or watching your lifelong friend's husband read them a Peekaboo book...

Notice the view out their front door!

...and let her change the channel while he's trying to watch football!

There's also nothing like watching Blake have a focused tea party with the girls while football is playing in the background.  

The Byrd's property is absolutely gorgeous.  So rustic and peaceful!

And the inside of the house is cozy, charming, eclectic, beautiful and perfectly Debbie's personality.

The view out of every window was just beautiful

and even on a cold a rainy weekend like it was, it made you want to just sit and be.

It's far away from any grocery store and any place to eat or shop

but I guess with a kitchen like this, it makes it a little more fun to be cooking every single meal.  Just a little.

Debbie and Wesley, thanks for letting us come hang out with you guys for the weekend,

 letting Blake go hunting with you, being so nice when the girls tried to tear up your beautiful home,

and most importantly keeping up a 29 year friendship.  I can't wait for this next chapter in our lives now that we have our families and maybe one day, our kids can be friends... just like our mom's kids became friends.

Love you Debbie!

Enjoying Gifts from Loved Ones!

Diana, I think of you every time the girls play with their Little People Nativity set that you gave them last year.  They love it, but clearly they haven't yet grasped the concept of Nativity.

Now, using the Wise Man as a plug for your mouth of Baby Jesus as a chew toy, no problem.  They got that!  I look forward to in a couple years when they can actually play and imagine with these toys.  It will be precious!

The girls also got some other Little People for their birthday (thank you, Jill!!) that they really like and play with constantly.  I think in this picture, we have Joseph getting his arm gnawed off while the Angel of the Lord is driving the school bus.

My cousin, Megan, crocheted this baby blanket for them.  She is in the 8th grade!  This picture does not do this blanket justice with all the individual flowers that are weaved into the blanket.  Thank you so much, Megan, for such a thoughtful and special gift.  It is so impressive and I'm still amazed that you made the time to do something like this!  It is so awesome!  The girls like to snuggle up to things that are soft and this is the perfect thing.