Happy Easter 2012...

As Rylie grows older, (what seems like a lot each day), I realize more and more how strong my desire is to create an amazing childhood for her.  She doesn't understand everything yet, but she sure tries, and I enjoy so much guiding her through her experiences.  And, of course, on special occasions like Easter weekend, the camera goes non-stop.  I took some really cute photo's of her and the family this weekend.  A little recap before I we get into pictures...  Nana and Pops came to Tulsa for Easter weekend and we had a great time.  Saturday we went to our Churches annual Easter Egg Hunt. It was great fun and there were tons of kids out there having a ball. They section off the Easter eggs by age group to give the younger kids a better change of not getting trampled over by the bigger kids.  Sunday after church I cooked Easter lunch and we had our own Easter egg hunt in our back yard. We all had a ball spending time together.  My family is awesome! Life is so good! 

At our Church Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. Southern Hills Baptist Church sponsors a HUGE Easter egg hunt each year at a park that is right down the street from our house, making it very convenient to walk to. 

 

Rylie and this little boy went for the same egg and the little boy got to it first. He looked at Rylie and then handed the egg to her.  It was so cute. So Rylie put her basket down and gave him a hug. So sweet! 

 

Tracie brought Jared over to the park after his swim lesson. He's too young to pick up eggs, so he just giggled for uncle Brian.   

Pops and Rylie reading a book before bed on Easter eve.

 

Easter morning!  Rylie LOVES her vintage plastic bunny rabbit that lights up.  She kept hugging it and talking to it.  Poor thing wont come around again until next year, but it was the best Easter decor I think I bought this year.  Mr. Easter Bunny will be around for years and years!!

 

 

Rylie's eating her very first Peep. Little did I know the sugar high she would get from it. (I try very hard to limit her sugar intake.) She loved them!  I let her have two. The rest are in the trash!

 

Tracie striking a pose with her beautiful baby boy, Jared. He's almost 6 months old and his 9 month size clothes are TOO SMALL for him.  He'll be plowing Rylie down to get to the Easter eggs next year I'm sure!

Tracie, Allan and Jared.

All of us before heading to Church.  I love this picture! (and I love the easy-to-set 10 second timer on my camera!)

 

 

This was the only photo I could get where both kids kept their bunny ears on. Rylie was pulling them off faster than I could put them back on her.  She did not want to take part in playing a bunny! 

 

 

 

 

Racing to the back deck for another deviled egg!  Yummy!

 

The deviled eggs Tracie made. So cute!!!!

 

Happy Easter to everyone. I hope your holiday was filled with many blessings!  And thank you Lord, for giving your only son so that my sins could be forgiven.  On this Easter day, as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, I pray that you continue to fill my heart with patience, love, and selflessness.  You are an amazing God!   And as Rylie would say.... "nigh nigh Zezus". :)

I Love Spring...

This season of spring, popping up so quickly, has me giddy. I just love the changing of the seasons. :) ....it makes my soul happy....being curious for the mischiefs of new life blooming all around us.  Watching my landscaping grow.  It's my awesome season of having conversations with my outside plants.  My white flowering dogwood that i planted last year came back. I am very excited about this. It was touch and go last winter, it's first year in the ground.  I thought we lost it two different times when the weather froze.  But it's currently got pretty white flowers on it!  yay :)   This is my 3rd attempt to grow a white flowering dogwood tree.  I adore these pretty little things!  I'm thinking about planting a pink one. so pretty.

Rylie is enjoying the garden play time. She loves to play outside. I've also noticed, this last week to be exact, her interesting obsession with her doll and her blanky. (I only point this out because i'm thinking about that as I see this pic.)  She wants to take her doll every where she goes. And she will randomly realize that she doesn't have it with her and then she pauses in the middle of what she's doing and says "baby?"  But then she starts to get anxious, looking for her.  it's cute, but I don't want Rylie to start having anxiety at such an early age.  Let's just hope those items don't get lost before she moves on to loving something else.  :)

This is what i've done with part of the backyard.  That rose bush is the only plant that I kept when I bought the house. She ends up getting black spot every year and looks pretty pathetic by summers end, but she blooms out some really pretty dark pink roses every year.  I think I'm going to prune her differently this year. Instead of bush style, i'm going to prune her vine style. We'll see what happens! :)  Brian and I love working in the yard together, we've done SO much to it these last few years. I love it and I love creating this great environment for Rylie.  And yes, that is a little wooden milk cow I have sitting in the yard. Her name is Bessy. Rylie likes to sit on her and say "moooo".  so cute!  (If you know where to look, you can see my white flowering dogwood i was talking about. you can see it behind the swing.)

We planted some annuals tonight.  My flower obsession for this blooming season is below.  Last year it was Petunias.  This year... it's Superbells.  I love the deep colors and the variety of colors. The big pot in the above pic is also full of them. six different colors of them. I cant wait to see them all bloom out!

These are Dianthus.  I love the rich colors. This pot will be so beautiful when these grow!

Rylie and daddy racing to the end of the deck.  Rylie won!

I love this picture of her. She's getting to be such a big girl with expressions of thought. She still amazes me everyday...developing her personality and mind. I love teaching her things and watching her grow.  We are so blessed. (Even when she's having nasty toddler meltdowns.)

Below is Rylie's own little gardening station that she got for Christmas. She likes imitating mommy. LOVE THAT!! :)

So here's to Spring, 2012!  May you all bear the fruits of your labors... and take the time to enjoy every minute of it.  I am planting my tomatoes and squash this weekend. Last year my attempt to grow squash failed. But i'm trying it again this year. A little differently, a little better.  :)