Resurrection Day celebration

My sister and her crew were in town for Easter this year.  Of course, we had to do some garage door photos.  It's become a tradition.  Even at their house.  That bright white backdrop hardly ever fails, especially at my parents house where the light is always perfect.

Since I was my parents house, I went to church with them, but I have to say that I desperately missed my church.  We always have baptisms on Easter.  It's become a tradition since we moved into our first permanent building a few years ago. It's energizing and exciting. There are a few that are planned and then there are always one or two that happen in the moment.  People in dressed in their Easter clothes who meet Jesus for the first time and take that immense step of faith.  It's amazing to see Jesus change lives right before your eyes.  I missed it.  I missed the worship too.

But it was nice to see old friends (my parents church was the one I grew up going to) and be with my whole family.  And then have a meal together afterwords.  That doesn't happen very often any more.  I take it when I can get it.

I hope that you all had a lovely Resurrection Day, as well.
Hopefully it included a few silly face photos.

ps...anyone else love Easter almost more than Christmas?  It's so joyful and alive and the weather is warming up (or attempting to.  ours was rather rainy and chilly).  It's a celebration focused more on church than presents and gift giving.  And there's always loads of chocolate! 

2 point 5 seconds

My sister came to visit with her brood last week.
I got to see them for about 2 point 5 seconds.
Staff training ate up all my free time.
That was tough...

My littlest niece just turned one.
I can't even believe it.
I found the cutest books (that I wanted to keep for myself) to give her for her big day.
She's such a peanut with hot red hair.

It was torture knowing they were so close, but I was too busy to get away.
Hopefully they won't forget who their auntie is.

I'm already contemplating a visit when I'm released from these 22 acres.
Perhaps a long weekend in late summer?

sea of humanity

We had just walked into the Magic Kingdom in the late afternoon after spending the morning at Animal Kingdom.  The moment we walked through the ticket booth and under that train station, the parade over took us.  It was jam-packed, as it always is on Main Street during the parades.

Knowing that we were going to see the night time parade, we tried to fight the crowd and head in.  But for just a minute, we had to stop.  And I snapped these photos of the munchkins.
Their little faces.  Being on Pop-Pop and Daddy's shoulders to see over the sea of humanity.  Their dazed and "it's nap time, but I'm not taking a nap today" face.
It's like a kid-right-of-passage to view things from a loved ones's shoulders.  And there is something so sweet and innocent about these photos.  They kill me.

salty air

It's nice to know that our family's love of the ocean/beach/sand will be carried on with these two.

We only had about 45 minutes here in December.

In the background, way in the distance, you can see the now retired space shuttle assembly building.

My grandma used to be able to see the shuttle go up from her backyard.

Gotta admit it makes me sad that that whole program is gone.

Anyway, we scooted over to the beach near her house the day we went to visit her.

These two munchkins didn't want to leave even though it was in the 50's and super windy.

Then again, neither did any of the rest of us.

That's right, dear ones...love that ocean.

And promise me that you'll take your dear old auntie when she has a hankering for the salty air.

souvenirs

The kids got to pick out a toy at one of the parks we went to.  My nephew got a stuffed dolphin from Sea World (his favorite park.  He loves sea animals).  My niece chose these from Disney World (her favorite park because she got to meet Tinkerbell).  How sweet.

I'm not much of a souvenir girl anymore.  My take-homes are my photos.  I just need to be better about printing them out and enjoying them in front of me.  That a goal for this year.  Printing out photos in various forms to enjoy them.  Then I can have gems like this one sitting around to make me smile when they catch my eye.  

Just for the record....

...it is 100% not fun to live several states away from your nieces and nephew.

No. Sir-rreee.

I miss you, little munchkins!

silly

Being their auntie has been one of the greatest things in my life. I adore these two. I can't wait until their little sister is old enough to play along with them.

Oh, and silly face photos are the best distracter/time waster in the world. (We were at street corner waiting for lunch from a food cart.) You end up with gems like this one. Ammunition for future embarrassment. Even Luke, who goes through the "don't take my photo" phase will take a picture if you say "scary face: go." They can't resist.

precious

I've taken so many photos in the last week. Most of them of these two rascals. And I managed to get a few of my favorite brother as well.

This one...how precious. They only get to see their uncle maybe once or twice year. But still they just love him. And he is so patient and kind with them.

On a different subject, I'm loving black and white right now especially with these city photos. Big change for me. Usually I'm a bright colors girl all the way. But these...these moments just seem sweeter and more timeless without the distraction of crazy colors.



Nerd moment: My favorite action of choice for making photos black and white at the moment is Totally Rad Actions BAMF. TRA the Original and the Revenge are still, years later, worth every penny I spent.

Gaaaa

After driving the boats for 5 long hours today, I kinda feel like this....


Aaaand I feel like I'm still bobbing up and down upon the sea. Plus, I'm a little wilted because it was wicked hot here today.

It was a long, camp day.

loved by everyone

Eliza Grace arrived 2 weeks early. Shocked us all. This Auntie, however, is not complaining. Had she been born on time, I would not have met her until she was about 3 months old. That would have been tough to handle, let me tell you.

She's a tiny, almost 6 pound sweetie. So, so tiny. Just look at the way she fits on my lap. And a sleeper too. She rarely cried in the 3 days I got to spend with her. Plus, she loved to snuggle. Very unlike her brother and sister who were wiggle worms the moment they entered the world.


And these two....oh, my. They are head over heels for their new little sister. They ask for Baby Eliza the moment they wake up and about 50 times during the day, too. It's really adorable.



I have about 67 more photos to share, but I'll leave you with this new, happy family of 5. I have to pinch myself when I think about my little sister being a mom of 3. How in the world did that happen?

I'm home

And sometimes
it feels like
my heart
lives
in several places
around the country.

I'm happy to be home,
but wishing I was there
and with my brother even further across the country
all at the same time.

Got lots of photos to share.
Sweet baby Eliza
is just that...
sweet.

I miss

You.

And you.

And you two.


Can we please solve this little problem with some quality face time? Please? This whole spread across the entire country thing is not working for me.

Thomas vacations there

Reasons this photo is blurry:

1. Pure joy and excitement
2. Thomas and Percy (yes, the trains)
3. 3 year old boy's dreams come true
4. Kid height train room
5. The trains run all over the room and he can follow them.
6. Jumping up and down and up and down and up and down
7. He just saw Thomas and Percy.
8. He just saw Thomas and Percy again.
9. And 10 more times

It was adorable to watch him (and his sister) in complete glee over the train room. They loved it. L-o-v-e-d it. And we loved watching every single second of it.

The botanical gardens in a magical place for every one. And the fact that I've been twice in the last 2 weeks is like a dream come true. I ♥ it there with chocolate on top. I'd live there all winter if I could. I think Luke would too, now that he knows Thomas takes his Christmas vacation there.

Happy Birthday, wee one

I love you so much.

little munkins

Flickr problem....solved. Evidence above. Just look at those two little munchkins. Living far away from them is torture. Torture, I tell you...

melted heart

My sweet little niece on our vacation 2 weeks ago. It feels like it was a year ago....

You have to read the stories on No Hands But Ours. I read two today (Addie's and Kooper and Kinley's) that just melted my heart and made me desperately want to get married and adopt 6 kids on the spot. Not that I already don't want to do that, but still...


I'm logging off to finish Mockingjay. Everyone around me has finished it and I'm terrified that I will find out what happens....


ps...I'm having issues with Flickr lately. Can't upload anything, which is so frustrating. Hence the reason this photo is so small.

Evie

I know I'm completely biased, but she's pretty darn cute. Isn't she? I mean look at those cheeks and blue eyes.


And don't forget the spunk. Sassy is her middle name.

She's just like her mommy.

Look out big brother....

where I've been

I've been out of blogging world for a day or two. Important things to take care of. You know, like swinging.


And making munchkins smile and laugh and run.


And taking photos of The Bro whilst on said swings.


And following around little feet wherever they may take me.

(please note my mom in the background of this photo. To say that she loves being a grandmother is a slight understatement)

family photo

Took some quick pics (in about 5 minutes) of my sis and her family right before I left at Christmas. This was my favorite one. I like interaction photos so much more than "everyone look at the camera and smile....now" photos. They just seems more real.
Also love white garage doors that aren't in direct sunlight. My parents have the best one. Such great lighting!

Steal away, sis.

little munchkins

I lovesss them so much.

ps....Christmas went by too fast. Why does that always happen?