Easter!

We had such a great Easter weekend! We got a lot of family time in, and nothing makes me happier! Dan took Friday off for us, and we took advantage of having him here!

We squeezed in SO MUCH during the weekend! There are a lot of pictures here, so grab some caffiene and get comfy!!

We started by coloring our Easter Eggs...Ashi waited paitently for her turn!

This is her first Easter Egg Coloring! What a pro she is already!

Alex is very scrupulous about which colors go on when...

Now we're supposed to eat them... right?????

Courtney and Avery show off their artwork!
Alex was holding a grumpy baby, trying to pose for this picture! Poor guy...

Then, we decided that we needed to make some super-messy, crazy colorful, and very unhealthy cupcakes! These are the results...

Alex gives his little sister Avery a boost to put her finishing touch on a cupcake!

Ashlyn Belle and Stonewall enjoyed a friendly game of tug-of-war (with a Webkin!) while the other kids made the cupcakes...

Unfortunately, Stoney became a baking casualty. See the blob of green icing on his back?? I'm pretty sure Mosby was happy to get it off for him!!!

On Saturday, we decided to have a grill out in the beautiful weather!!! Alex and Courtney enjoyed a spot in the sun while Daddy was grilling!Dan grilled up some of the deer burgers MeMe and PawPaw shared with us... You should go hunting more often, PawPaw! These were GREAT!Ashi and Avi anxiously await their meal...

Then... who should show up on our doorstep Saturday night... but the EASTER BUNNY!!!! Avery was completely amazed! Apparently, a good friend and neighbor of ours owns a costume... which worked out in our favor, since we didn't get to make it to the neighborhood party to get pictures with the bunny!!!Sunday morning, we were all up and ready to get to NorthPoint for yet another incredible sermon by Andy Stanley! Here is Avery modeling her Easter duds...
Here they are, all lined up and posing for yet another picture!!!

NorthPoint was AWESOME Sunday. The music never ceases to amaze me, as does Andy's sermons. You can hear the sermon here:

http://www.northpoint.org/messages


Sunday's message was entitled "This Changes Everything."



After church, I made a big Easter lunch, and we all ate WAYYYY too much. For desert, I had picked up these cream cheese and chocolate brownies. They were way too rich for me! But apparently, Avery had a differing opinion. Dan found the brownies, sitting in front of Avery, and looking like this... There was QUITE a bit more icing on them moments before!!!

And this is Avery, with her smug look and chocolate covered face, telling me "I don't know who did that..."

Sunday afternoon, we enjoyed a day at the park in our neighborhood. Alex's first question each time we go is, "Can I bring my fishing rod???"

He and Dad had a good time catching some fish.

Here is one of the unlucky ones!

... and Courtney had to be terrorized by their catch... the pennance for being a little sister of a big brother...

My 3 muskateers

There would have been 4, but Ashi Belle slept through the entire event!!!!

Avery LOVES swinging!

Wait... am I upside-down, or are you???

Just a-swinging!

Avery spirals her way to the ground...

... and ended up sideways!

Watch out, world!!! Here comes ALEX!!!

He takes up half of the slide!!!!

Courtney looking for a place to happen...

Matthew 28:1-10 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (NIV)