Carving The Pumpkin

Every year, Joshua's school has a pumpkin carving contest.

 

And every year we turn our pumpkin in on the first day and by judging day.. its moldy and falling apart. So, this year, we were out to find something simple that makes a big impact.

 

And my mom found it on the Internet.. it was perfect.

 

Here are the supplies... do you know what it is yet?

 

Hint: Cookies, Big Eyes, and blue paint!

 

 

John carves the pumpkin. (I really should make him wear shirts for pictures, but never think about it.)

Joshua and I take out the guts.

 

 

And Joshua paints him blue...

 

 

Did you guess what he is yet??

 

Cookie Monster!!!

 

YUM YUM YUM!!!

 

Look how cute he turned out...

I am loving him... thanks Mom for the idea!!!

The Egg Hunters

"The Easter Bunny came by today and left surprises along the way. Colorful eggs are all around with baskets in hand we search the ground."

After a exciting morning with the Bunny presents, mini egg hunt and church, we changed into comfy clothes and headed over to my Brother and Sister in laws house. My Sister in law is a amazing cook and HER mother flew in from Missouri for the holiday and they cooked together...   so.. the food was AMAZING!!

I am so glad to have such a wonderful extended family. They are kind and generous people that have same morals and values that we grew up with.

So, they are easy to talk to, easy to get along with...  so this family get together was Perfect!



This is Grayson, he is Mandi's nephew and a ham with the camera.

Joshua received a basket from Grayson and his parents, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Matt.

He got tons of really cool candy and small toys, but of course, Joshua was more interested in Grayson's tiny fire truck and fire house.

Then, he received a second basket from Aunt Mandi and Uncle Ryan. This one had all kinds of goodies too including 2 movies and Lego's!

Then it was time for another egg hunt... you think he would be tired of hunting eggs... but no way!!! These eggs had prizes in every single one of them.. including money. Joshua found about $16 worth of dollar bills and coins.

This is Joshua, Grayson, and a family friend, John, getting ready to hunt.

I believe Joshua got something like 64 eggs... I don't know.. there were so many I lost count... it may have been more. I know Aunt Mandi got over excited and bought like 200 eggs.. but I don't think they all got filled.

She is just preparing for years to come when they have their own children..Sarah and Matt have more........  and John and I have more...

Here is Joshua and his eggs..

Aunt Mandi and Uncle Ryan have a cute little tree swing.. so we took the opportunity to have a mini photo shoot with both of their nephews.

Then we had a confetti egg fight... the only pictures I can seem to find of it though is poor little Grayson, who couldn't figure out what we were doing to him. He was a good sport though.

Finally, it was time to go swimming...

Of course my kid was in the pool first. I think Joshua learned to swim and splash in the water even before he could walk. I am a water/beach baby... and I think he is too...

Uncle Ryan was a good sport and got in the swimming pool to help keep the boys under control... and Grayson above the water.

While they did that... we had dessert... because the good lord knows... it isn't a party without some yummy desserts!!

And finally.. our bellies were full... our hearts felt loved on this special day... and we were just plain out tired from all the activities... it was time to go home.

What a wonderful glorious day! I hope we make this a tradition every year.

Early Morning Bunny Hunt

It is a tradition that the Easter Bunny always leaves a few eggs for a early morning egg hunt. Joshua loves the gifts from the bunny, but I almost think he loves this egg hunt even more....

... because.... right now..... he is the only one that gets to hunt.. therefore all the eggs are his.

Happy Hunting!!!

Easter Morning

"Little Bunny Foo Foo Hoping through the forest.. Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head.... "    - This was Joshua favorite song this Easter, which he learned in music class at school.

The morning was finally here.. the one he had been waiting for..

Bunny Foo Foo.. AKA.. The Easter Bunny had stopped by for a visit.

And let me tell you.. the Easter Bunny went a tad overboard. I think every year the Easter bunny keeps thinking he doesn't have enough, so he grabs a few new things here and there... and everywhere...

Pretty soon.... The basket is no where to be found and it just looks like this....

Yea.. Easter Bunny.. you need to learn to chill.....

Honestly though.. it looks like a lot, but I can tell you the Easter bunny gets great deals on everything.


So, Joshua wakes up at 6:30.... also known at the hiney crack of dawn... to see what kinds of goodies the bunny left him.

Of course the first thing he is interested in is to see if the bunny ate his carrot.

He did, but Joshua seemed a little upset about the crumbs that he left...

We tried explaining that the Bunny eats a lot of carrots, so maybe his belly was getting full.  Joshua was not buying it....

Note to Easter Bunny: Eat all the carrots next year!!

PS. I think the Easter Bunny secretly bought the movie because Mama and Daddy wanted to watch it.

The bunny ended up being a success. Too successful.... what is Mama going to do with all this candy?

Yummy...

Special Delivery

"Family, the ones who love you best"


And I must say.. this little boy is very well loved.

He will NEVER be able to say.. "I did not feel loved... or I did not have a close family".... because this little man is loved by everyone. He has so much love on both sides of his family..... he is a lucky little boy.

Joshua's other grandparents live about 5 hours away, but they never forget him..   today we received a Easter package in the mail from the Smith's. He could hardly wait to tear into it.

His Meema did a great job because he loved every single thing inside his Easter package.

So, thank you Meema, TeTaw and everyone in the Smith household. We love you, miss you, and hope your Easter was just as wonderful!