Easter and Aaron's Family

We do not believe in the Easter Bunny :) However, bunny rabbits are one of Esther's new favorite animals (along with turtles...) and she enjoyed this Esther-size version and making the "sniff" sound!

The church held their traditional Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. Esther really didn't understand what she was supposed to do, but she had fun! Although once she figured out what was in those shiney wrappers, we had to confinscate her collection :)

She loves to run around outside and has recently taken to trying to sneak out the door when Aaron comes home from work.

We took a picnic lunch to the park and then walked around and saw the ducks again. We were also entertained by a squirrel during our meal :)

We met up with Aaron's parents at the mall (which was just reopened after being flooded a couple years ago) and looked around. There were so many people there and stores - I felt like a country tourist! Here, Aaron's mom is showing Esther the fish in an aquarium (part of a restraunt).

Cracker Barrel rocking chairs -

I've been trying to get a good family picture - Aaron's mom took several for us, but getting two children to cooperate isn't working out...This is probably one of the best of Esther.

Another try -

I had the same problem getting a nice picture of the girls in their Easter dresses. (A lady from church gave them matching ones at Anna's shower.) They looked a lot cuter in person :)

Minus the headband! Esther is liking her baby sister more all the time.

Easter morning, the adult chior did a "cantata" and did a great job.

Some of Aaron's family came down for the service, then we went to eat at the state park. Esther was scared when we tried to take a picture with this human bunny!

There's a great view of the lake from this catwalk - but I realized later that it wasn't in any of the pictures I took...

Trying again -

Esther helped us pick up sticks in the backyard. Our potatos, lettuce, radishes, and onions are doing well, but the other garden things haven't gotten established yet - I think because it's dry here.

We went back to the state park another time. After living in town for six months, I appreciate the peace and quietness!

Esther enjoyed the swing, but she wasn't sure about the slide.

She enjoyed the stream though and put her hand in the water.

Anna has such a big smile - but I didn't manage to capture it on camera either!

She's getting nice and fat!

We went with some of Aaron's family to an artsy sort of restraunt for his grandmother's 81st birthday.

Us with Grandma -

Thanksgiving and Christmas

Hello! Hopefully you all had a great Thanksgiving and are carrying the "Thanksgiving Spirit" into the Christmas time as well!

This year was Aaron's family's year to be together on Thanksgiving Day. The night before we all went to Nashville to look at the lights at the OpryLand Hotel and then had dinner on a boat.

From the boat, you could see the lights of the city - the water was very calm and it was a beautiful evening.

Me, Esther, and Aaron before "dinner" -

Aaron and his grandmother -

Esther and her grandmother - On Thanksgiving Day we had a big meal and hung around and visited and played games and that kind of thing. The next morning, the ladies went to do some shopping and the guys finished out the holiday by splitting firewood and cleaning in a garage.
This year is the 3rd Christmas we've celebrated together, the 2nd that we've been married, and the first we've set up a big Christmas tree and really decorated. (Aaron's mono got in the way last year!) We had fun doing it together :)

Esther just after waking up from a nap - she wasn't sure what to think of the tree itself at first, but has reached the point where there's a couple ornaments that are real temptations to her :)

The first Saturday in December we had an open house at our home for the church people - it was pretty busy for both Aaron and I getting ready, but we really enjoyed it and hopefully the people who came did too!

For my family's sake, I've included a few pictues of our home decorated - Aaron had a bunch of things from before he was married, I had some, and some were given to us for our wedding.

I'll leave you with this picture of Esther and Aaron - she had a fever for a couple days last week, but is back to her cheerful self now...

Also, this last Sunday was our church's children's musical and this coming Sunday is our adult musical. If you remember, pray that is will go well!

Esther's First Birthday

This post is going to be mostly about Esther. She had her first birthday on the 25th! These first few pictures are from a little before that -this is an outfit that she got for her shower that I thought she'd never be big enough to wear! I really didn't think it would fit until I actually put it on her...

In "Daddy's" office at church - over the last 3 weeks or so, she's learned to walk :) It started with a step here or there that we weren't quite sure if we were really seeing what we thought we were, than she'd take 5 steps, fall, 5 steps fall..., now, she can make it all the way down the hall!

All "dressed up" for winter :)

We ended up going to MN for one day - but it was a good day. We had a good visit with my family and finished up some things and Esther got a birthday present...

We had to help her open them up, but she enjoyed the experience :)

We were able to get our winter squash while we were in MN - This acorn squash must have crossed with something!

The fall colors down here are very pretty - we had a couple of pictures taken in front of a red tree - the sun was pretty bright though.

Esther on her first birthday!

I made some cupcakes. Esther was "helping" and got into the dough and the frosting...

We gave her the whole thing and she grabbed the whole thing, tried to put a handful of frosting in her mouth, then tried to cram the whole thing in her mouth...we would have taken more pictures, only I dropped the camera. We also let her have a little ice cream, but we did not let her eat the whole cupcake :)

Cards from family and friends in MN-

On Wednesday night after church, they had a little birthday party for Esther and one of the deacons. It was a lot of fun! Esther is one blessed girl!

People were so sweet and brought her presents :) She seemed pretty interested in watching as we opened them and even did a little clapping...

That's for me?!

Our family -

The end of the party -