Pirates, Soldiers, Old Timers, Babies

Blogger has a new format and so my pictures are a little out of order, but it'll work. The above picture is of Esther  - a little over a year ago.

This is Anna - taken this morning. She found those wonderful fingers!

Anna all dressed up in her "sunshine outfit" and ready for church.

Does any one have any sympathy? Maybe Esther takes after me!

 Pirates - Esther had a little run-in with the coffee table. Hence her new vocabulary word for the week - pirate, along with onion :) (she's actually learning new words everyday) It's healing up just fine though and because of her eyebrow it's hardly noticable now.

 We took a 24 hour trip to GA to see Benjamin graduate from basic training - It was so nice to get a chance to see family! I looked at the faces of the people marching by and couldn't find him...

 We realized after it was over that Benjamin was in a demonstration that we just missed...You can see more picture on the M. family blog.

 Esther wasn't scared of him at all :)

They had all of the state flags on the base - we found MN.

 Uncle Bruce and Anna -

 My 25th Birthday -

 One of our neighbors loves to garden and gave us these pink roses.

 Esther now likes to watch me wash dishes and see the bubbles. She also helps me carry laundry around the house and helps her dad water the garden :)

Everyday life...Some people graciously gave us money when Anna was born and we used some of it to get this stroller that can hold two. Something we didn't realize we needed until we were out and about with two babies.

Anna likes to look at lights and ceiling fans.

 She has a big smile!

 The stroller all assembled. I think it's going to work well.

 In our town, they have a community celebration called "Old Timers Day" that includes a parade. Our church had a float this year and handed out invitations to a Revival and VBS.

They did a great job with it and I think everyone had a good time.

 Getting in the theme with an old sewing machine and butter churn -

Some weekends Aaron goes out to his parent's property and helps them with the garden and yard.

Old and new - we're having special meetings at church this week with former Pastor Roger Freeman (great preaching and great music) and so there was a potluck on Sunday. I made Strawberry Glaze Fruit Salad, one of the very first things I ever made (age ten or so) and tried a new recipe for Raspberry Truffle Brownies - they taste great, but got all crumbly. If I make them again, we'll try a different recipe for the brownies themselves, put a little less chocolate or milk chocolate in the filling and wait overnight to cut them.

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 -

Grandkids

In case you get tired of seeing pictures of baby girls...the fact is, this blog is primarily for "Grandpa and Grandma" (s) - so the rest of you will just have to suffer...

Someone gave Anna this towel, but for now, Esther has claimed it - we call her "The Frog Princess" and she thinks that's pretty special :)

Anna in a pretty little sundress -

My Mom got these matching dresses for the girls, and once again, I tried to get a good picture of the two of them - I thought these turned out a little better than the last try!

Before church on Sunday night....

Anna eats pretty well, so if she keeps it up, in a few years they may be able to pass for twins:) Or someday Anna may be the taller of the two, like in our family!

Amos and Rebekah were here for a day - the kids outnumbered the adults - we had a fun time watching all the little people.

Cousin Daniel wanted to hold baby Anna - he did pretty well :)

The new "K. cousins" - all of my parent's grandkids, and minus two of the great-grandkids

I forgot to rotate this one...Anna is pretty good at smiling, but I haven't got a picture of it yet - she really doesn't look this moody most of the time!

It was nice and cool this morning, so we took the girls out while we worked in the garden a little.

Hope you all have a wonderful Easter!

"Now is Christ risen from the dead."