Easter weekend 2011

This year, Easter was pretty fun!

We kicked off the weekend with Brad and I’s 4th year Anniversary, which was Thursday. (I say kick off the weekend, because I had Good Friday off work.) Brad and I went to Red Lobster for dinner, and as always, it didn’t disappoint!

Good Friday, the boys and I spent the day together running errands. It’s always nice to get a break away from our usual routine. I miss my boys so much during the workday! We had a great time together. :-)

We only did one Easter egg hunt this year...at Grandma Marla’s house. It was actually on the 17th, after our March of Dimes walk. Both of the boys really enjoyed hunting Easter eggs, although Luke was much more involved than Levi. Levi was more interested in what was IN the egg versus finding the egg! The boys made out like bandits, and had a lot of fun playing with the balloons afterward.


Saturday, we did more running, and we visited with the Easter bunny. Needless to say, Luke liked the Easter bunny, but he did not love him. He would NOT sit on his lap! Levi didn’t want any part in the Easter bunny at all! I jumped in the picture with one boy on each hip. Hey, sometimes you gotta do whatcha gotta do! The girls were very nice and helpful! After the pictures were snapped, Luke made friends and gave the Easter bunny a big stuffed carrot. It was his peace offering, and “Easter bunny was hungry”.

Saturday evening, we colored Easter eggs. This was Luke’s first time helping. He did a great job! Levi was very interested in the eggs…which resulted in one casualty (see bottom blue egg).

{Yes, that is me in the background, hiking up my pants! Thanks, B, our awesome photog!}

{And here, our heads are cut off!}

{Not mad, concentrating! :-)}

{Ta-Daaaah!}

Easter Sunday morning, the boys had a visit from the Easter bunny who brought them each a basket. They enjoyed opening their goodies which consisted of: Chick and Egg shaped sidewalk chalk, a Thomas train stuffed in an egg, bunny bubbles, M&M’s, an egg of jelly beans, and an egg stuffed with a mini Reese egg and a mini KitKat.


On Easter Sunday, we visited with my Mom and Dad. They bought the boys a little mini ball pit, and they LOVE it! It is currently sitting in our living room, and Luke watches TV from it. Levi only gets in it whenever Luke’s not in it…and I don’t blame him one bit! They also got some pretty cute Easter baskets with lots of chocolate. Brad and I have been helping them eat its contents…there goes my diet!

{I took these cupcakes to Mom's -- they're sheep.}

We had Easter dinner at our house with Brad’s Dad. Thankfully the boys squeezed in a nap between eating, so they were in pretty decent spirits. My crockpot was my best friend for the day. It saved me from having to cook tons, that’s for sure!

Overall, we had a really nice weekend! I hope everyone enjoyed theirs as well!

Our weekend...Part II

This year was our 3rd annual March of Dimes walk. We didn't walk in 2008 because Luke was still in the hospital, and well, I spent nearly every waking moment with him there. It seems that as each year passes, our group expands which is AWESOME! We are so thankful for all of our walk supporters...the March of Dimes has helped us tremendously, and without their funding for research of treatments for premature babies (Surfactant, to name one), our outcome may have not been as positive.

This year, we were able to raise $305!! We would like to extend a very heartfelt “THANK YOU” to all whom sponsored our team this year! We are so very, very thankful for your help! :-) Words just don't seem to be enough!

Our shirts were a bit different this year. Instead of using Luke's pictures, we used his footprints (newborn and current)! Jessica, from Diamond Doll Designs, did the design for us! She is absolutely amazingly creative. I wish I had her talent! Creative Promotions took Jessica's design and printed them on shirts for us. Check this out:


Our walk this year was at Highland Park in Kokomo. The park is absolutely gorgeous, and is complete with a covered bridge. We actually had last year's family Fall pictures taken there. I believe we walked about 2 miles-ish. The Ambassador family was Doug and Andrea Hoover. They had premature twin girls born around 29 weeks. I believe the girls are 4 now, and they are doing well! The neat thing is that Andrea (aka Dr. Hoover) used to be my OB’s partner. Well, she is the very Doctor that sent Luke and I to Indianapolis the night before he was born. She more than likely saved Luke’s life, and possibly even mine. So, it was very nice to hear her speak and to even meet up with her during the walk.

I wish I had taken more pictures of our day, but I was having too much fun to think much about taking pictures, I suppose!! :-) Anyway, here are a couple for you to enjoy:

{The Boys and I before the walk}

{Group Pic L-R: Eunice, Nicole, Me, Kelly, Jess, The L's all bundled up, Mom, & Alex}

Next year, we're ALL going to partake in the Zumba warm-up! Right girls?! ;-)

Thanks again for everyone's support!

Our weekend...Part I

This weekend, I attended a bridal shower for one of my favorite friends’ sisters. We also attended our 3rd March for Babies walk on Sunday, but I’m going to blog that in a separate post.

So, back to bridal shower! I.LOVE.SHOWERS! And I’ve become quite addicted to baking, too. Great for the family and friends, not so great for my thunder thighs! :-D Anyway, dear friend asked if I’d help out with some baking for her sister’s shower, so of course I JUMPED at the opportunity! I’ll take any chance I can get to bake and not have the tempting treats at my house begging for me to devour them!

I made some wedding cake cookies for favors. They were very easy to do, and I got the design concept (and recipes) from this blog. I am addicted to Bake at 350, by the way!!

The cookie favor tags are printables that I purchased from The Pretty Paperie (click shop name to visit shop site). I LOVE these printables! They are so incredibly easy to use, and you can print them on cardstock or sticker paper to use just about any way you like. I also purchased printable card tents for Luke’s birthday party, but forgot to snap a pic. :-( Anyway, very budget friendly and nice quality labels!!


The girls (Nicole and Eunice) came over and helped me with the cakes on Friday! We threw in some pizza, and a couple of toddlers, and a grown man. :-) We had fun. My parents made me some handy-dandy cake stands (we used this concept). I think they turned out awesome, and I can't wait to use them for many, many more cakes in the future! :-)

I thought the shower turned out very nice. Lots of toilet paper dresses, fun games, and food!

{Maid-of-Honor and Beautiful Bride-to-Be!}

Stay tuned for my weekend update Part II!