More Easter

Natalie's basket goodies
We finally got around to dying eggs on Sunday evening. Natalie loved using the "magic crayon" to make designs on the eggs.
Putting stickers on the eggs was very serious business.
The final product!

Easter

Natalie in her Easter dress. We lucked out and got nice, warm weather. I had no wardrobe back-up plan!

Silly girl!
I have learned that the quality of a family picture is determined by if your kid is looking at the camera (or close), smiling, and not lifting up her dress. There are better pics of me...but this one wins "best overall."
A few of Brad's classmates joined us for the Easter service at church, and then came to our house afterward.

We had brunch (French toast casserole, Italian torte, sausage cheese balls, and fruit salad, with a cream cheese pecan pound cake for dessert)...
...did a small egg hunt in the backyard...
...and cracked the confetti eggs my mom sent. Good thing I just got a new vacuum!
Poor Lily!
Natalie also dug in to her Easter basket while friends were here, but I managed to not take a picture of that. She got lots of exciting things...glittery nail polish, candy, Goldfish crackers, her very own chapstick, candy, a book, socks, and candy.

Happy Easter!

"My Tummy Is Big!"

Wonder where she got that?

Houston!

Natalie and I just got home from a fantastic week visiting Houston. We packed in as much fun stuff as we could before heading back to New Jersey. Here are some shots:

Natalie loves playing games at Mamaw and Papa's house. And clearly, the New Jersey winter has left us both embarrassingly pale. Can I attribute some of it to the flash? Please? :)
And as always, there was lots of trampoline jumping with Mamaw and Jillian. I've done it in the past...but definitely not at 6 months pregnant!
Another favorite at Mamaw and Papa's house is dressing up. As you can see, Natalie is usually wearing as many layers as possible.
In yet another dress up outfit, working in Papa's garden. Weeks before we even left for Houston, Natalie asked if there would be anything for her to pick at Papa's house. She loves it!
Putting bird seed in the bird feeder with Pop. And within a couple hours we were watching the birds eat it!
Natalie LOVES to take walks with Mousie and Pop. They also often include the wagon and a trip to the park.
We went to the Woodlands one day to spend time with family up there. Natalie had a blast playing pirates and princesses (what a combination!) with Emma.
I did my best to find some bluebonnets without having to drive too far. This patch was the best I could do, as was this pose. She wanted nothing to do with sitting in the grass, smiling normally, or doing anything else I asked her to do. At least she's looking at the camera, I guess. She's 3, alright!
A trip to the zoo with Mousie and Pop turned into a train ride and bird feeding session at Hermann Park after they got to the ticket counter and realized the zoo was closed for a members-only event! Natalie still had a blast and didn't seem the slightest bit let down...probably because Mousie convinced the lady to let them in long enough to go to the gift shop so Natalie could pick out a stuffed animal. That's the highlight of the trip anyway, right?
Natalie is not sure about the stranger behind the camera, haha!
Our week went by so fast! Next time we are in Houston, we'll be a family of FOUR!

Teddy Bear Picnic

Natalie's class at school had a Teddy Bear Picnic yesterday. All the kids got to bring a bear (which meant Cotton Candy got to go to school again!), and then at the end of the day there was a picnic, which the moms were invited to. It was so cute! The moms were directed down to a big multi-purpose room at the church, where this was set up:

...and then the kids all paraded in wearing bear headbands that they had made that day in class:

We had snacks (gummy bears and Teddy Grahams, of course) and sang some songs with the music teacher before heading home. Natalie LOVED that I got to come to her school. I loved it too!