Easter at Adam's

This year we went to my brother's in Yuba City, CA for Easter.  I can't even begin to recall the last time I shared Easter with my brother, so this was so dear to my heart.  We were able to visit with my Aunt Lois and Uncle Ken, and my sweet grandmother!  Spending the weekend with Adam and Kathy, Logan and Genesis is always a special treat.  On Easter Sunday we woke up bright and early and headed to church.  The girls were excited to go to Sunday School with their cousin!  Afterwards, we headed back to the house for lunch, and the men hid a bunch of eggs around the front yard for the kids to scavenge for.  The grand finale was opening their baskets full of art supplies and silly string.  These guys are pretty easy to please!

Dying Easter Eggs. And hands...

 Maybe I'm the Easter grinch, but it kind of occured to me this year that I'm not totally in love with this tradition.  I read a dozen Pinterest ideas about using all natural ingredient to dye eggs.... It looked like a lot of work and I just found I wasn't feeling up to the task.  I settled on a dollar store tablet dye, as usual.  Then I DID try to get fancy using the shaving cream with food dye to create a 'swirl' effect on the shell.  Psh.  Please, people.  It created a very sweet swirl effect on my kids' skin for quite some time, but it didn't do much to the eggs.  Nonetheless, these girls loved all ten minutes of their egg dye-ing experience.  Even Amberlie took full control of dunking her egg into the chosen color, and then redunking her sister's eggs into various colors when they weren't looking. 

The real Christmas, Christmas

Amberlie was given a cute bunny that sucks it's thumb.

The look on their faces when they saw Berlyn's baby doll!

She specifically asked us to pose with her and 'Jasmine'.

We had to give the girls the camera for a bit so we could be in photos, too.

Nick likes his new vest.  That sexy beast.

She's already asking me to do her hair.

Amberlie wants a stocking, too!

Mom's don't have stockings.  But Nick didn't know that and he'd bought something to fill mine!  Can you see where he improvised?

His & Hers

A stocking for ME?!

Wow.  THREE whole days of Christmas.  First, Christmas Eve, Eve with Papa and Nana.  Then Christmas Eve with Nick's family.  THEN, we had special Christmas miracle when a coworker of Nicks volunteered to take over his Christmas day shift at the jail.  You better believe I was one happy woman.  It would've been so sad and un-holidayish to wake up with just me and the girls on Christmas morning.  Instead, Nick stayed home and we all slept in until 7:30.  Another Christmas miracle.  Then we made breakfast and the girls gathered around while I read them the story of Jesus' birth.  Be impressed, people.  This is the very first year that I let everyone stay in their jammies while we opened presents.  Typically, if the camera is going to be out and available, it's grounds for shower,clothes, and hair bows.  I must be getting lazy in my old age, but I'll admit it feel kind of special to stay all cozy in the new pajama's Nana had given everyone.  This year we really scaled it down.  Aside from filling the stockings with play dough (already regretting that decision), gum (totally and completely regretting that, too), and some accessories for their dolls, the girls each got a special gift and a book from Nick and I.  Havanna got a bike with training wheels.  Talullah got her baby doll with blonde hair and BROWN eyes, just like her.  It's exactly what she wanted.  And Berlyn got the most adorable little baby 'Jasmine' that we adopted from Africa.  She has a certain fascination about other languages and cultures, so it was just so fitting.  And she has been taking that baby doll everywhere!  This was definitely a special day, just our little Downey family of six.  Spending time together in our new house and enjoying all of the blessing we've been given.

Christmas with the Downey's. The other Downey's

This is us.

Grammy snuggling with Havanna and Adelaide next to Wes.

For Berlyn, it's all about the butter.

We all went to Nate and Dallass' house for Christmas Eve after enjoying a Christmas Eve service at the Town Church.  Amberlie was, without a doubt, louder than anyone behind a microphone during the whole event.  I guess she'll be shouting out 'amen' to spur on the preacher when she gets older.  Our girls absolutely adore their cousins, so they had a wonderful time running around and opening presents and then running around some more.  We've also thoroughly enjoyed having Wesley home for the holidays.  When we were leaving Grandma and Grandpa Downey's house the other night, Berlyn looked at Uncle Wesley before he walked away and told him "You're handsome!".  So, so sweet.

Puke happens

In case you weren't aware, life as a mom isn't all cake and candy.  Some days just aren't very glamorous. 

Fall Festivities

One of my favorite annual traditions is heading to the pumpkin patch with Rebecca, Cameron, and Vivian.  It must be the most beautiful time of the year, and I love all of the delicious fall treats: pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, and maybe apple cider.  We fell a bit behind this year and never even got around to carving the dozen or so pumpkins we hand picked, but they sure did look amazing lined up on the front porch for a few weeks.  Life's a journey, not a destination, right?!  We sure do enjoy this journey.

SOCCER!

 This was the girls first year in soccer, and both Berlyn and Talullah absolutely loved it.  I think Talullah enjoyed it even more than slow pitch.  Both girls did so great on their team, although of course there were times where they might have been a bit distracted out on the field.   As much as this momma missed her warm and cozy Saturday mornings inside, it was so rewarding to go to their games every weekend and watch them grow in ability and confidence.