Easter

Egg Hunts

Although we do know that the Easter bunny and egg hunts aren't the true meaning of Easter, they are fun and we participated in a couple this spring.  The first one we went to was at our church.  The girls liked hunting the eggs, but I think they liked the inflatables the best.

We also went to an egg hunt in our neighborhood. The girls loved hunting with Lilly and we are so thankful she is our next door neighbor.

Spring Break

We spent Spring Break in Florida at my parents' house.  It was a busy week, as usual, but we had a great time, and thankfully we were all well. 

One day we went to Mote Marine, which is a local aquarium where my grandpa volunteers.  The girls really enjoyed it, and especially loved the turtles, sharks, and "finding" sharks' teeth.

Another day we went to the beach.  We met a friend there that I grew up with and hadn't seen in years.  She has 2 kids and all 4 kids played so well together.  It was a beautiful day and not too hot.  I wish I had taken pictures of all 4 kids.

My aunt took the girls to get their hair curled.  It was a surprise outing for them and they were so proud of their curls. 

No trip to Manatee County is complete without a trip to Sweet Berries.  Ryan came into town to spend the weekend with us!

On our last day there, we had a big birthday bash.  We celebrated my aunt's, the girls', and my grandpa's birthdays.  My grandpa, whose birthday is on St. Patrick's Day, showed up to my parents' house like this:

He wore the hat a good portion of the day.

Bowling

My parents came to visit us during their Spring Break.  Unfortunately I spent most of the week not feeling well and I was so thankful to have them here.  While they were here they decided to visit my sister for a couple of days (before I got sick) and they asked to take Bailey with them.  I didn't mind them taking Bailey, but I knew Emma Catherine would be upset that she couldn't go (because of school).  After discussing it, Ryan and I let Bailey go.  Emma Catherine was upset that she didn't get to go but I was proud of the way she acted, and she even helped Bailey pack some toys for the trip.  Ryan and I decided to do something special with Emma Catherine since we rarely are with her by herself, so we took her bowling.

She was frustrated at first but once she got down the technique, she did great.  We played 2 games each and she wanted to play more.  Her score was actually not too much lower than mine.  I was so thankful to get some time with her and I think it meant a lot to her too.

No Training Wheels

The day Ryan and I went to see Wicked, I was upstairs getting ready and Ryan was outside playing with the girls.  I looked out the window and what did I see?  Emma Catherine was riding her bike without training wheels.  I couldn't believe it.  We have tried to get her to ride without training wheels in the past and she has wanted nothing of it.  This particular day, Ryan asked her if she wanted to try and she actually said yes.  I do wish I had been down there to watch her in person, but with her, you have "strike while the iron's hot."

A few days later I got her to try it with me so I could get some pictures.  For the last few weeks, she has wanted us to start her off and then she would take off.  Tonight she actually started it all on her own.  She is riding a small bike right now, but I'm so glad because it makes her feel more in control.  At times, Emma Catherine is so afraid to try new things so we are proud of her accomplishment.