Our Easter In Pictures

We started by getting ready for Mr Whiskers...and told Jade to put her basket right where she left milk and cookies for Santa this year...she loved that!



Much later :) we looked outside and apparently Mr Whiskers visited Mr. Joe and Mrs. Greta!!!

Early riser the next morning---we could hardly catch up with her as she ran for where she had left her basket the night before...

...but all that was left was a pile of jelly beans??? (Actually MUCH better than a basket, she thought!!!)

The trail of jelly beans, however, did lead her right to where that tricky rabbit had hidden her basket...

Bubbles, a book, a new Elmo toothbrush (Which I happened to see on sale the day before at TARGET for $1.88, Mr. Whiskers!!!!), trail mix, and fruit snacks...oh what a delight for this little lady!!!

And if one hidden basket were not enough, our doorbell rang and Mr. Joe had another one waiting for this girl!

This was the only picture I got of Jade in her Sunday best...at Walmart, before lunch, and RIGHT BEFORE she somehow dropped the world's juiciest red strawberry all the way down the front of her Sunday Best!!!! Oh dear...what kind of Mom would hand her child a juicy red strawberry while wearing a white dress, anyways? ...That's what her daddy said!!! :)

We enjoyed such a wonderful lunch at the Watson's home...we've spent the last few Easters with them and it's so nice for us to all be able to get together and have fun! Mrs. Connie put on a super fun egg hunt, and after 3 practice runs this girl actually got the hang of picking up eggs and putting them in her basket!!!

And this Easter, of course, wasn't the same without the rest of our usual egg hunters...but we were so happy when their mama remembered to send us a picture that arrived right during our lunch...so at least we could see their sweet faces!


This was such a wonderful Easter Sunday for our little family. Hard to believe next year there will be two baskets...two kiddos...


...and one smaller belly during the egg hunt! :)

He LIVES!!!!

Matthew 28
Jesus Has Risen
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has RISEN, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.



I remember a sweet little story that we used to listen to (on cassette tape, of course!) every Easter when we were kids called "The Empty Egg". It was about a group of kids who were all lined up for a local egg hunt. They were consumed with the eggs, the bunnies, the candy... But as they wandered farther and farther from their parents looking for MORE eggs, they found themselves at the mouth of a cave. They heard tiny little voices that lured them further in until they found themselves in the midst of a chocolate factory run by hundreds of little...bunnies! The "boss bunny" was named Mr. Whiskers and as these skeptical children begin to converse with Mr. Whiskers, he begins to show them a carton of eggs- each filled with another element of the TRUE Easter Story...where Jesus gave His life for them...for US! My favorite part was at the end when the children, who have begun to see Easter for what it really is, opened the last egg that was....E-M-P-T-Y!!!! They were astonished that the "grand finale" egg didn't have anything in it, and sweet ole Mr. Whiskers explained that this was the GRANDEST EGG OF ALL! It was the "emptiness" of that egg, symbolizing the emptiness of the tomb, that gives us our hope! As the children raced out of the cave and back toward the laughter of the other children hunting eggs still, they carried with them an all new understanding of the Cross and the wonderful gift of salvation that God gaves us through it.

As we tucked in our Jadeybug tonight, even though she's so young and can't understand a whole lot yet, we told her that Easter is all about Jesus and that Easter Sunday is even more special to us than CHRISTMAS...because it was this day, Resurrection Sunday, that He Rose! And hopefully by next Easter, she will know this sweet song that Mr. Whiskers sang to those kids in the cave...herself!



It's EMPTY, it's empty inside
A tomb full of empty
A Savior ALIVE
They found empty
With the stone rolled away, I know
Christ crucified
But now He's ALIVE
In ME

Happy Birthday Friend!

Tonight, this group...



...turned up at Cozymel's to celebrate this friend's...


...birthday!

We were way outnumbered by kiddos and realized that next year when we celebrate her again...we'll have 1, 2, 3, 4... F-I-V-E more kiddos!!!! That's right, all 5 of us (Ash left before the top pic was snapped, Daddy J-Walk representing here...) are expecting new bundles of JOY in the next year!

Love raising kids and celebrating life with such wonderful friends...

Happy Birthday, Teri! So thankful for your friendship, and so happy these girlies will be sweet friends, too!

All for you, Court!

Went to Chili's again tonight for a friend's wedding shower...Jenny was also there....and we shared your favorite dessert...all for you, Court! We wouldn't have done it to ourselves otherwise, but WE LOVE YOU THIS MUCH!!!!


Can't wait until YOU have that other spoon in your hand!!!!

Buddies

Say, Say Little Playmate
Come out and play with me
And bring your dollies 3
Climb up my apple tree
Slide down my rainbow
Into my cellar door
And we'll be jolly friends
Forever-more, more, more!


(Jadeybug and Brad having a playdate last Saturday...I snuck a pic b/c she LOVES Brad!)

...and our new baby's first little playmate (and Brad's son!) Mr. Brantley James Davis! Jadeybug LOVES this guy, too!

Reflecting

9 months we will wait for you.
8 months gone already.
7 days between Dr. appointments now.
6 (million) baby names to choose from...only 1 PERFECT for you! :)
5 times I wake up each night now, on average...
4 weeks until your due date, as of tomorrow! :)
3 very excited people waiting for you at home.
2 years between you and your big sister.


(ahem!...drum roll please...)


1 VERY BIG BELLY reflecting back at me!


Hurry sweet baby!

First boyfriend....

So we're at the park the other day and I look up and see Shaelyn Jade getting friendly with a little boy we don't know...truthfully, he didn't really give her the time of day...But I snapped a quick pic and sent it to her daddy labeled "first boyfriend"...


This is what came back QUICKLY across my phone with a message, "Please show this to that boy!!!"...




Classic. What a good Daddy.
Poor Shaelyn Jade someday...

Beach Bums

Well...we're here. At my favorite place. The beach. Needless to say, I find MANY other things besides computers to keep me busy while I am at the beach, huh? Oh how happy I was last week when my Mom said she and Dad were headed south...and asked our little brood to come too! We got Nanma off on her plane Tuesday afternoon and all headed out about 6 pm. Arrived late night as always to the sounds of waves and smells of salt water and could hardly sleep dreaming of this white beach and our, well, white legs that would soon be tan! :) Rich, of all people, was the only one to burn to a crisp on the first day so he spent the rest of his days in t shirts, baby sunscreen, and under the umbrella. Always happens to at least one. :) The second "wave" of good news came a couple days into our trip when we found out Mom and I could stay a few extra days at a house across the street...and that two of our favorite girls were coming to join us. Oh what a week it's been...words can't do it justice, so I'll just share some pics!


Early morning kite flying... Another Seaside Bike Day...Jadey's favorite!!! So thankful these dudes like to hang together...they have to do it a lot! :) Happy girl! Love Birds...still! A cool morning on the beach... Our last "family of 3" pic on the beach... You can't imagine how much fun this girl had with her Daddy all to herself, all day, every day!!! A drip castle for Courtney...she always makes them on our Florida trips, so we "built" one in her honor this time...we thought this was such a cool pic Rich took!

Non and Jade played in the sand on our crab night...
Lookin' for crabs...


Not a single carb spotted, but still a fun time!
If you can't take a late night ride on a golf cart when you're on vacation, when can you??? Been lookin' forward to this picture all year...my sweet girl in her two piece on the beach! Ahhhhh I love her!!

...and her best friend came to join her for these last few days...

You Know Nanma's Here...

...When you find your 22 month old drinking hot tea each afternoon!!!

Oh we've had the best couple weeks so far with Nanma staying with us. It's funny how you get used to life just the way it is...for us, with Rich's parents living 3000 miles away year round. We miss them always, but we all get "used" to it. Having Nanma here for an extended stay has reminded us of just how MUCH we miss her being around every day. She is truly the sweetest hearted person and so easy to get along with...you know, it's not just any ole mother-in-law that one could have staying for two 1/2 weeks! This lady is so fun to have around, so HELPFUL (especially at this point in my pregnancy!), and so loving to both us and our sweet Jadeybug. I told Rich just last night how fortunate I feel that when it's time for her to leave on Tuesday, it will not be relief that I feel, as goes the jokes toward mother-in-laws...I will TRULY miss her, so much more, after these treasured days together.

Nanma, (and Mum!)...you're a gem and I am so thankful you took so much time out of your very busy life in California to come love on your Tennessee kiddos. We needed it and we have L-O-V-E-D it! We will always cherish this visit when Jade got to know you and love you so much...and you and I got ready for another baby/grandbaby! THANK YOU!!!!!


More pics soon of our almost-finished nursery!!!

Round Two

Seems like yesterday my fabulous mother-in-law came in town to help me decorate a nursery...round one. We didn't know the sex of the baby, and decided on silver sage walls, a big white tree...and chocolate brown and light blue polka dot fabric. It really looked more BOY than girl, honestly, because I was feeling boy (talk about motherly instinct, I have it!) :) Ok...so we brought home a bundle of PINK instead of blue, and we quickly had to add nests in the in the tree with PINK eggs...PINK "jadeybugs" crawling all over the tree...PINK pillows...and a PINK monogram. That was just yesterday, wasn't it? No...I suppose it's been two years already...
Last night I got into bed, late and tired, but found myself still tossing and turning after a long while. I had a familiar anxious "tummy". Two years ago I laid in our bed about this same time of year and sobbed into Rich's arms, mourning the soon-to-be "loss" of those wonderful years of just us, he and I, as we anticipated our Shaelyn Jade. It was a very similar feeling last night. I have indescribable excitement to experience this sort of LOVE all over again and add to our little family again...but oh the joy of these days of just "us", he and I...and her. So there I found myself, 1 am, in my baby girl's room. I pulled her out of her crib and into that comfy brown chair that she and I have rocked a million hours in together. One last rock in that chair, in that room...one last time to lay her back in that crib. Again, I found myself sobbing within just a few seconds. It's what I needed, really needed. And that was it. I laid her back in her crib and said goodbye to a chapter of my life that has brought me more love and peace and joy than any other. And I KNOW that just as it was "bittersweet" to leave behind the days of just Richard and I...I KNOW that even greater peace and love and joy is soon-to-be, again, with this new baby, and as a family of 4.

So Sunday, my fabulous mother-in-law came in town again (bearing gifts of course!)...


...to help me decorate a nursery...ROUND TWO. We've been busy turning our first nursery into a big girl room...and moving the nursery a few feet down the hall. Oh Shaelyn Jade was so excited as we moved her crib out...

and her new bed IN!


...She climbed all over it and jumped and squealed. And tonight...


...Tonight, my big girl is sleeping her first night, still under that big white tree, but this time, in a big girl bed.

As for that nursery down the hall...Again, we don't know the sex of the baby, which presents its challenges when trying to create the "perfect" nursery. But again, we have overcome. :) Again we have a sewing station in my living room...lots of fabric cutting and the buzz of the wonderful sewing machine my mother-in-law bought for me two years ago (which I am only brave enough to use when she is sitting beside
me!!!!)...


... and a familiar excited "tummy" as I anticipate rocking another bundle of PINK or BLUE for a million hours in this sweet, sweet room...in just 8 weeks.
Stay tuned this week to see our finished product...
...Round two.

Matilda Jane

Hey friends!!!

I am SOOOOO excited about a very fun clothing show I am hosting tomorrow at my Mom's house...Matilda Jane clothing, if you've never heard of it, has the CUTEST clothes for both little girls AND big girls! I am inviting ALL OF YOU who are close enough to come- AND BRING FRIENDS- to come out and enjoy an afternoon of all things "girly"...food, chatting...and shopping! The "trunk" will be opened from 2-4, so drop by anytime! Let me know if you think you're coming so we don't close it before you get your chance to look! :)

Seriously, bring you mom, sister, or friends...and just come! I went to a show a few weeks ago and it was GREAT!

Check out the website HERE.

Hope to see you there!!!!

my birthday

Well, folks- Shadey Jadey ended up being sick from last Monday (V-day) until this Monday, really. Saturday afternoon was her last fever, but she honestly didn't start acting like her healthy little self until Tuesday. That means we laid low ALL last week (cabin fever affected us both by Friday, so we packed up and spent the night at Nonni's just for a change of scenery :))...

...but it didn't affect my birthday on Sunday! It was WONDERFUL! Rich always plans my special day for me, makes it way more enjoyable that way, we think...so that morning, although our girl was still cranky (finally fever-free, though!) we packed up and went to the ZOO!!!! It was such a gorgeous day (I decided that my birthday present from God :)) and oh to be outside...it was wonderful!! My Mom and Dad met us there and we just strolled and enjoyed the animals...







...and then they took the cranky, now needing nap, Jadeybug back to their house so Rich and I could catch a matinee. Peeps, if you haven't seen UNKNOWN (Liam Neeson), it's really good...

...Then, a few friends met us for a yummy dinner at my fave Italian restaurant, Carrabba's...


Here is the official "hand off" of my birthday gift that traveled the farthest, all the way from the hands of my sweet sis, Court, in South Africa (by way of Rocky)...to me!


...a handmade, BEAUTIFUL scarf...which will not be worn like this-

-although Teri really wants me to! :)

And can you believe that we are ALL preggo together? In order (of biggest belly!)...Baby Andrews due beginning of May, Baby Beasley due middle of June, and Baby Calmus and Baby Walker are literally due within days of each other at the beginning of August. The BEST part is...NONE of us are finding out what we're having, so it's gonna be one, fabulous surprise after another!!! Oh I love these days in my life...


Perfect group, perfect night...

Perfect birthday.

And happy to report that today, this Friday, Shaelyn Jade is back to her old self, inventing new ways to do old things...



Happy weekend.
Love you all...