Our Little Horned Frogs: He has Risen! Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

He has Risen! He has Risen Indeed!

What a beautiful morning we woke up to today! The sun shining, birds singing.... and Kins rolling around on our bed talking and playing while she waited not too patiently for the rest of us to wake up fully and start the day. And today we did wake up with more purpose than most Sundays, as today we were celebrating Jesus rising from the grave and the empty tomb. As AJ said as I helped him get dressed "It's like Jesus' birthday, but it's better because it's his birthday in heaven." Amen buddy! And he opened up the gates to heaven for all of us that believe in Him - your heart can't get more full of joy than it can knowing that grace!

As we were celebrating at church today (more than other days), we got dressed up and of course I had to take a picture (or ten)... look how big my babies are getting. And that little toot in the middle, she would only smile if she got to stand like a big girl too. And then when we all say "cheeeeessseee" she too yells cheese and shows us all her pretty teeth and that one sweet dimple.

With our daddy (who did a great job with the kids yesterday planting flowers and putting down new mulch in anticipation of an egg hunt later today)!

One with Mommy

And then a strategically placed camera on a stinky trash can so we can do one family shot as KK requested... before jumping in the car and heading to church to sing and worship :-)

After church, we got home and the kids noticed something outside on the patio. Can you believe it? Someone left three beautiful Easter baskets with candy and a small treat inside... wonder who these are for?

Kins immediately took every single thing out of her basket one at a time.

AJ decided 5 seconds was all he could wait to eat a candy.

KK didn't even wait that long haha...

This is the moment when Kins discovered the "things" in the basket were candy...

and below is our sweet girl rushing back to her "spot" on the little step on the patio with candy in hand... there is no joy quite like the freedom of an entire piece of chocolate and no one taking it from her or chasing her for it...

This is a picture of pure JOY! Makes my heart so full!

Well after discovering those Easter baskets, it was time for Mom and Dad's annual Egg Hunt in the front yard! We decided to give the baby a five minute head start so she could figure this stuff out. This was Kin's first official egg hunt as she wasn't quite walking last year.

Everyone was very egg-cited (haha, I am cracking myself up sadly)!

Miss Kins went straight for the little duckie egg - so cute!

Of course, she didn't want to put it in her basket, she wanted to hold it. She loves being outside, she wasn't sure what we were doing with this round things on the ground, but it was fun.

READY SET GO! Big kids on a mission!

KK takes this egg hunt as a race that means everything. There is not time spent admiring the eggs or where they are, it is a mad dash to grab as many as you can as fast as you can. Little sisters and brothers watch out.

I did make her slow down to smile once

AJ is in the middle. Not in a mad race like his big sis, but more focused than his baby sis. Just taking an egg one at a time and enjoying the hunt.

And then you wait for your baby sister to catch on to the game... KK's face is priceless, she wasn't loving the waiting part of this game.

Luckily Daddy can help us find the eggs

Hmmm... why would I put them in the basket? She kicked an egg early in the hunt and it popped open to reveal jelly beans. She decided she would much rather eat those jelly beans than hunt for any more eggs... classic!

Just to keep it real for everyone, our morning wasn't "perfect"... but yet I love this picture. Kins did not want to pose for another picture by her basket, she wanted to eat her candy on the driveway away from the grass that tickles her feet. So she scream cried as I took this. And I keep giggling as I see it. It's not a family moment without some sort of comical drama.

Luckily when we all started saying "CHEESE" as loud as we could and sang it a bit, she decided to stop crying and join us because she can't pass up a chance to cheese :-) So here are my three little beans - happy with full baskets of candy!