April photo favorites

^ This was a card Ellie made my mom (my mom is in the middle and the girls on each side).

^ I love seeing the new things Ellie adds to her photos (i.e. trees now)

^ Paige's first rainbow! 

^ Ellie really wanted to do the trail that was on the steepest hill. 

We weren't sure how both girls would do, but they impressed us. 

They did the whole thing themselves and it was a long hike! 

A hike, just us girls. The girls wanted their sweaters tied around the waist like mine. 

And it was pretty windy, hence the fun windblown look in the photo below. 

This photo wasn't staged. 

I was sitting in the doorway while the girls played and they brought these little flowers to me. I decided to snap a photo because I wanted to remember this sweet moment of thoughtfulness the girls were showing together. The word 'HOME' on our doormat happened to be in the background and it made me think about the fact we are home more than we would have been and I'm cherishing these simple beautiful moments with our family. 

^ They took coordinating colors and mix of patterns to the next level. 

^ Another day, another hike. 

Paige ran ahead, turned around, posed, and said "TA-DA!"

^ Coffee date social distancing style - in the parking lot, in our cars, with the windows down.

^ Paige's first selfie. 

^ We have been so grateful for Ellie's preschool teacher who sent us so many activities and even special name ones for BOTH girls. Paige has enjoyed doing more "school", too!

^ Zoom tea party for Ellie with two good friends. So many giggles. 

^ Treasure hunting.

^ Ellie requested a special pancake like the ones from IHOP, and Steven did not disappoint.

^ It was only 71* but Ellie had been anxiously awaiting playing in the water and they had a blast. 

^ Paige being a brave girl holding her first worm. 

^ A different day and a different worm...a huge worm. These girls are fascinated with bugs. 

^ Paige did this 12 piece puzzle, needing help with just one piece! 

I was impressed and she was proud of herself. 

Easter weekend

^ Easter weekend started off with a surprise Easter egg hunt in our front yard by our best friends. Paige was literally jumping up and down with excitement!

The girls had a blast finding all the eggs and opening them to see what goodies were inside. 

So many squeals. 

^ Our friends also dropped off some yummy cookies for us!

Then we made some of our own sugar cookies to decorate.

EASTER DAY!

^ We did an indoor Easter egg hunt. 

^ The girls got into some of their Easter basket goodies while we made breakfast. 

^ We are going to make this an Easter morning tradition...bunny cinnamon rolls! 

The girls definitely approved. And having fun Easter/Spring paper plates was a highlight as well to make it a little more fun. Side note: We used some leftover green cookie frosting, because there wasn't enough in the cinnamon roll package, according to us ; )

Next, online church at home. 

^ I had spotted this shirt last year, and I decided to get them for the girls this year. I love it so much! 

Egg dying. 

It was Paige's first time and it took a little too much patience to get the colors darker, but they still turned out cute and the girls enjoyed doing it. 

^ We were able to Zoom with all of Steven's immediate family in the early evening. It had been a really long time since all of us were together. Granted it was over the computer, but it was still really nice to be able to see them. 

^ This Easter looked different then we had imagined it. We weren't able to get together with friends or family in any traditional sense due to the Coronavirus. Ellie knew we had been planning to celebrate with friends, which we were all looking forward to. At dinner though, on Easter day she said, "This is the best Easter ever!" She has said the most heartwarming things on some of my hardest days through this quarantine. And something I've heard lots of people say and I agree with, is that these moments we are spending with those in our home, are treasured, sweet moments. Sometimes we feel like we need jam-pack days or do many big things, but some of the most special memories are these simple things we're doing. Focus on the good and realize the joy in these simple days makes life even better. I'm thankful for the joy Easter brings and reminds us of. I'm grateful for Jesus and the hope we have because of Him. 

• John 11:25-26: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'"
• 1 Peter 1:3: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."