An Egg Hunt and a Little Sunshine

Violet got to spend more time outside this weekend then she ever has before. We went on walks, played in the grass and got strapped in the bjorn for some trips out. Violet also got to experience her first Easter festivities. We hit up a local egg hunt with our friends the Allens. The idea was cute but honestly there were just so many people. Poor Dexter only made it out of the egg hunt with half an egg. Violet just pretty much took it all in from the comfort of her stroller. Mike insisted that we wait in line for her to get a picture with the Easter bunny. She decided to zonk out about 5 people away from getting hers taken. So Mike asked the bunny if it could kneel down next to her. Not too scary as far as Easter bunnies go but seriously who thought the uni brow was an endearing quality?? It was a great weekend and we are hoping to get to spend more and more time outside as it slowly warms up.
Violet has also become a serious wiggle worm. When we try to get her to stand it is like she can't help but dance. The girl goes crazy in the leg department. She is a funny little thing and I love to see her personality coming out more and more each day.

 I know what you all are thinking. Why in the world did I not get a picture of Violet with the monkey? Apparently he isn't too fond of children. So naturally they brought it to a family Easter egg hunt...?

 Licking her jacket as usual

 ahhh the victors spoils

 crazy eyes right?? At least her posterity will know she was there!

 Yes I was there too

 work it

No Bunny Like You

I will do another post of our Easter weekend outings later this week. I wanted to start out with the cute pictures we took of Violet yesterday. Here is a little background. For my first Easter my mom hand smocked a little bunny dress for me. Violet and I would have been about the same age and size. So my mom started calling around to my cousins to see if anyone had my old bunny dress. Most of my clothes growing up got passed around to family once Kate and I had grown out of them. The dress whas nowhere to be found. So instead of just sending Violet a little Easter package my mom went above and beyond like she always does and made Violet a replica of my Easter dress. For those not familiar with smocking this is a really time consuming process and is done by hand. You can obviously tell that the detail is amazing. The bunnies even have little cotton tails and whiskers. I am so in love with it and it has a special place in my heart not just because my mom made it but because my first Easter dress was the same one. I love for little girls to look like little girls. Don't get me wrong I love to dress Vi in super hip cute little skinny jeans and boots but They are only little babies for so long and I love for little girls to have that sweet feminine look. 

We hosted our first holiday at our house. We invited some friends over for Easter dinner. We cooked a ham and I even made my Aunt Holly's salted caramel french macaroons. Boy was that a labor intensive process. It took a long time and I probably stressed way more than I should have about them. They were so yummy and they even kind of looked like hers. Next time I will use a finer almond flour so they aren't so speckled but overall I was very happy with my first attempt. Easter was a wonderful day. We took a walk, watched some basketball and enjoyed a nice dinner with friends. 

Of course we always miss out family over holidays but we got to face time them later that evening. I am so grateful for face time. Violet actually gets to see her family all over the country and they get to see her too. It really is amazing.

 I am also so grateful for my Savior this time of year. Sitting in Sunday school yesterday I was overwhelmed with memories of my time in Israel. It was a life changing time for me and during our last week there we went through the last few weeks of Christ's life. I am so grateful for the atonement and for my Savior's sacrifice for me. I am filled with gratitude for his love and his promises to us. I hope everyone had a beautiful Easter.

Warning: If you don't want to see a million pictures of my baby then leave now. 

For those of you who I know want to see these pictures( kate dayna mom) isn't she just so freaking cute?!! Come visit us please!

 where the gold at?

 these were my little shoes when I was a baby

Whatever it's Easter I'm over it

 this girl loves her bunny