"Jesus is My Best Friend"

Those were MJ's words on Easter morning, and really, what's more precious than that?!  Something I'll always remember.  Some Easter highlights to share...

Mat was out of town the weekend before Easter, but there was a local Easter egg hunt and pictures with the Easter Bunny.  Totally free, so how could I pass that up?!  Anytime I have to get the kids ready completely by myself and out the door feels like quite a feat!  I'm not sure if other mamas feel this way or I just make things way too complicated, but I stress big time.  I hate that I do that because I feel like it takes away from my joy or "being in the moment", so it's something I'm working on!  Anyways, I digress...  I got the kiddos up and ready that Saturday morning and headed to Ace Hardware.  Yup, who would think the hardware store is the Easter spot?!  Seriously, it's one amazingly nice family-friendly hardware store!  They had a cute Easter egg hunt that was perfectly designed for little ones and free pics with the bunny.  Luckily MJ was all smiles as he met the Easter bunny and little Charlotte was too naive to have a clue who I was handing her over to.  I must admit, I didn't think a thing of this bunny when I saw him.  I was probably too focused on keeping track of MJ, waiting in line, and then snapping a picture to give it much though, but once I really looked at this photo and then got all the feedback on FB, I'm even more impressed that MJ didn't cry!  This is one freaky looking bunny!!  Doesn't it look like something out of a horror flick?!  Ha!  Well, it will always be something to remember.  My kid's first pic ever with the Easter Bunny-

MJ with his loot at the Dubuque Easter Egg hunt...proud boy!  We text this picture to Mat, who was in Iowa City for the weekend.  We missed him, but created some wonderful memories that morning!

The week of Easter we headed to St. Louis, which was Charlotte's first road trip.  I'd really been looking forward to the trip.  Last year when we were home for Easter was when I found out I was pregnant with Charlotte, so it seemed so fitting that we were now traveling back with her for the very first time. Couldn't wait to show off my new baby girl and have her meet many family members for the first time, and I couldn't wait to see MJ experience Easter at an age when I felt like he'd really begin to enjoy it.  The trip didn't disappoint.  I think it was one of our best road trips yet, actually.  Everyone was fairly healthy, traveled pretty well, and slept pretty well.  Yes, it was still a little too rushed and busy for my liking, but overall a great time spent with family and happy kiddos which makes for a happy mama! 

One of the things I was most looking forward to was meeting my friend Stephanie's little baby boy, Bennett.  Stephanie and I have been friends for a long time, and she had her baby just four days after Charlotte was born.  So special to think our little ones are so close in age.  I wish we lived closer so that they could grow up playing together, but it will be fun to get them together at least a couple times a year when we visit. 

We were also able to get together with Mat's two step sisters and Grandma and Grandpa Immekus at Creve Couer park.  It was their first time to meet Charlotte, and our first time to meet Jessica's newest addition, our niece Molly.  MJ enjoyed playing with his little cousins, Brian Jr. and Joseph.  It's fun seeing them reach an age where they can play together now! 

I celebrated my 33rd birthday while in St. Louis as well.  I think both Mat and my mom had thought maybe I'd want to go out, get together with people, have a date, etc. but when my mom asked what I wanted to do, I said what sounded the best really was to do nothing!  :)  Just staying in, not have to go anywhere, and spending time with my family sounded the best.  So, mom made a wonderful meal and tried so hard to find a dairy-free dessert to make for my birthday!  I was spoiled with flowers, balloons, sweet gifts and cards, and the company of my parents, grandpa and Elzena, my brother, husband, and children.  What more could I ask for?  It has been years since I've celebrated my birthday at home!  Now that I have children and know how much I treasure their birthdays, I can imagine one day I'll be sad to be apart from them on that day, so trying to see it from my parent's perspective, I imagine it felt special to be together on that day. 

That Saturday we celebrated Easter with my family by going to my parent's church and then out to dinner....Chick Fila, baby!!  Hey, it's yummy, kid friendly, and quick.  Poor MJ was so tired and had a bit of a meltdown before he got in much good playtime and Charlotte slept through the whole thing, but the rest of us enjoyed ourselves.  :)  Church service was wonderful too!  I spent the majority of it in the nursing mother's room, but it was so quiet and peaceful that I honestly enjoyed that quite a bit!  MJ played in the nursery and enjoyed himself which was wonderful as well.  He must have learned some pretty valuable lessons while in the nursery because the next morning is when he told us "Jesus is my best friend," and when asked where he learned that he said at "GiGi and PopPop's church.

 Charlotte Noelle in her Easter dress and ready for church

Our first Easter as a family of 4-Yes, I even color coordinated us :)

Here we were in the exact same spot just one year earlier.  We'd found out we were pregnant just 2 days earlier, on Good Friday.  Who knew what God had in store for us.  Blessed!!!

 One happy mother

 Uncle Jeff with his little buddy

Everyone ready for church!

Of course that evening the Easter Bunny made a visit.  I absolutely LOVE this stage of preparing little goodies for the kiddos.  Of course Charlotte doesn't get it, but MJ is at such a great stage where he now gets excited about it, doesn't question any of it, and just purely enjoys it! 

Baskets all made up for Charlotte and MJ

Here's MJ waking up on Easter morning and coming downstairs to find eggs and his basket.  Then, he was happy to help find Charlee's basket, too...

After Easter goodies, we got ready to spend Easter Day with Mat's family.  First, we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Keyes' house.  We got there earlier than everyone else so we could have a little special time with them and they could meet Charlotte before everyone else arrived.  Then, we enjoyed another one of grandma's well cooked meals (she works hard!!) and some good ole crazy family time!  MJ was eating crazy amounts of candy.  Every time I saw that boy he had chocolate in his hand....even a can of orange soda at one point.  I kinda just had to give into the fact that his diet that day would be 99% sugar!  :)

 Grandma Keyes' newest great grandchild

 Our niece, Lily, with MJ and "Uncle Mat"

 Mema getting some much needed cuddles from Charlotte

Checking out the loot from the Keyes Easter Egg hunt

After that it was one more stop-time to visit the Immekus Easter over at Aunt Lorrie's house.  We arrived just in time for their Easter egg hunt.  It was funny because it was about a 15-20 minute drive from one place to another and MJ crashed almost as soon as the car started moving.  As soon as we pulled into Lorrie's driveway though we woke right up and said, "I need to see more people!"  Boy, how things have changed in a matter of a year.  Easter last year for this little guy?...Disaster!  Easter this year?  Pure fun! 

 Yep, he was all changed into a grass-stain and orange soda free outfit and ready for another egg hunt!

One tired baby by this point!

We headed back to my parent's house that evening and put both kiddos straight in the bath!  Needless to say they both knocked out and slept hard.  Mat and I, too!  :) 

Before leaving town, I wanted to get one special pic of my Dad with Charlotte.  I've gotta find the copy of this picture of my dad and me as a baby, but when I was just a small baby my dad held me (Father's day maybe?) on the front porch of our house as my mom took a picture.  I was wearing this green and yellow hat and poncho that Grandma Dorsie had crocheted.  My mom kept that outfit all these years and when I found out I was having a baby girl, I knew I'd be putting her in it at some point this spring!  How special to now have my dad holding my daughter in this outfit.  I hope that Grandma was looking down with love. 

Then, the car was packed and there was one last stop out at Mark and Bobi's house.  Unfortunately, Mark had to work, but Bobi had taken the day off and was quite glad to spend a good chunk of it with her grandbabies, I think.  We were able to play for awhile with cousin Lily and Mema prepared a yummy lunch for us before we hit the road and headed home.  She looks like one happy Mema, doesn't she?

About an hour into the ride, MJ started whining a bit that he wanted to be hommmme!  I think we're embarking on the "Are we there yet?" stage.  Fun times!  Let's just say he let him eat an ice cream dinner on the way home just to make him happy and keep ourselves sane.  Both kiddos were happy to be back home and out of the car!