Easter Pictures

I am by no means a professional photographer (which anyone glancing at this blog could have guessed).  I have never taken a photgraphy class and have never even touched photo editing software.  But I like to try.  I like looking at photography and dreaming that someday I can do it too.  And someday maybe I can.

But here is my attempt at Easter pictures with the kids swanky outfits (with my snarky comments mixed in).

 I made Reese and Brisbane bowties this year.  There are of course things that I would have done differently, but they turned out well and the boys are SO CUTE in them!

 Reese got tortured with the most pictures because he was ready first.  It was hard to choose the ones I liked best.

 Jessenia is gorgeous so it wasn't hard to make her look too cute for words.

 Love these two together. 

 Best Friends Forever.

 I don't know why this isn't hanging in my house.  Oh, yes I do.  Because I don't have a single picture of my children hanging in my house.  I'll add this one to the list of Pictures That I Need to Print and Hang in My House.

And here is an outtake.  If my kids were mini recording artists and had some artsy fartsy album cover, this would be it. I mean look at the serious looks on each of their faces.  What they are really saying is, "Mom, we have never been so eager to go to Sacrament Meeting, can you stop taking pictures?"

Easter Baskets and Egg Hunt

The egg hunt this year was not nearly as hilarious as Jessenia standing right in front of the eggs last year and not being able to find them.  

 Reese in typical male, type A, Mr. Athletic fashion ran around and collected as many eggs as fast as he could.

 Jessenia seemed to take the, "Mom is making us put all the eggs in a pile to divide up later and so I am just going to stand here and spin a circle while Reese finds all of the eggs" approach.  Mack carried Brisbane around because once he saw the stuff in his basket he was zero percent interested in any egg hunting.

 And let the sugar high begin!

 Once Brisbane realized there was candy in those eggs, he became much more interested.  There he is with his mouth full of chocolate.

Worst picture of Jessenia ever (I didn't do well this morning) but she was excited also... just very focused on her candy and not the appearance of her hair.

Egg Dying

I tired to take a more relaxed approach to egg dying this year.  The kids could make a huge mess and we would just deal with it later.

 That all began with letting Brisbane take charge of his own eggs and dye.  It was a miracle that we didn't end up with any cracked eggs from this one.

 Jessenia was very patient waiting for her eggs to color.  Notice how neat and clean our little girl's area was.

 Reese just wanted to move on to the next egg so that he could have all the best colors and the most eggs (we are in a bit of a competitive phase at our house).  You can see that Reese's area is not so neat and clean.  PLUNK!

 I had to include this picture because of the look on Reese's face in the background.  He apparantly didn't like the smell.

 But he kept on going back for more.  Weirdee!

 I just love this picture of Jessenia.  Look at that hair (yes, she gets complimented all. the. time.).

 And then when we talk about messes, this one takes it to a whole new level.  "Spoon?  What spoon?"

 Look, it's the incredible hulk! His hand may or may not have been tinged slightly green at church the next day.  But look at the wonder in his eyes.  It's magic!

 "I hope this one changes colors too!"

 They were both way more careful than Brisbane and did a great job!

 So proud of herself.

 Handsome boy with a snazzy egg.

The kids were excited for their Easter baskets the next day...

I is for Ice

There will come a day when I upload pictures from my camera to blog and don't think, "Really?!  I haven't blogged about THAT yet!?"  Ok.  That might not actually be true.  Because let's face it, that will probably never happen.  But this post is appropriate anyway since the forecast tomorrow is 119 degrees in Glendale, AZ.  Why oh why oh why!

Back when we were still doing a letter a week (I gave it up to focus on letter sounds and other Kindergarten prep with Reese), we were talking about I.  I was for intersection and ICE.  So I gave the kids a big bowl of ice and let them go to town on the pavement outside.  My vision was something like chalk drawing but I basically just let them do whatever they want (pretty standard around here).

 Brisbane wanted the whole thing for himself, naturally.

 I may have gently nudged Reese in the direction of creating an I from the ice.

 Now Brisbane doesn't seem a fan of the cold.  Jessenia isn't looking like she is loving it too much either.

But when all your Mom will give you to play with is a bowl of ice, you just have to dive right in!

Stink Eye

If we are going to talk sheer adorableness, my kids are right up there.  And if you don't have kids and wonder what people with three kids do during breakfast, here is a little breakdown for you.

I was giving Brisbane my best Stink Eye one morning and told him to give it right back.

 Not bad for a first attempt, eh?  Maybe a little more, "I am going to eat you", than actual Stink Eye, but the kids only two.

 "You mean a little less teeth, Mom?  How's this?"

 "Why are you laughing at me!?  Laughing is not allowed!"
Then I turned to Reese and asked him to give me his best Stink Eye.

 WOAH!  WOW!  If looks could kill, that's it.  Reese holds the award for Hands Down Best Stink Eye in the Family.  It's pretty aggressive.  I love it.

 Not to be shown up, Brisbane gave it another attempt.

"Ah, Mom.  I can't beat Reese.  So I am just going to charm the world with my smile."
Charm away good buddy, charm away.
And that is breakfast at our house.

P.S.  Jessenia was trailing behind these two in the Stink Eye department for a long time.  She wasn't in on the initial pretest and first lesson that the boys got.  But now she does an incredible Stink Eye that includes sticking her tongue out at you as if you are the most disgusting thing she has ever seen.  It's pretty cute... I mean....Stinky!

Brisbane Is Two!

Brisbane's birthday was back in March.  Wow, that sentence was pathetic, since it's JUNE!  Ugh.

Brisbane's birthday always does and always will make me think of his birth mother, Cory.  I wrote a lot about her and the day Brisbane was born last year so I won't rehash.  But I think when you experience the miracle of adoption through the sacrifice of someone else it is something that stays with you.  Brisbane is such a special little boy and there are days that I forget that he was adopted.  He is just such a part of us.

I remember not feeling completely on my A-game on Brisbane's birthday this year.  No special field trip or craft.  But I don't think he really cared...he was just in it for the presents.  I went a bit overboard this year (with the help of the grandparents) as I will probably do every year (sorry Mack).

 Yep.  That was the best picture I got of Brisbane sitting in front of his presents.  He did a lot better when he turned one.  Big cheeser!  This was not a good picture taking phase for him.

 But he was very diligent in opening all of his presents.  Except after he opened one gift that had clothes in it and then got to another one with clothes, as soon as he saw a little bit to know it was clothing, he threw it aside.  That's a good boy.

 Reese and Jessenia did a good job of being patient through Brisbane's special day.  I am glad I prefaced this post with talk of me not feeling well that day, because look at Jessenia's hair!  Talk about scraggly!

 Brisbane wanted to share his new helicopter and plane with Reese and Jessenia.  It was very sweet.

 And then he opened this fire truck.  He pushed one of the buttons and I was fast enough to catch this look that he gave Mack.  He thought it was the coolest thing he had ever seen/heard.

 And then he flashed me a winning grin.
The best part of the day may have been dinner.  As previously mentioned, we always eat out for birthdays.  Mack and I chose for Brisbane again because he is clueless.  We wanted something with a play place because that is all Brisbane would care about but we didn't want McDonald's.  So we decided on Chik-fil-A.  It was the best thing we could have ever done.  It was like giving ourselves a birthday present.  The play area was clean.  The parents don't have to sit in the play area with the kids because it is enclosed with glass so you can watch from your table.  The play place is small and so big kids are easily bored and don't stay in there and torment my children.  And it was clean.  Plus we got better food.  As we were leaving I convinced Reese and Jessenia that Chik-fil-A is better than McDonald's.  Major score!

 Brisbane was definitely more excited about his cake this year.

 And this time he blew out his candles all by himself.

We love you Brisbane Aaden and are so glad you are in our lives!