Easter Sunday Lunch at Marilee's

24 people came to Marilee's for Easter lunch. It was a fun family get together where my mom played photographer and these are just a few of the pictures she took. This one here is Justin, Ana Paula and their son Joshua.
This is a few of us relaxing on the couch while several people are helping set up in the kitchen.
My mom Karen and my sister Rachael.
Me (I wasn't feeling well that day but didn't much care about that because I was just happy to be around family) Chris holding Alex and him squirming out of his reach to be with his cousin Emma.
Marilee and Amy getting ready in the kitchen. The food was sooo good. There was ham, potatoes, homemade rolls, jello, green beans almondine, veggies and 9 desserts! I overindulged on the key lime pie (one of my personal faves) and the carrot cake. There was also terrific lemon pie, sugar free apple pie (which doesn't taste sugar free at all) and banana creme pie and some others. Needless to say no one went home hungry. Marilee sure does know how to throw an awesome party!

Egg Hunt

I had problems rotating these. Emma and Alex hunting Easter Eggs. Alex mostly liked throwing the eggs.

A day at the park

Mom with the two kids on the teeter-totter.
Alex's favorite game of the day which was playing with bark.
Alex down the slide. He wasn't all that happy about it.
Emma sliding again.

Freestone Park Day!

Last Tuesday we met up with family to go to the park. We had a picnic, then fed ducks, and the kids rode the train and a couple of rides. This is Emma and Alex riding on these little boats. I could tell it was Alex's favorite ride.
Alex's first carousel ride ever! Rachael was able to leave work early and meet up with us. She took Alex and Emma on the rides while I took pictures. Alex spotted me and started giggling.
From left to right top to bottom: Rachael, Karen, Melinda, Gavin, Jen, Emma and Alex. We had just finished lunch and decided to take the kids on the train ride.
My aunt Veniece came to visit from Texas with Samantha and Matt and we were able to share lunch with them and her daughter Jen and little son Gavin. In this picture Gavin was feeding the ducks and decided that he would rather swim with them. The poor little guy was a little cold but his mommy dried him off and changed him in no time.
This is the whole group (minus Rachael and mom took the picture). We had just arrived and was getting ready to eat lunch. On the left Matt, Jen, Gavin, Samantha, Veniece, Alex, me and Emma. I think everyone had a blast!

The end of Spring Break!

I got to go home early this last week and went Thursday instead of Friday. Thursday night I couldn't sleep at all and got really sick in the sinus area and throat again. I had just barely gotten well and then boom it happened all over again. So I keep taking all of these medications and Chris brought all meals to my bed and I put a humidifier in my bedroom. I have taken sooo much Mucinex that Chris says I smell like it. I wonder if that stuff can excrete out of your pores. I've felt a little better on Friday and Saturday and then this morning Chris has come down with it too! I have never had such similar symptoms repeated this often in my life. Over the weekend Emma got a bad ear infection as well. This evening she kept waking up in pain and it's a good thing that she doesn't go back to school until Tuesday.
Tuesday morning I have to take the glucose tolerance test to check for gestational diabetes. Other than that I have nothing much else going on this week.

Pregnancy Update!

I don't have any pictures to post but wanted to do an update anyway. I should really have someone take a prego picture of me shouldn't I?

The Good News:

1. My sinus infection is gone and I have more energy than ever. Chris just rolls his eyes and sighs saying Nesting thats what this is. The last two weekends I went home I cleaned like a crazy woman. Chris was concerned and said " Are you sure you should be doing all this." I just gave him a dirty look and replied " I must clean. I must organize. You are lucky to have me as a wife. Poor you, your wife likes to clean how horrible for you." He just shook his head smiling saying " my crazy pregnant wife." ( I did however make him lift anything weighing over 5 lbs for me and tried not to bend too much. Cleaning the floors and vacuuming the carpets might have been overkill but really I feel good and it's such a nice change)

2. Baby is moving around a lot and my belly and appetite have grown exponentially in the past two weeks. My mom has accidentally run into me three times and I keep running into things myself because I can't believe how popped out I am. I can no longer see my feet.

3. I just had a wonderful weekend with my husband and we got to go on a date. We did our taxes, he patched the roof and did some yard work and it was not only a fun weekend but productive as well. We went to Bookmans, Baskin Robbins and the movies together and got to spend some time being with each other. Thanks to my parents and sister for taking Alex on their weekend away because Chris was able to get a lot of chores done that would have been next to impossible.

4. Alex is walking more every day. He is such a joy in my life and I'm so excited that our family is growing. I've wanted children for as long as I can remember and I take motherhood very seriously realizing that these two little boys have been entrusted to me and my husband by our Heavenly Father.

The Bad News:

What bad news? What is that?

Alex's New Trick!

Alex can now open doors! Isn't that great! Not so much. Although it was cute this morning when he came into our room laughing. I can't believe how smart he is at nearly 18 months. He is walking more and more every day and it is so much fun watching him. I love being a mom and am starting to really look forward to having a newborn again.