Good Friday & Easter Prep

We had quite the busy weekend, so I've decided to break it up into two separate posts...

First up, Good Friday & Easter Prep.  Our office closes for Good Friday afternoon & the weather was beautiful!  So...we headed down to Branson Landing for the afternoon/evening for a little shopping and a yummy dinner.  

All ready with sunglasses, Cheerios cup, and water!

My two favorite people checking out the fountains

Watching the fountain show with my baby girl

Saturday morning I had to work and then we headed to my aunt's house for my SIL Millie's baby shower.  They got so much fabulous stuff for Harper, now we just need her precious face to arrive so we can love on her!

After the shower, Elyse & I came home to a surprise visit from Mamaw & Pappy.  They dropped off her Easter basket and she loved the giant eggs!  

Yummy Sugar Cookies for Easter dinner!

We grilled a pizza for dinner (which was absolutely delicious) and then it was time to dye eggs.  Elyse was quickly fading (she didn't have an afternoon nap), so it was short-lived for her but at least we got some eggs dyed.  Hopefully next year she'll enjoy it more!  

Hubby & I spent the rest of the evening watching a movie and just relaxing on the couch...because we had a big day ahead on Easter Sunday!

Finding Joy in Playing

I think one of my biggest concerns as Elyse continues to grow, is finding a good balance between playing with her and being productive around the house.  I'm not a natural "player".  I'm not a teacher.  I didn't grow up babysitting kids.  I don't have a naturally creative mind that dreams up crazy, exciting activities.  So the whole idea of playing with a small child is incredibly foreign to me, and more than once the little bit, ummm...or a lot, of anxiety has driven me to Pinterest searching for new activities for Elyse.  

I have my Wednesdays & Thursdays at home with Elyse, but many times those days include errands to run or appointments to meet or chores to do around the house.  As much as I hate to admit it, sometimes the playing part of being a mom kind of gets pushed to the back.  

I aspire to be like those moms who appear to be such "fun" moms because they come up with such fun playtime activities.  Or those moms who just let go and leave the load of laundry laying on the chair for an extra couple of hours or even extra days just because they are too busy "playing" with their kids.  But I'm realizing that it's not all about fun new activities.  It's just about being there, relaxing, and finding joy in the little things that bring her joy.  

I want to let go and let Elyse have a blast with painting, knowing that it's washable paint & will clean up so easily.  I want to just sit in the floor with her and watch as she moves from toy to toy...not truly engaging her at all moments, but simply just BEING there.  With no phone, no laptop, no television, no iPad, nothing but me and her.  I want to find that place where I'm finding the JOY in playing with her, instead of worrying about what's next on my to-do list and always counting down the minutes until naptime.  

And I'm getting there.  As I type this, there is a load of her laundry sitting in a chair that has been there since Sunday night, toys are filling the living room floor and I expect that the mess will get continuously worse as we got through the day.  Or at least I hope that's the case.  

Elyse won't be a little girl for long.  I mean it was only a few months ago that I was saying...Elyse won't be a baby for long, and she's already quickly moved from a baby to a full-blown toddler.  And so I want to treasure and find the joy in these simple moments when we can just sit and play, those times when she brings me Peek-A-Who for the 15th time in an hour to read, those times when she pulls all the hangers off the chair and brings them to me a few at a time...saying Thank You every time she hands few a few, those times when she walks around with a wet washcloth in her mouth because there is apparently there is something SO fascinating about a wet rag.  

I want to find the joy in the little things, and not be so worried about the little things that don't get done while I'm truly enjoying the childhood of my little girl.  

Today I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner, Blue Eyed Bride, Life in the Green House and Lil Light O' Mine for the Build 'Em Up Series.  

62 Things...

I subscribe to a daily newsletter from momlifetoday.com.  It's a newsletter dedicated to us mommas who need a bit of encouragement each day and normally includes a heart-warming story or a devotional or maybe just a quick prayer for your life.  I don't take the time to read it every single day but several times there is just something that pops out to grab my attention. 

A couple of weeks ago was one of those particular days & I couldn't help but Pin the article to my "Hubby & Wifey" board on Pinterest.  You can find me HERE!

Well in the past several days I have had an unbelieve number of new followers for this particular board.  I'm not sure it's because of this one new pin, or what...but it's been kind of crazy to see how popular this one board has been.  Does anybody know how this happens?  I get at least 2-3 requests a day for this one board. 

Anyways, I decided that since it was so popular on Pinterest I would repost part of it here.  You can find the original article “62 Things to Say to Make Your Husband Feel Great” by Janel Breitenstein, over @ MomLife Today. 

1. Thanks for doing that. It means a lot to me when you serve me in little ways like that.
2. I am such a different woman because of the way you _____ (love me, gently lead me, make me feel secure, etc.).

Click here to read more over @ MomLife Today!  I also highly recommend signing up for the daily newsletter, they have some great insight to share!

Our 1st "Spring" Weekend

I realize that in two days the weekend will be here, and I guess this one coming up is really the first official Spring weekend...but around here, it's going to feel anything BUT Springy!  However, we did get a nice little tease last weekend with some beautiful weather on Friday & Saturday before it turned ucky & cold again on Sunday.  

Elyse LOVES being outside, we are going to have so much fun playing with her and Bogey as the weather continues to warm up!  

Friday evening we invited Nick's parents over for burgers & fries and they were keeping our nephews for the night so they joined us as well!  Elyse LOVES her cousins so this was some great play time for them together.  

FYI: Picture Overload!  

Ummm...when did my baby become a little girl?!?

Clapping for Bogey bringing the ball back

Running away from Bogey

Checking out this grass stuff in her new jellies!

Jackson:  It's ok Baby Elyse!  Love it!  

Seriously, how does she does for so long?!?

He dad throw me the ball!

Please?!?!?!?!?

Thank you!  

Some dessert on the Big Green Egg!

A little "where's Elyse's belly?" action

First S'more...yumm!!

 On Saturday it was still fairly warm, so I packed a quick picnic and we headed to a nearby "farm-park."  It was actually a little cooler than a I thought so we ate our lunch in a hurry.  Rutledge Wilson Farm Park is maintained by our county park board and is a wide open space with a few cows, goats, sheep, and miniature pones, along with a fishing pond, and even an area where you can rent-out garden space to grow veggies for your family.  Several of our friends LOVE the farm, but we hadn't ever taken Elyse simply because she wasn't quite old enough to enjoy it.

However, I can definitely LOTS of trips here this summer when we need some fresh air!

She really didn't want to get down when we were near the animals...I think they were a little too close, and a little too big!  

Little Miss Independent!  

Saturday night we headed out for a family date night to Chick-fil-A and a stop at Toys R Us to check on some options for outdoor toys for Elyse!

Sunday the weather turned back cold and rainy but we all dressed up nice & springy in our green anyway!  We spent the afternoon just hanging out in the warmth of our house before heading to small group to finish up the weekend!  I'm so ready for these Spring temps to come here to stay!

Seriously, how is my baby not a baby anymore?!?!  

 Hope you all have a great weekend...there's actually snow in the forecast for us!  Seriously...snow on the 4th weekend of March!  Ughhh...come on Spring, let's do this already!