This past weekend was school prom for my a girl that has a special place in my heart, my sister. So, I went home to play paparazzi once again. And oh my love of digital technology…I think I took over 200 pictures.

Love you beautiful!

Happy Easter “Y’all” from the BIG ole’ town of Little Texas. You might remember me posting about it here. The day started off with a early morning church easter service, then home for a fancy white linen table cloth style lunch. But we quickly stripped ourselves of ALL aspects of refinement, and headed out for an afternoon at the farm with family.

I like to call myself the family paparazzi, chasing everyone around with my camera in hand. Especially this little one…

and his partner in crime [aka twin sister], meet Miss Lily.

They were rather intrigued at their brothers bull riding skills

and decided to give it a try themselves.

Surprisingly Whit made it up there all by himself, while Lily opted for some time to be held by her favorite cousins.

Whit found it to be lots of fun! For those that do not know, bull riding is one dangerous sport. Whit’s attempt to stay mounted for at least eight seconds while the bull tried to buck him off  is claimed to be ”the most dangerous eight seconds in sports”. AND HE SURVIVED. [I am totally kidding. You know that right? This bull is completely stationary and we are NOT abusing 2 year olds out here.]

Some of us here enjoy the more recreational and proper horseback riding sport.

Or better yet…hula hoop competitions.

remember, it’s all in the HIPS!

Or maybe just being an onlooker?

We have pretty much covered all the bases, so you thought. We also had baseball games,

sandbox time,

football throwing,

lawn mowing,

easter eggs hunts [more of a easter egg "pick-up"...they're not really hidden]

bubble machines,

and even a tooth-pulling session.

Sara was bound and determine for this tooth to COME OUT, and COME OUT TODAY! She so dearly wanted to lose it last night, but her dad assured her that was not a good idea. The easter bunny and the tooth fairy coming on the same night just might not play out very well. He had totally convinced her that they’d have a brawl on their front porch. So she gave it up yesterday, but 24 hours later – post “bunny visit” – the tooth is OUT.

While ALL these fun and games were going on, I decided to check on the hamburgers and hotdogs. We had lots of little tummies to feed, and the smell of grilling out filled the air.

In reality, maybe the real reason we were dying hoping to eat was because we knew what was coming for dessert.

5 gallons of homemade ice cream!!!!!!!!!

The ice cream maker was our new hand crafted, 5 gallon wooden bucket – powered by an old John Deere motor.

When time was up, dinner had been eaten, tummies were still talking, and hands were coming from all directions.

that stuff was PURE heaven……and these two WILL MOST DEFINITELY agree. They walked away HAPPY!

With that, “Happy Easter Bloggers!”

Hope your Sunday was swell like ours. What did you do? I hope it was filled with family, friends, pretty weather, yummy food, chocolate, and a celebration of the resurrection of our LORD and SAVIOR!

Yeap, thats’ right, I am counting down the days until Easter Sunday! I cannot wait to be home, and spend lots of time with my family. Not to mention my desperate need for an excuse not to think about my thesis project. Last year you might remember was the first Easter in my ENTIRE life to be without ANY family. I had a truly “Roman-style” Easter spent at the Vatican. Though the meaning still remains the same wherever you are, the fun-filled traditions were definitely missed. Well this year Mom and I are taking things to the extreme. I am like the 3 year old crafty daughter that will never grow up. I am the one who dyed dozens and dozens of eggs with Mom two years ago, just the two of us. She’d boiled dozens of eggs, and when they were ready for their dippin’s….well, no one else was around. I guess they had better? things to do?? I must note first and foremost, Yes we celebrate the season of the death and resurrection of Jesus-the renewal of the Christian faith, but all of the “festivities” are fun to blend into the “real” meaning of the season! With that, this Saturday Mom and I are going to work our domestic skills in the kitchen [Andrea will you join us? PLEASE!!!!!! You can eat the cookie dough scraps!] When we’d ventured into William-Sonoma a few weeks about we came across these fun stamp-n-style tools. We bought the kit, which is of course on sale now, to assist our cookie cutting skills. 

Ever since that shopping day I’ve been looking forward to stampin’ out some cookies!!! Look out for a post on how well they actually turn out! Happy Holy Week!!