Rewind – Easter 2014!

 Each year, Easter gets a little more fun in our house! It’s one Holiday I strive to teach the kids the true meaning of the most. If it weren’t for Christ’s resurrection life wouldn’t be worth living and we, as people, would have no hope in this crazy life we live.

One of my favorite things about our new house is the land. We have just under 2 acres so LOTS of running room and room to hide….. Easter Eggs! With 5 kids, I swear, we bring home hundreds of eggs each year. I’m confident we’ll never have to buy eggs at the rate we’re going. We stuffed a TON of eggs and scattered them throughout the yard before sending our fab 5 out to retrieve them. I look forward to when they’re older and we can go all out using the big trees and creek we have out back to hide eggs. I’m over this “hide the eggs in plain view” stuff and am ready to get competitive ;)

 

Like in most homes,  it’s tradition to dye Easter Eggs. We dyed several dozen, way more than we (along with the neighbors) would ever eat, but it was fun!

Our crew ready to start their hunt…

Baxlyn, as always, wasted no time and had an overflowing bucket within about 70 seconds. She then proceeded to help her siblings fill their buckets! Ignore their non-matching-on-the-wrong-feet shoe wear. At home they grab what they see, put it on, and go!

Brody, like all the years before, still is content with just a few eggs. It’s not quantity he’s worried about. He’s still happy with collecting a few eggs and then taking a seat to check out the loot that’s inside…

Kylee also likes to check out her loot AS she hunts. One good thing about this age is they don’t quite remember things from a year ago (unless it comes to animals, of course). I still had a ton of their non-eatable goodies (think tattoos, stickers, plastic rabbits..etc.) put up in the closet from last year. I stuck those babies in eggs this year and it was as if they’d never seen them before!

Sweeeeet sweeeeet Baby Blade <3

This picture captures Baxlyn’s personality perfectly. She always aims to please and tries her best at EVERYTHING she does. Here she tried to give the best little pose she could while I took a picture of her with her eggs. Love this sweet girl!

“MOMMY! WOOK AT THESE STICKERS!!!!” Those would be left over tattoos from last year’s VBS – saving money, folks ;)

Korbin, slightly annoyed, pauses to throw me a fake smile while opening his eggs.

 

 Sadly, Easter Morning, my sweet boy woke up with a fever and had to stay home from church. He and Daddy met us later at Nana’s house where he laid miserably all day long :( I hate to see him not feel good but looovve the snuggles he offers! 

Brody, Baxlyn, Kylee & Korbin at church Easter morning. Look at how big these babes are getting?! Makes me sad but so proud at the same time!

March for Babies 2014

  We had a very successful walk this year for the March for Babies! We had 40+ people walk on our family team and, thanks to YOU, we raised just over $1,300! Here is our best shot at getting our crew in front of the MFB sign…

We absolutely love our 2014 shirts! Our friend, Mason came up with the design idea and our talented friend, Josh, brought it all together to bring us our final product! Our friends at Prosper Marketing were kind enough to provide the shirts to our team. Thank you ALL so so much for helping us walk in style and have not only a great keepsake but something to wear year round to help raise awareness for the March for Babies campaign! 

We rocked our choo choo wagon once again this year. It’s a 5 mile long walk so all of the kids tire out and need breaks. It was also a great way to keep them contained and together among the crowds before the walk got started. A bit heavy, yes, but that’s what Daddy’s muscles are for ;)

 My Broman and I. I say thank you so much for helping us support the March of Dimes but words could never express how much it means. This little boy is here thanks to current medical technology and research funded my the March for Babies campaign.

 I won’t lie, I was a little nervous about taking Blade to the walk this year. He’s not a huge stroller or choo choo fan and is a FAITHFUL napper so I was worried about how he would do not having the freedom to run (spoiled singleton!) and not having his crib to sleep in for a nap. The dude was a champ! He enjoyed every minute of the experience and didn’t shed a tear the entire time!

I loved seeing a sea of our black shirts as we walked the trail and am so grateful for the support so many of our friends and family showed by being there!

  Mamaw helping Brody “Surf” for Babies ;)

 

 As if our wagon doesn’t cause enough attention, Bret took the quads on a joy ride as they flew by other walkers. Their loud giggles were contagious!

I failed to get a good group shot of the back of the quads’ shirts but here’s a look at Korbin’s. Like every year we had “I’m a #lb #oz Miracle” printed on the back of their shirts. Bret said he was offended Blade didn’t have “I’m a 10lb 8oz Miracle” on the back of his – Maybe next year ;) 

All along the path are “Path of Hope” signs which hold pictures and stats of babies born prematurely. Some stories are of tiny ones who pulled through and others tell a story of babies who earned their wings far too early. Many of the signs gave me goosebumps. So many babies who fought so hard and made it home to their families and so many babies who lost their lives due to preterm labor and other complications. I love this picture below of Brody & Baxlyn looking closely at their sign.

Sweet Blade and Bret. Oh how he ADORES his Daddy!

Bethany or “Aunt Bethie”. This girl is my other half and I don’t know what I’d do without her!

Emmett, Everett & Emerson’s Mama ditched their choo choo a few months ago so they bunked into their new Radioflyer when their little legs gave out!

 

A picture at the finish line with most of our team!

Thanks again to all who walked with us, all who donated or shared our page with friends and families! On behalf of many I say it’s so greatly appreciated!