The Easter bunny did good this year!  I was so excited about all these good deals that I knew my girlies would love!!! 

Poppa arrived on the scene and the girls ran to him showing him their favorite things!

 

Rose walked right over to her basket and picked up her new kanky!  Anna Kate has been wishing for a Dora umbrella and actually got to use it when it rained that afternoon!

Trying to figure out Rose’s wand.  I love the reflection of Noelle and Rose in the window and sweet Jax in Poppa’s lap.

 

Rose and Harper discovering their Easter presents!

 

Oh those Robin Eggs!  I put them in Anna Kate’s basket to weigh it down to counter balance the umbrella, and well, she thought they were hers.  They were a huge hit, so I let her take them home with us, and Monday morning she secretly got into them and got so much chocolate and crunchy shells every where!  It was a messy memory we’ll laugh about… later!  I love how Noelle always immediately tries on all of her new accessories each holiday.  She treasures her girly stuff so much and actually keeps up with it all really well!

 

Mike enjoying his excited little girls, and Rose digging the hit of the day (robin eggs).

Sweet Jax posing for a photo while the girls enjoy more swinging!

Noelle wrote the sweetest cards for all of us… they were so thoughtful!

 

Our big girl enjoying the morning with us!

This picture makes me want to cry, because it is the most special Easter memory I have ever had, and I will never ever forget it.  Noelle was peacefully swinging on the swing, and I said, “Close your eyes, feel the cool breeze on your face, listen to the birds, feel how good is feels that Jesus pulled through for us and gave us new life today, and never forget how it feels to be 5 years old and care-free right now in this moment.”  She was listening to everything and taking it all in.  Her breaths were intentional, and she was savoring every second of life.  Toward the end of our time together, I took this picture.  What a special special moment with my first little girl.

Noelle and Gradpapa reading Jonathan Mark before our day of celebrating continued…

Around here, the show must go on… I need a good two hours to knock out these Easter pictures, but it’s just not happening.  We’re going from one thing to the next to the next!  We’re having tons of fun though and aside from Rose’s teething, we’re all finally healthy!  Yay!

This is as good as it gets with a baby in full teething mode, but you get the idea… ThePondFam5 knows how to party country style! (and we love each other very much!)

 

Mike’s mom and dad joined us this year, so it was extra special!

Missing Michele in England but happy to see my little bro!

Aren’t our babies cute!?! 

The girls love roaming around the fields in the wide open spaces… there’s just something about this place that is magical for them.  It’s really special to me too!

My little treasures!

 

Rara with her stateside granddaughters and the girls with their cousin Melissa.

 

Kay Kay and Grandpapa with 3 of their honeys and Mom with the babies!

I *love* this pic I took of Brother Man with his girls!

 

My big girls were busy busy with their cousins, but I did snap some quick pics!

Mike with his dad, Paul.

We got the peach and white memo for dinner!  Lol…

Melissa and Noelle made a beautiful “centerpiece” for the hot dog supper!

I love their creative little centerpiece!

                     

I love this picture of Harper and Rose with Aunt Polly… babies are so silly!

Rose couldn’t wait to get started on her hot dog!

Peek a boo during dinner!

“Do the happy dance, do the happy dance!” which pretty much happens every time baby Rose eats!

Cousin Dannette (wife of Bobby, my mom’s first cousin) and Cousin Linda (my mom’s first cousin) enjoying all of the fun, family, and fellowship!

Cousin Troy digging his dog!  Love this little buddy!

Cake pop face!

Mustard face!

My baby and me happy after dinner.  I love this little stick tight!  (which won’t be the case next year because she will be 2 and very social just like her sisters, I’m sure!) 

  

Rose did not like the grass, but she decided this after she gave it a good try!

 

Anna Kate and Emma.  These sweet cousins met last year and really bonded.  They couldn’t wait to play together again this year, and it’s precious how Emma just gets Anna Kate.  It’s one of the sweetest things I’ve ever seen.  Monday morning, Anna Kate asked if Emma could come over.  When I told her she lived too far away, she started crying and said, “But I love her really bad!”  Sooo sweet and sad!

I hate that my baby girl has to teethe.  It hurts so badly!  I don’t remember it being this rough with the others, but time is so kind.  Hoping we’ll forget all about this too!

 

As soon as the sun went down, Rose came alive and enjoyed being her happy little self…for a little bit. 

Cousin Brittany and me

 

Let me games begin!  Mike and I totally won the 3 legged race, and it’s the first time we’ve ever done it in our 12 years of being together!  (I bet Brian and Amber would give us a run for our money, maybe next year?) <— subliminal message there, ha!

Bunny toss for the little ones.

Love Noelle putting on her lip gloss in the background… these are my girls!

               

Anna Kate and Brittany!  Where are you Regan and Ashley?  Oh yeah, chillin with your boyfriends!  🙂

Enjoying watching the games!

Aunt Polly and Olen carrying on… love this pic!

Baby Rose playing with the spoons from the egg carrying game.

 

Piñata time!  Go girl!

 

Noelle’s getting after it, alright Miss Thang!

Rara was so sweet to give Rosie a turn!

 

The girls laughing at the boys hitting the piñata.  Cousin Duke kept raising the egg right when they were about to bust it, and the girls got so tickled!

These two were found on the step of the stage at the end of the night last year too… from now on when Emma and Anna Kate sit on the step, it’s time to call it a night!

*If you’re new to the blog and wondering what all of this is about, every year we have a get together the night before Easter out at our party barn to celebrate Easter with my mom’s Staton family.  It’s a wonderful chance for the cousins to get to know each other, make memories and stay connected since we live in different places.  Then, the next day, we have a wonderful lunch and Easter egg hunt, all the time celebrating the Resurrection of Christ together on top of the most beautiful hill in the world (found in Jacksonville, TX).  And there you have it!

We had a blast last weekend, and I can’t wait to post all the fun pics… this week has been SO busy for the Pond family, mostly with mundane things, but literally out of the house with all the kids every day running from one thing to the next to the next like crazy.  This couple is whooped!  As soon as I have a moment to sit down and edit the pics (and choose my favorites, which is the hardest part), I’ll be posting away.  They’ll get on here sooner or later!  Have a great rest of your week!  Hump day’s over – yay!

I cannot believe that all these kids belong to me and Destiny!!!  God is sooo good!  We had a blast going out to play with the Westbrook kids and watch Breckin’s game on Saturday… thanks for inviting us guys!  We had fun!

                       

Breckin scored an awesome goal right in front of where we were sitting.  It was an exciting game and Noelle was intrigued to watch other kids play; she was impressed!

And this is how the picture of our middles went, lol!  I told Anna Kate not too worry… in a few short years, he will be chasing after you instead!  Love. this. pic! 

And the littles, well, they were too fast.  We’ll get one next time for sure.

One of the reasons the girls love going to Jacksonville is that they get to explore nature and be outside in the forest, which backs up to Poppa and Rara’s back yard!

 

While Poppa and Anna Kate were playing on my old gym bars, I taught Noelle how to taste the sweetness of a honeysuckle.  She loves discovering and following steps, so this was right up her alley!

Clip the base of the flower enough to find the string.

 

Pull… Suck the little drop of sweet nectar that comes out…

Savor the flavor!

Love, The Pond Girls

Noelle got to take an awesome field trip to the Sea Life Aquarium and Legoland on Tuesday!

We were actually right here in Lego Land when the tornados started… it made for a crazy day staying safe and then getting home!

 

Before things got more serious, we still got to do a lot of playing at Lego Land!  Noelle was having a blast!

 

Here’s Chloe, Noelle, and Emily posing for a pic in the karaoke room, which was Noelle’s favorite part of the entire field trip! 

We had Rose’s baby dedication on Sunday this week.  It was so special to share that experience with our dear friends, Stephanie and Phil, and all our friends and family at the Euc!  We pray Rose grows up to know her creator God in a passionate real way that gives her happiness and hope for her life!

 

These pictures just crack me up.  They are so baby Rose… Mike shared with the group that Rose always comes to us with arms wide open and throws herself trustingly into us, and he said she has taught him to live with arms wide open.  It’s true.  She goes full out, with no inhibitions, and we love and admire that about Rose.

             

It’s amazing how your heart fills up and overflows for each little miracle.  I love each one as if they are the only one and in totally different ways.  They are my best friends (of course with Mike being at the top of that list) and I know they feel valued, secure, and loved unconditionally.  It’s all so special and so perfect! 

The Horton girls came to join in the commitment and celebrate Rose.  It was super special having them join us for sure!

Kay Kay and Grandpapa came too which was really neat having them join us as well.  Anna Kate was a hot mess in this picture, which I love!  One of the babies pulled out her bow, but she just kept on playing.  Sweet Noelle wanted to match Rose, so she picked out a white dress just like Rose’s. 

There’s so much I want to say about this service, but suffice it to say, it was intimate and freeing, and felt so real as we dedicated ourselves and our daughter to God.  We promised to do everything in our power to raise her to be a kind, compassionate, and giving person, as we follow the example of Jesus Christ.  Amen!

We have so much fun cheering for Noelle and her teammates at their games!  Sweet Emma always find time to love on baby Rose!

I can’t believe Rose is old enough to sit in Noelle’s chair.  Just last season, she was a little baby… life is so fast and crazy like that!  Please freeze time and let me enjoy my baby!  It’s okay though, she will always be my baby Rose.  It just fits.

I caught Anna Kate giving Rose a drink of water.  She is sooo good with baby Rose!

You can tell Anna Kate is really concentrating, and Rose is going all out because she trusts Anna Kate.  The girls are all playing more and more together… it’s so cool!  Rose will be dressing up, dancing, and playing soccer with her big sissies in no time!

Noelle didn’t want to make Rose get out of her chair, so she held her while Coach Suzanne was pumping them up. Rose was just right there in the middle of it all having a ball!

Okay, let’s focus on the game!  Great kick to Emma Noelle!

Noelle totally got the ball away from the pack in this picture – YES! 

Love this light-hearted little grin… I think she was proud of herself and trying not to smile.  She was doing great!  Love Autumn’s peace signs to the right of the pic!

Yay, Skittles!  Go Noelle!!!