We didn’t make a big ta-do about the royal wedding, but Noelle was so excited about it, that I wanted to take her picture in the moment of watching Kate walk down the isle.  And by the way, Noelle is doing GREAT with baby Rose!  She takes such good care of her.  I’m trusting her more and more, and she obeys me with her limits in what she can and can’t do.  Rose trusts her too! 

   

http://tcpreciousmoments.blogspot.com/2011/05/remember-when-we-were-little-girls.html

Check out my friend Tanna’s pics of Brylee and Anna Kate’s dress-up play date today!

This is a little something I have to share that made me laugh when I needed it the most today: While we were at dinner tonight Noelle blurted out the entire pledge of allegiance all by herself.  We were stunned because we did not teach it to her and asked her where she learned it.  She said, “Obama says it.”  Mike asked, “Who is Obama?”  thinking she would say, “Our president.”  Instead, she said, and I’m not even kidding you, “The man who takes all our money.”  We then asked her who told her that and she said, “God.”  Isn’t that funny!  Oh our little Republican. 

Noelle can’t wait for summer dance to start!!!

Noelle’s ballet shoes were posed perfectly on top of her dress-up trunk, so I let her take a picture of them!  She’s doing great with the camera!

  

Family pictures are almost impossible these days, but we keep trying… this picture just makes me laugh!  (Noelle and Anna Kate not looking, Rose’s headband almost covering her eyes, Mike and I trying to hang in there)

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

I love how Noelle is checking out Anna Kate’s eggs – I didn’t notice she was doing this until I saw this picture when we got home – too funny!

 

Aunt Polly with Noelle and Rose and Emma and Anna Kate!

Cousin Brittney and I had fun doing dishes together this year – we both truly had a lot of fun!

 

Anna Kate (Easter 2009) and Rose (Easter 2011)

Linda sets up all these cute little Easter scenes for the kids each year, and they love it!

Our little Rose.

   

The Princess and the frog!

What a fun day!

These girls were ready for a fun day of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus together!

  

All of Mommy’s hard work paid off!  They loved their little Easter surprises.

Melt.my.heart

Noelle helping Rose with her basket.

 

Noelle always helps her little sisters with their presents before she even opens hers.  She did this at Christmas, and it blew me away.  Her heart is so sweet!

   

This is the first smiling picture I’ve taken of Rose – how cool is it that I captured it on camera the morning of her first Easter!

We’re ready for a great day of family time and celebrating around here!!!

*We have been SO busy this week that I am so behind on blogging – well, behind for me.  Hopefully I’ll have some time this weekend to get caught up, we’ll see.

We were so excited to introduce Rose to all of our Easter traditions in Jacksonville on top of that special hill deep in the piney woods of East Texas!

 

Our family party barn!

 

Noelle was so independent this year – she loved coming and going and enjoying all of the activities… that was okay, because I still had my hands pretty full! 

Love.these.girls

 

I think Mike and Anna Kate take home the prize for my favorite picture of the night.  Two of my favorite people smiling just as big as they can because their hearts are so full and happy – this is what it’s all about!

When I saw this little outfit online before Rose was born, I just couldn’t pass it up – the roses on the bloomers are too cute.  Seeing it on her was worth every penny!

 

 

This is a picture we took right after Aunt Polly met Rose – so special!

  

This is what 9/10 of our pictures look like – lol!

 

Cousin Olen and Anna Kate enjoying the wind mills!

Talking about “colic!”

 

Cousin Stacey put Rose right to sleep!

Someone was getting a little hungry!  Lol!

Me and my Rosies!  

Wouldn’t be Easter without these cupcake eggs!

Linda outdid herself this year!  We’re all playing and hanging out when up pulls a “game” bus!  All the kids hopped on and there were video games for all ages inside and out – Noelle was able to enjoy the games too!  When it pulled up, Anna Kate screamed, “Hi Mario!”  It was funny.

The girls loved playing with the parachute with their Waldrop cousins! 

Aww…

  

Brittney and Anna Kate after watching Dylan put on a clogging show for us!

Bunny hop!

 

Anna Kate made a new friend with her cousin Emma.  She got prizes (tutu and a chapstick rose ring) after participating in the bunny hop.  It is safe to say this was the most fun night of Anna Kate’s life to date!  I have never seen her this happy! She was loving every single minute of the fun!

Anna Kate with Emma’s big sister, Hannah – they were SO sweet to the girls.  I wished we lived closer – it was precious seeing them all together!

There were lots of big kids this year!!!

We all had tickets that Linda called out for the prize table.  The girls so look forward to the prize table at the end of the night!

 

Rara is holding Rose in her favorite position – on her tummy!  Noelle was showing Linda all the prizes she picked out – a headband, necklace, purse, ring… she was all dolled up!  Thank you cousin Linda!!!  We appreciate all the hard work you put into making tonight so special for all of us!!!

After a wonderful night of being with family, it was time to go to bed and dream of all the fun we had!  Night night, sweet girls!

So good to hear from you in the comment section!  Of course I remember you!!!  Email me at melissajpond@gmail.com.  We need to catch up!

*Evelyn is a beautiful little girl I mentored when I was in high school.  I haven’t seen her in almost a decade!!!

**  I know this is what facebook is for… I’m thinking about it, okay guys?

Friday night we headed to Dallas to have dinner with the fam!

Love this cousin picture!

 

Poppa was hunting with Barry, but we got a shot of Rara with her grandbabies!

This picture doesn’t happen very often, so it makes me really appreciate the times we are all able to be together!

 

Loving on my babies!

Mike calls this the “car seat” photo.  He makes fun of me about how many I take and always asks me to take just one more… and I usually do!  Lol!

 

Anna Kate has really taken to “Nancy Nancy,” her way of saying “Fancy Nancy,” and this sweet smile shows just what a kind and sweet little girl Noelle is.

Nancy and John got to open some of our fun baby presents tonight!  This is my favorite smile of Noelle’s, but she only knows how to flash it when she’s truly smiling about something funny or happy.  In this picture, she was super proud of her artwork!

And Anna banged on Mike’s head a lot – one thing’s for sure, she’s not shy! 

The cousins finished the night with silly bands galore… Anna Kate started putting them up her leg – silly girl!  The Eberts left Saturday for Japan.  The government set up their travel after deeming it safe to go home.  They either had to accept the arrangements or pay their own way home, so we were one day shy of sharing the Easter festivities with them.  Oh well, we’ll get to have them with us one of these years. 

This picture makes me smile… along with ALL four of the big kids!  Wha-hoo! 

Okay, so I’ll give away my smile secret!  I told a joke right before I took these pictures, but use it wisely with your kiddos because it is only funny one time!  “Knock, knock!  Who’s there?  Lettuce? Lettuce who?  Lettuce in already!”

I love how Drew and Noelle are holding hands in this one!

And for this one I asked them to make a silly face… Rose fits right in… bless her heart!

Noelle got a little freaked out when I ordered this from Outback tonight for dinner!  🙂