FAMILY!

Let's be grateful for those who give us happiness;
they are charming gardeners that make our soul bloom! ~Marcel Proust

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Easter

On Saturday, I took Lauren to our church for some fun Easter activities. Aunt Bebby and Gammy met us there. Lauren enjoyed some egg decorating, coloring and an egg hunt. After the egg hunt we had a cookout. The food was yummy! It was fun to see Lauren interact with her church buddies. We all had a great time!

Lauren saw her friend Eliana!

Lauren and her Grandma!


When it came to the egg hunt Lauren bypassed all of the eggs and ran straight for the slide. I think she picked up maybe 10...if that!

Lauren and Eliana trying on their Easter rings that came off of their cupcakes!


We began our Easter morning by showing Lauren that the Easter bunny came. She walked over to her basket "beach bucket" to see her goodies. Of course, she just looked at the books with a quick glimpse. She got a new "Princess" night light, some nerf throwers, some butterfly containers filled with her favorites...goldfish and pretzles with peanut butter and two special eggs that had $1 in each. You should have seen her eyes light up when she saw the dollars. She grabbed them and headed straight for her piggy bank! Then in was time to get ready for church!

Lauren with her buddies after church!

Lauren trying to figure out the pinwheel!

Lauren enjoying some bubbles that Grandma was blowing!




I just love how she is using her other hand to help her stay steady!


After church, we headed home. We had to get ready to go to the Morton's for our annual Easter cookout and egg hunt. I made rice krispie eggs with mini pink and yellow morsels. They were yummy if I may say so myself!

After lunch, we got ready for the egg hunt. Uncle Dan led the kiddos with a pre-egg hunt cheer!

Lauren did much better today with picking up eggs. Probably because there wasn't a slide or swing around!

The kiddos counting their eggs. There was 82 to find. Lauren found 20! Yippee!


Lauren with her daddy after she fell and scraped her knee!

Lauren and her cousin Eli racing! Eli was such a good helper!

Garden Day

It is that time of year again...garden time! Lauren loves working in the garden! So far she has helped plant: brocolli, okra and cucumbers. She is such a "dirtgirl!"


Lauren helping GiGi!


OK, Papa...are you going to help?!

Lauren with Uncle Floyd!


Lauren giving the chickens some water!

April 8 and 9...Relay for Life

I am the Relay for Life team captain for my school. Relay for Life is such an amazing event! It is a time to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. Onslow County had 136 teams and 3,355 participants. So far as a county we have raised $275,623.57! At our school, our goal was to raise $4,000. Our final total raised was $5,892.02!

Just chillin'!

Me and my friend Lauren!

Our QCE Relayers!


QCE's line of Luminaries In Honor or In Memory of someone who has battled cancer! Some celebrate cancer survivors, while others help us honor and remember those gone too soon. All represent someone special who has been profoundly affected by cancer and the family and friends who continue to fight back in their honor. A real emotional moment. ThIS IS WHY I RELAY!

On Saturday, I returned with Lauren for the Kid's Walk! We enjoyed walking some laps around the track and participating in an egg hunt. She enjoyed the two but not as much as the big, blow-up slide that our team had for entertainment! Thank you Cadence for the many trips you made with Lauren!


Lauren with Mrs. Julie after she WON our teams MVP award! Mrs. Julie stayed overnight at the Relay. She had to sleep in her car with her kids and a few other team members due to the rain and gusts of wind! She also donated 9 inches of her hair that morning! God Bless her!


I think Lauren was ready to go home! The weather was very damp and chilly! She was such a trooper!

February 13 at Onslow Beach

Yes...we are at the beach for a pre-Valentine's Day celebration! Lauren and I headed to the beach with Nana, Poppy, Gammy and Bebby for some fresh air! It was so beautiful!

Lauren went for a wagon ride with Poppy. Then she decided to do some shell searching like Nana!

Lauren with her Gammy!

Cheese!

Lauren and Bebby enjoying some lunch!

Lauren chasing the seagulls!

There were so many to see but I could only capture one!

Nothing like being pulled in wagon for a little R&R!

January 23...More Snow!

Ok...I know you have seen enough snow pictures but I had to post these! Hopefully, since I am posting these in April, we are done with the snow! It was a beach-themed day since we were hoping for warmer weather!

Playing in the snow...beach style!


Who says you can only write names in the sand!

Heart-shaped snow castles!

Lauren helping Poppy start our snowman!

Lauren and Nana sampling some snow! Yum!

Lauren relaxing!

Do you like our snow getaway!


Poppy with his snowbear!