Sweet Reesie is 2!

We celebrated Reese's second birthday with a somewhat impromptu get-together of family in town for the National Tourney at the end of March.  Although we were happy about the success of the Pioneers, that did mean we had to party without Matt.  We face-timed he and Aunt Beth in for a bit.  

We thought we'd gear up for our trip to Disney World this June by having a Minnie-themed lunch party.  I figure Reese can wear the shirt and bows again on our trip this summer.  (I'm making a polka dot elastic waistband skirt for her to wear with it then.)  

Birthday Suit

        

Decor was a bit experimental...not really how I wanted this to turn out, but it worked.

I was happy with how the banner turned out.  I've used these letters for several different occasions now.  I just trimmed them down and glued them to a banner that purchased at Hobby Lobby that was made to match a lady bug themed party kit.

I never remember the "before" pics, this was after the lunch but before the dessert.  We served a simple lunch and some cupcakes and sugar cookies.  I love our letters and numbers cookie cutters although I'm still working on not making the frosting too runny.

Spoiled by these grandparents!

It was special that Grandma Sauder got to attend.  I think this pic is hilarious.

Sauder sisters love desserts...I feel like that's the message of this pic.

Make a wish!

Cousins and best buds.

Reesie was thrilled to receive plenty of girly toys!                                    

Happy Birthday, Sweet Reese!

Easter Weekend: Wichita Style

We traveled to Derby over the weekend for a quick 24-hour Easter celebration with Gentry and Scott.  It was fun to get to attend their church and participate in all the festivities they had planned for us!

A big thank you to Scott for letting our crew stay at his house.  He was an excellent host and Gentry did such a nice job of planning out meals and having things for the kids.  Great work!  You can host Christmas next year!

They had a picture spot all picked out for us.  Worked out perfectly!

Sweet Reese, you see how she gets that nick name, right?

They had Easter eggs ready for hunting...

...which were filled with enough jelly beans to cause one sweet little girl to lose her lunch--and I will totally take the blame for it.  Note to self, do not let Reese carry around her Easter basket with her all day. Motherhood FAIL.  

Lesson learned.  By all involved.

Creative egg-hunting.

Egg dyeing was on the docket as well!

Looks like a professional to me!

Quite the artists!

Cade loved it!  In a short, five-minute bouts of attention kinda way.  

Where's Reesie?

Easter: the holiday where you stand in the yard and take pictures, right?

Matt and I have started doing this thing where right before we take a picture one of us says "Suck in!" reminding us both to suck in our less-than-toned bellies so we don't ruin the picture. It's proving to be a great system.  Just gave our secret away!  You're welcome for the tip!

Wearing Cade out is not an easy task.  Sign of a great weekend!

  

We made it home to see our "neighborhood Easter Bunny" had returned with candy-filled eggs again this year.  (Go easy, Reese.)  The kids were so excited to have a bonus egg-hunt!

We are always thankful for our time with family and most of all thankful for God's gift of Jesus.  He is Risen, indeed!  By the grace of God, we have been set free!

Past Easter entries: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010

(Fun Fact: There may be older entries out there, but that was prior to my use of the labeling feature.)