BEACHIN IT

We went to the Beach on Easter Sunday. Which felt kinda weird, but it was the beach.... so I let it slide. It was Nola's first trip to a warm beach, and I was super excited! I thought she would just love playing in the sand and dipping her toes in the water. I was very wrong. She really hated the entire experience. She was super freaked out anytime I would even sit her on the blanket which was on the sand. If I was holding her she was a little bit more okay with the situation, but the moment i tried to sit her down she went ballistic. Poor Brynlie got a migraine headache on the way to the beach so her and my mom just hung out in the car, which I felt super bad about. We missed them.  

Kasen should probably model diaper bags. 

Exhibit A: Nola freaking out.

Look Birds!

 I really couldn't get over the fact that we all had matching sun glasses! How fun is that?! A baby in sunnies is the cutest!

Obligatory dance picture on the beach. Baylie is awesome!

Grandpa tried to get Nola excited about the water, but I don't think he succeeded...

Photo bomber!

Slowly but surely she became okay with the idea of sand, and would shovel it onto her towel but she showed absolutely no expression the entire time.

She's so scared.. best parents ever.

We didn't hang out on the beach long, due to the sick one in the car and Nola not really enjoying it. By the time it was time to go she was definitely warming up to it all though. Thats usually how it goes right? Once its time to go they finally like it. Whether she liked it or not, "beach bum" really suits her!

SNOW SHOEING

We took nolie bug snow shoeing on her first birthday, and I loved it....hope she did too. She was such a cute little puff in all her warm snow gear. It was a perfect day for it, sun was out, and the beautiful mountains covered in snowy white. 

 I found this retro one piece snow suite at Second Track sports and the moment I saw it, I knew I had to have it! Best 20$ I've ever spent. 

 Zach said I had to include the photo of me jumping off the stump so joyfully, because it reminds him of the first time he took me snow shoeing. Back in our dating days, he wanted to take me snow shoeing with a bunch of his friends. I wasn't feeling it, hiking in the freezing cold didn't sound super appealing to me. So I maybe faked that my ankle was bothering me (according to zach) but I'm pretty sure it really was. Anyways we ended up going, and I ended up LOVING it! Running down the fluffy snowy hills, can't be beat. Its like floating on clouds I was laughing out loud, I was enjoying it so much. This is apparently called extreme snow shoeing, which unfortunately I havent been able to experience since, but I'm looking forward to the day when I get to be light as a feather and run on marshmellows.

EASTER 2016

       Easter with this little bunny was so much fun. We were in Sunny St George the Saturday before Easter and we knew we would be in California on Easter Sunday so the Easter bunny came and we did our egg hunting Saturday morning. We started with Breakfast and the neighborhood egg hunt up the street. Baylie said she was too old to do the hunt, but its a good thing she had Nola to take around haha. What are nieces for, anyways? Nola was lazy with the actual picking up the egg part, she liked everyone else to do that for her, it was funny she would point and wait for us to pick them up and drop them in the basket. Once she figured out the eggs doubled as maracas though, she was all in.  

Nola's easter basket was full of fun goodies! Play dough, a GIANT coloring book, crayons, a sunhat, her new Jellycat- Esther Bonnie the Easter bunny, which I wasn't sure she would like, but turns out she loves her almost as much as Harold the hippo... almost. She got a book, called Someday (it makes me cry every time I  read it) yogurt puffs, Saltwater sandals and her cute NorthFace wind breaker. She was definately spoiled! Zach surprised me with some leggings from the NorthFace too cause he's super cute like that and I love them. Nola saw her basket and went straight for the yogurt puffs, pulled them out and exclaimed "O YAY!" haha she wasn't as thrilled about the other items, but I think they've grown on her.

This is her "say CHEESE face"

 meeting Esther, she wasn't so sure at first...

but turns out she loves her.

 I filled 126 eggs for our family egg hunt, which was probably going a little overboard, but i was on a roll!  The neighborhood kids went at it, as soon as mom and dad were done hiding them.haha we went outside and they were stealing the candy out of our eggs. Smart kids, right there.I can't get over Nola toting around her basket, that is half her size, and Kasen with his tiny basket!  

 Overall it was a really fun morning! We missed Brayden, I miss him a lot these days. Its just not the same without him, we all wish he'd come around more. But we had a blast holding our little baskets and walking around searching for easter eggs. Zach and I reaped the benefits of extra candy, from Nola's eggs too which wasn't too shabby. Perks of having a kid, right there. I was glad we got to do some of these fun easter traditions, but it did feel odd that we spent Easter Sunday on the Beach, and not at Church. I tried to remember Our Savior Jesus Christ and his atonement, and Nola and I had a chat about this special day, about our big brother Jesus and all he's done for us. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have, I know I can be forgiven of my sins, and return to live with my father in Heaven one day. I hope my children grow up knowing their savior and developing a love for him, and I want them to know that I have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the only way for everlasting, true happiness.