Easter was celebrated at the Hester house with a large gathering of family. Julie made a wonderful Easter lunch, and then the gaggle of girls including Alexa, Emily, Katie, and their cousin Laura hunted up baskets-full of eggs. Ryan dozed through the egghunt! Alexa also got two “practice” egg hunts at a playdate and the church’s Easter celebration.
We hosted Christmas for the family at our house this year. It wasn’t even close to a ‘white Christmas’, but at least the weather was blustery enough to warrant a fire in the fireplace. Alexa discovered quickly that Santa had enjoyed the cookies and milk she had left the previous evening, and spent the early morning exploring gifts he had left in her stocking.
The grandparents McCorkle, and aunt, uncle, and cousins Hester arrived late morning to open presents. The kids, as expected, couldn’t get enough of opening gifts. Beth had prepared lamb as the main dish for the afternoon lunch, and Julie’s homemade red velvet cake was dessert. The kids had a fun and active afternoon trying out various new toys and games.
It was a safari Halloween with a not-exactly-scary-but-oh-so-cute giraffe (Alexa) and lion (Ryan). There was a neighborhood Halloween party held at the local elementary the weekend before, and we trick-or-treated Halloween night with neighborhood friends.
This weekend was another of the church’s “Two-by-Two” days, which are children’s activites targeted at preschoolers and toddlers. This week’s activities were all about trains! Alexa got to ride in the small train around the parking lot, ride (and pull!) the wagon train on the sidewalk, blow her train whistle, dress up like a conductor, and decorate her photo frame with train stickers.
(4)
(34)
(7)
(2)
(30)
(8)
(4)
