Picture Fiasco {6 Months and Easter}

Sometimes I feel like we are a 3 ringed circus. I read a funny little cartoon the other day with a mother looking strung out and the caption read, "I am being ruled by a little army that I created myself". Well this describes my feelings sometimes (all too often). Especially when we have something specific to do or somewhere to go. I often feel like I need a 3 day nap after such outings. 

This picture taking session was no exception.

Talmage needed 6 months pictures taken (especially because I didn't do 3 month...mom fail). At the last moment I decided to bring the girls along in their Easter outfits to get a few shots. I love how the pictures turned out but the process was torture.

It was a long drive and I think the kiddos were overly hungry by the time we got there. I tried to plan ahead and bring snacks but our appointment time was a little inconvenient. Talmage now has some stranger danger and wouldn't smile to save his life.  I thought we were going to be lucky to get one non-crying shot, but the camera girl must have been quick at the draw. Ava was a little unruly and talking 90 miles minute to whoever would listen and Claire's voice was squealing/whining/shrieking at it's highest octave. I really thought my brain was going to burst and poor Talmage looked like he was in the middle of a bomb raid. In the end, I am happy with the pictures we got and I love the kiddos in them so much that I can block out the chaos of the day. But I think I will wait and schedule the next photo shoot on a Saturday when dad can join the circus.

Six Months Old!

 His teary eyes and pouty lip are the best! I think he has the Bubba lip from Forest Gump in the second picture. I want to start listing off different types of shrimp when I see it (haha).

The picture below I have entitled "The Man Pose".

 Ready, Set....

 Go!

And Going!!

 And here are the two closest things we got to a smile!

Love that little face anyway.

A few Shots of the Girls and the Gang!

Easter

We had a great Easter Holiday!

I had a lot of things in mind to do and really didn't get around to too much of it. I wanted to watch the Easter Dream movie and make resurrections rolls but none of that happened. We didn't even dye eggs this year (because the water was unexpectedly turned off that evening by the city). But in the end, I was okay with what we did do. There is a fine line between doing and over doing and I am still trying to find the balance.  I love holidays and coming up with new ideas of fun things to do, but at the same time, I realize the holiday will come again next year and we'll have a chance to do it all over again. It is fun to have new things to do along with old traditions. So here are a few of our happenings.

Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma Julie's

Easter Train Ride on Heber Valley Railroad

with our good friends the Ramsey's

The Easter Bunny did some dancing with us and each child got an egg.

Claire had the unfortunate experience of burning her hand on a curling iron right before we left so she was a little subdued and sad. She insisted that her hand stay on a bag of ice the whole evening.

After the train ride, we ate dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant in Heber named Don Pedros. 

What a fun and delicious time!

 Sawyer taught the Easter Bunny a few good moves!

Easter Sunday!

Ava takes after her dad and gets too excited the night before holidays to sleep. She was up for quite awhile and because of it, the Easter Bunny had to hide their baskets down stairs and didn't have time to hide extra eggs. Because Ava is getting older, her basket is getting harder to fine.

Here is their Easter Loot.

 Somehow we didn't get a picture of Talmage's basket. His basket had a new long sleeved bib, rice cereal, a binky leash thingy, some new spoons, a few baby toys, a cute book called Mr. Magee Learns to Ski, and some new Toms. All the kids got a new personalized plate and bowl. 

I can't get over how darling these are!

 They didn't have a bald option (haha)!

We went to a great missionary farewell and then hurried to our sacrament meeting where Ava sang with the Primary. The kids were were so adorable in their Easter clothes and I loved how the kept spinning in circles to make their dresses twirl. We had many"validating" moments as a parents that day as Ava kept bearing her testimony about Jesus and the real meaning of Easter. She is so tender and smart. I love to here her bear her sweet testimony.

We hurried home to finish making our food for the shin dig at Grammy Nae's.

We made deviled eggs and this year we used Yoshi's yummy spicy mayo (that Tyson refers to as liquid crack) to make a few. We scored a whole container of it at the Elder's Quorom Sushi Night the Friday before and Tyson has been looking for anything and everything to use it with. They were a hit! Who knew my family were such adventurous eaters.

Grammy Nae's Egg Hunt!

I feel kind of bad that I didn't get a picture that day of all 3 kiddos but here is a group shot in their Easter outfits from Camera Shy a few days before!