Easter Sunday

Our Easter was spectacular! I love any occasion when our families get together. Ben and I are very fortunate in that our parents and siblings all really enjoy each other and we're able to have blended holidays from time to time. Two years ago my sister hosted all of the Slagels for Thanksgiving in addition to all of our Atlanta relatives. Such fun! This year Ben and I were hoping for the same kind of event, but not everyone was able to make the trek to Greenville for such a quick trip. We'll take what we can get! My parents, Nanny, Brian, Alison, Hayes, Ben's parents and three big dogs joined Ben, Emery, Maddux, Atticus and me for Easter weekend. We had people in every bedroom, including an air mattress in the basement. I love a full house. I'm hoping to host Christmas one year, but I don't see either of the grandmothers really budging on that one, including my Aunt Donna. ;-)
Emery must have been a very good girl this year because the Easter bunny left her lots of fun stuff in her basket.

And he hid a bunch of eggs in the backyard!

Panama Hayes

Clothing-optional egg coloring. I must admit that I didn't really think Hayes and Emery would really get into the egg dye process this year, but they loved it. If I can find leftover Paas kits at the store, I'm going to stock up and whip 'em out next time I'm wondering what to do with Emery.

Sissy stole a purple egg!

An enormous beach ball on a pretty day is always a source of amusement....for the adults.

We never put clothes back on Emery and Hayes after coloring eggs. They were having such fun playing in all the water features we set up when the temperature crept up into the high 80's.

Emery at the water table

Running through the sprinkler...we still have a month until our pool opens. What am I going to do until then!?!?!?

Cuz and Emmy are so happy when they can spend time together

We ate Easter supper on the porch....very comfortable with the ceiling fan creating a breeze for us.

Double trouble

Jake, Alison and Brian's dog, helped clean up the kiddie table. Thanks, Jake!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Thornblade Egg Hunt

Ben's parents came to town for Easter again this year. For the second year in a row we took them to the country club for breakfast with the Easter Bunny and an egg hunt the day before Easter. Emery was barely walking last year and had no idea what an egg hunt was all about. This year she was running all over the place and finding eggs like a pro!
As soon as we arrived in the ballroom Emery started asking, "Where Bunny?"

Waiting patiently for Bunny to come say "hi."

Emery checking out the competition during the egg hunt...."What did you get?"

Emery with her doting grandparents

I guess I went a little overboard when selecting her Easter basket. I wanted to make sure she had lots of room for eggs and goodies!

Emery got a little sidetracked and wanted to play hide-n-seek in the middle of egg hunting

A hug from Bunny

Yet another failed attempt at a family picture

Emery has eaten nothing but candy for the past 48 hours.....ugh

Never met a puddle she didn't like!

Downtown Greenville Fountain

Greenville is such a family friendly city. Dowtown, right along the banks of the Reedy River, exists this adorable water fountain with a railroad theme, complete with locomotive! Since the weather was very warm and sunny but our pool is not yet open, Emery and I headed to the fountain. This was her first time playing in the fountain and she LOVED it. I felt like the meanest mother on the planet when I made her leave after an hour and fifteen minutes. Her lips were blue and she was shivering! For some reason, the water is FREEZING. I guess because it's coming from underground. Next time I will let Emery stay longer, but it was dinner time and I was starting to worry about hypothermia.

Tired and cold but begging to stay!

I could not get her to leave!

Cuz is 2!

My nephew, Hayes, turns 2 April 20th. In honor of this milestone, Brian and Alison threw a party at Champion Kids in Marietta. Ben, Emery and I came down for the party (in a tornado, no less) and had a blast celebrating with Hayes. Afterwards, we went back to Brian and Alison's house to switch out the nursery with Hayes's big boy bed! He's all set for his baby sister, Kelsey Claire, to arrive in June. Happy birthday, Hayes!
Hayes in the birthday throne

Hayes and Emery swinging

Emery was first to test out the new bed and linens....she approves!

Granola Emery

We are tackling a vegetable and herb garden again this year. Sunday's hot temperatures and oodles of sunshine made for a great day of playing in the dirt. Nature-loving Emery couldn't wait to help out. Arranging her cucumbers

Watering the jalapenos and bell peppers

"Look, Mommy! A 'pillar' is on my slide!"

First she let it crawl on her foot.....

and then worked up the courage to put it on her hand.

Chick fil A breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Emery and I joined her boyfriend, Davis, and his mother, Casey, for breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Chick fil A on Saturday. I didn't really know what to expect given Emery's extremely frightful reaction to Santa Claus this past year. I was given the complete opposite. Emery was obsessed with the poor bunny. She followed him all over the restaurant, made him dance, and sat on his lap numerous times. She also pulled his tail and poked him in the eyes and nose. Trip #3 t0 sit on bunny's lap

Laughing while playing peek a boo (Emery is not wearing shoes because she saw bunny from inside the play area and bolted towards him)

Dancing with bunny

Hogging bunny's attention

Brief interest in the yummy breakfast of hashbrowns, mini chicken biscuits and fruit salad. Coloring and bunny took precedence over food.

The Master's

Although I am not a golfer, I thoroughly enjoy watching The Master's. It's such a classy and storied sports event and I love the fact that it's a Georgia tradition. Ben went to the Tuesday practice round and returned with some super cute attire for Emery, including this pink hat. I made her wear the hat all day Thursday in honor of the first round of the tournament. Today (Friday), she has been wearing the pink and green polo Daddy brought her. I'll post a picture of her in the shirt later this weekend. It's adorable. The little golf cart seersucker outfit is from a precious boutique at Amelia Island Plantation. This picture was taken in our backyard. Our azaleas look okay, but nothing like Augusta National!

Greenville Zoo and chalking

After a solid week of chilly rain, we are finally back to beautiful warm, sunny days. To celebrate, Emery and I joined Davis and Harper at the zoo and have also spent many hours drawing with sidewalk chalk in the driveway. Both activities are tons of fun! Ta-da! Emery is proud of her design

Hard at work with her "lellow" chalk

Harper and Emery take a rest in front of the owl exhibit at Greenville Zoo

Sitting on the bear statue

Hot! Emery pounded an entire juice and a full "moo" during our excursion

Sweet little faces at the giraffe habitat

So sweet. Emery and Harper are such good friends. Emery asks for Harper all the time and as soon as I pull into the parking lot at gymnastics every Tuesday morning, Emery starts yelling, "Harper! Harper!"

When she's not asking to play with Harper, Emery is pining for her boyfriend, Davis.