Thanksgiving 2013

This year for Thanksgiving we celebrated Thanksgiving at our house with most of my family. 

Josh's family was out of town for the week so I decided to just invite my family over for the day and for dinner. 

It was my first time hosting a big holiday dinner so I was a little nervous but my mom and a couple of my brothers came for three days to help me cook and to help with the girls!

I couldn't have done it all without them here to help.

I stressed for a few days with wanting to make sure every little thing was perfect but by the time Thursday came I just wasn't feeling like going all out.

We opted for simple snacks, desserts, and just used paper plates for dinner. 

We're planning two big Christmas parties with our friends, then there's the craziness of Christmas week, and then we have Viv's big birthday bash at the beginning of February so I just tried to keep Thanksgiving simple and easy.

Josh's new job keeps him away for major holidays so it was definitely a little hard not having him home all day.

He was able to come home for a little while during dinner which I am so thankful for - but it wasn't the same as having him home all day with us all.

I am so thankful for all the gifts in our life.

An amazing marriage.

Precious little daughters.

All of the beauty in our friends and family.

All of the love, the laughter, and the fun.

We are blessed beyond measure. 

Our Fourth of July

We had a wonderful 4th of July holiday. 

On Wednesday night (the 3rd) Josh and I put the girls to bed and watched the fireworks in town from our living room window. 

We ate ice cream and talked about our past 4th of July's spent together and talked about the girls and just enjoyed each other's company. 

On Thursday Josh had to work in the morning so I took the girls to the store and we got some supplies to make a dessert for a party we were going to that afternoon.

Viv helped me and we spent the afternoon hollowing out 6 pounds of strawberries and stuffing them with cheesecake.

We danced and picked out outfits to wear.

When Josh got home at 3 we got ready and headed to our friend's lake house for a big party with some family and close friends.

It was a wonderful time of watching the kids all play, eating delicious food and spending the evening in the company of some beautiful people. 

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday we woke up at 6am to go to our church's sunrise service and breakfast!

After that we had a super relaxing day at home by ourselves.

It was the first holiday since we've been married that we didn't have anywhere to go so we definitely enjoyed!

We went to Josh's parents earlier in the week to celebrate Easter and then spent two days with my family while my brother was in town.

^^^I kind of wish I took time to do my hair but I was too exhausted at six in the morning to care. Something serious has to change with my rat's nest in the next few weeks! Ugh. ^^^

We opened our Easter baskets (Penny of course got one too) after church and then took a nice long nap!

After our nap I made a big ham dinner and we just rested and hung out as a little family for the rest of the day. 

At some point during the day we took Viv to the playground since it was so warm out! 

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter holiday with loved ones!

xoxo.

Easter Saturday

The day before Easter we went back to my mom and dad's house for the morning and afternoon.

It was a gorgeous day and we spent most of it outside running around and exploring. 

My parents have a bunch of animals so Viv always loves going there to visit!

We could barely get her to go inside, she was so happy.

^^^That's her new face she makes when she's on a mission or curious. I think it's hysterical!^^^

I put together a little Easter egg hunt outside for Viv.

I just laid out a bunch of eggs in the yard filled with one or two jelly beans each and she had a ball running around gathering them!

She knew right away how to pick them up and put them in her basket, even though she was distracted by everyone cheering her on.

I'm hoping that next year we'll be in D.C. and we can take her to the White House egg hunt!

^^^Of course she won't pose for pictures with Mama when there's so much cool stuff going on around her!^^^

In the evening we went to my aunt's house for dinner and Viv played with all of their animals.

By the time we got home we were all exhausted from all the adventures we had over two days and were in bed sleeping before 9:30!