Happy Easter!

The finished Easter eggs turned out to be some incredible works of art.

The Easter party at Miss Melinda's! Julia wasn't sure if she could eat the little egg cake that Julia Ann's mom made. It was too pretty to eat so she had to ask me first if it was ok to eat it! We stayed for a little while after the party so that Julia could play with her friends. It was interesting to stand back and watch her interact. She really preferred playing by herself, but would occasionally boss on of the other kids around...lol.

Here we are getting the house ready for Easter. We always write the holiday on the chalkboard. This is the first holiday that Julia has been big enough to get in the chair and draw her own version of the Easter bunny.

Boiling the three dozen eggs to be died. Thank you Keeli, for the FAR superior country eggs!

Dying eggs and playing with friends on Good Friday.

Here's why they put those little wire Easter egg dippers in the dye kits! It took a couple of days for this little hand to turn back to its original flesh color.

When everybody else was long gone from the Easter egg dying table, Miss Julia had to stick around for the grand finale......pouring the remaining dye from one cup to another. Over and over and over again!

The finished lot.

Trying one....she only liked the yolk.

Sol and Julia enjoying a picnic

Easter brunch at Jee Jee and Paw Paws. Julia loved this "flag" that they gave her for Easter. The only problem was that she insisted on rolling the car window down and letting it fly in the air while we drove. I took the back roads home so that we wouldn't cause too much distraction for other drivers.

Then, were headed to Caroline's house to help celebrate her 3rd birthday. Don't even make me get sappy again about our our babies are growing up. Sometimes I wish I could just freeze Julia right where she is. She is so sweet and funny.

The cutest egg hunt ever.... Julia was beside herself when she figured out that there was candy in these plastic eggs. She was much more impressed with these than the ones with the yolk in the middle.

Then, it was all over when the Easter bunny came out. It was love at first sight for Julia. Here she is running to me smiling and telling me that the Easter bunny was HERE! Keep in mind, this is the same child who HATED Santa and likes to hide behind my leg when we walk into a room full of strangers.

Somewhere, somehow, she found a special place in her heart for this guy. See her peeking around and grinning at him?

And, the hugs.....she couldn't stop!

Hanging out in the wagon...having some cake.

Sweet Caroline...that sweet grin on her face when everybody was singing Happy Birthday to her was priceless!

Then the Easter Bunny visited our house. When I asked Julia later what the Easter Bunny brought her, she said marshmallows. Her more immediate favorite was this American the Beautiful pop up book. We must have read it 100 times. She kept getting the title of the book confused with the song that her Dad often sings to her, "There she is, Miss America."

Here she is with a mouth full of candy.

Pretty Julia on Easter morning. Becca organized a meeting for us at the Southern Independent Living center. The people that were there loved seeing the kids. I think they liked seeing each other best of all.

Nothing like a padded hallway to run down!

Giving Tara a hug

Emmy's turn

Dying eggs with Daddy, take 7...

Dying eggs with Daddy, take 12.....

I have to admit, I will be a little sad to get rid of these guys. Julia has had a great time changing their hats and outfits over and over again. And as always, this little girl has made her Momma and Daddy the two happiest people on the planet this Easter holiday.