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Easter Sunday Fun (Quarantine Style)
Monday, April 6, 2015
Oh my goodness you guys! Let me just start out with saying that this weekend was seriously one of the busiest weekends I have had in the past month. Easter with Ava was nothing short of amazing and I can't believe my sweet girl rocked the shaky schedule as well as she did. Let's do a little recap of how our weekend festivities played out. On Saturday we woke up and immediately headed downstairs for our morning routine. We ate a light breakfast and we were out the door by 11 a.m. I stopped to pick up thank you flowers for my best friend's mom (she watched Ava the day before while I went out and got a pedicure), and we headed over to a HUGE chamorro style Easter get together. There were so many people there, I wasn't sure how Ava was going to do. There were over a dozen kids there, some a lot older than her. The youngest baby was just six months old, and Ava absolutely loved her. She also grew fond of an (almost) one year old, and mimicked her army crawl all over the living room. We got there before a lot of people (believe it or not) so Ava watched her god mother cook in the kitchen, and she explored the house and the faces she hadn't seen before.
A couple hours had passed and after socializing and feasting, Ava participated in her first Easter egg hunt. They had two different egg hunts on Saturday. One for the toddlers and another for the older kids. I think there were like three or four toddlers Ava's age for the first egg hunt. Ava collected more eggs than her basket would hold and she ended up taking away the golden egg! The golden egg had five dollars in it, but Ava was more interested in kissing the egg, than claiming her prize. It was the cutest thing ever! She ventured off a lot without me, and somehow that ended up being okay with me. I hate to admit it, but my toddler can most definitely hold her own in a social setting. I was proud of both of us for not being stuck to one another like usual. We ended our Saturday with more food, a sleep over, and god mama cuddles! We didn't get home until after six and Ava hadn't napped at all on Saturday. She completely knocked out after her bath, and I was grateful since I knew that Sunday was going to be equally as busy.
Sunday we woke up earlier than I anticipated and the first thing Ava did was go through her Easter basket downstairs. She was in complete awe. It was so sweet to watch her delicately touch everything. She was in awe of the basket, her basket liner, her bunny... you get the picture. She loved the chalk and she absolutely loved her book and bubbles most of all. Easter basket time led into breakfast and we got ready to head out for our Easter church service. Ava hasn't been to my church since just before she was a year old, so I was a little nervous on how a toddler in church would go down. To my surprise she did amazing. She had her hands in the air and she swayed as we worshiped and praised. It brought tears to my eyes. Towards the end of the sermon we migrated into the nursery because Ava didn't want to sit down. The nursery has a flat screen for the mom's to tune into the service, and a whole lot of toys for the babies to play with. Ava's new little friend baby P joined us shortly after, and Ava was completely in awe of her. Watching my daughter with a six month old literally made my ovaries ache! Babies are definitely on the noggin as of now. Ava helped out so much with the little one and that made my heart so happy.
She knew just what to do with the baby. She tried to burp her, she tried to help feed her, and she held her. She loved on her. For an only child, I was in complete awe at how well Ava had mastered all of this. It took me a moment to really get it, but she mastered it so well because that's how Justin and I are with her. We deal with her delicately. With ease. Anywho, we topped off our afternoon with an Easter lunch and we spent the rest of our evening outdoor enjoying chalk art and other Easter goodies the babe got. A little before 7 p.m. Ava signaled to me to let me know she was tired, so we actually got ready for bed a lot sooner than normal. My child was out by 730 p.m. last night and I knew it was because of all that we had going on this weekend. Although we had SO much fun, I'm glad that we are getting back to our normal schedule.
Take a look at Ava grabbing her eggs:
A couple hours had passed and after socializing and feasting, Ava participated in her first Easter egg hunt. They had two different egg hunts on Saturday. One for the toddlers and another for the older kids. I think there were like three or four toddlers Ava's age for the first egg hunt. Ava collected more eggs than her basket would hold and she ended up taking away the golden egg! The golden egg had five dollars in it, but Ava was more interested in kissing the egg, than claiming her prize. It was the cutest thing ever! She ventured off a lot without me, and somehow that ended up being okay with me. I hate to admit it, but my toddler can most definitely hold her own in a social setting. I was proud of both of us for not being stuck to one another like usual. We ended our Saturday with more food, a sleep over, and god mama cuddles! We didn't get home until after six and Ava hadn't napped at all on Saturday. She completely knocked out after her bath, and I was grateful since I knew that Sunday was going to be equally as busy.
Sunday we woke up earlier than I anticipated and the first thing Ava did was go through her Easter basket downstairs. She was in complete awe. It was so sweet to watch her delicately touch everything. She was in awe of the basket, her basket liner, her bunny... you get the picture. She loved the chalk and she absolutely loved her book and bubbles most of all. Easter basket time led into breakfast and we got ready to head out for our Easter church service. Ava hasn't been to my church since just before she was a year old, so I was a little nervous on how a toddler in church would go down. To my surprise she did amazing. She had her hands in the air and she swayed as we worshiped and praised. It brought tears to my eyes. Towards the end of the sermon we migrated into the nursery because Ava didn't want to sit down. The nursery has a flat screen for the mom's to tune into the service, and a whole lot of toys for the babies to play with. Ava's new little friend baby P joined us shortly after, and Ava was completely in awe of her. Watching my daughter with a six month old literally made my ovaries ache! Babies are definitely on the noggin as of now. Ava helped out so much with the little one and that made my heart so happy.
She knew just what to do with the baby. She tried to burp her, she tried to help feed her, and she held her. She loved on her. For an only child, I was in complete awe at how well Ava had mastered all of this. It took me a moment to really get it, but she mastered it so well because that's how Justin and I are with her. We deal with her delicately. With ease. Anywho, we topped off our afternoon with an Easter lunch and we spent the rest of our evening outdoor enjoying chalk art and other Easter goodies the babe got. A little before 7 p.m. Ava signaled to me to let me know she was tired, so we actually got ready for bed a lot sooner than normal. My child was out by 730 p.m. last night and I knew it was because of all that we had going on this weekend. Although we had SO much fun, I'm glad that we are getting back to our normal schedule.
Take a look at Ava grabbing her eggs:
♥- Leilani
Friday, April 3, 2015
Easter is right around the corner and I've had several people ask me what exactly I'm "loading" Ava's Easter basket with this year. With Justin being gone, I really procrastinated with brining her basket together (sorry Ava bug), but none the less it is prepped and ready to go for the weekend. I started out by using our Pottery Barn Easter Basket Liner, so all I had to do was look for a new basket. We still have her basket from last year, but I ended up using it as a prop for her Easter pictures. We definitely skipped the Easter bunny this year after last year's fiasco. The liner has her name monogrammed on it, and I love that we can use it annually. It's pretty, pink, and definitely fitting for my sweet girl. The next thing I did was hop on amazon. This is my go to site for all things toddler related. With Amazon prime, we get free two day shipping.. I love it more than going to a retail store (most of the time). Amazon had a wide variety of potential goodies for us this year. I started out with looking through their books. We love giving Ava bugs on any occasion.. even just a Tuesday. Last year we only bought books that were about Easter, this year I bought books that were sequels to books she already had. I also added some egg chalk to be festive, bunny bubbles, a bunny stuffed animal, bunny ears, and tons of Easter eggs.
We don't give Ava chocolate or any other candies, so the eggs are filled with stickers! She loves playing with them, and I do think it'll be fun for her to find them through the yard. This year we have three Easter's to attend and Ava's first Easter sermon. I'm excited to be spending this very special holiday with those we love most, while enjoying good company and good food as well. So there you have it, the bulk of things that we put in our child's Easter basket. I've really loved packing it up with things that aren't perishable, things that she can use right now, and items that we can keep forever. It really makes loading up the basket so much more fun.
What are some of the things that you put in your child's Easter basket? Does your family have some type of tradition? Let me know in the comments below or by email! In the meantime, check out the amazon links I provided for some of the things I've listed. Feel free to try out Amazon prime two day shipping with their *30 day free trial*
Happy Friday all!
♥- Leilani
We don't give Ava chocolate or any other candies, so the eggs are filled with stickers! She loves playing with them, and I do think it'll be fun for her to find them through the yard. This year we have three Easter's to attend and Ava's first Easter sermon. I'm excited to be spending this very special holiday with those we love most, while enjoying good company and good food as well. So there you have it, the bulk of things that we put in our child's Easter basket. I've really loved packing it up with things that aren't perishable, things that she can use right now, and items that we can keep forever. It really makes loading up the basket so much more fun.
What are some of the things that you put in your child's Easter basket? Does your family have some type of tradition? Let me know in the comments below or by email! In the meantime, check out the amazon links I provided for some of the things I've listed. Feel free to try out Amazon prime two day shipping with their *30 day free trial*
Happy Friday all!
♥- Leilani
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Today was simply wonderful. I had a house full of family, laughter, and lots of love. Aside from it being Ava's first Easter, it was also my dad's birthday. I knew from the start of the year that I wanted to host Easter at my house, and I'm so glad that I did. I'm proud to say it went very well, and I'm thinking about making this an annual tradition (each year we are in Washington). I made an Easter ham, and other side dishes. We have a lot of leftovers, but everyone left pretty full and content. Having my family with me on special occasions really tugs at my heart. Getting us all in one room can sometimes be difficult, but when we are, it's always such a great time.
It's safe to say that Ava pretty much loves her Aunt Regina. Seeing their relationship grow seriously makes me misty-eyed. She is so comfortable with her, and you can tell that she loves her. It's the little things that makes me never want to leave Washington. This blog post is so short, but I am completely tired. I spent all weekend with some serious ligament pain, and Justin is going with me for my blood test on Tuesday. I will seriously be shocked (and worried) if I am not pregnant. I have had so many symptoms, it's crazy!
I hope everyone enjoyed this special holiday with the people they love most, and I hope everyone spent this holiday giving thanks to Jesus Christ, for without him, the lives we have would not be possible. His redemption on the cross, will always leave me feeling the ultimate grace and comfort.
♥- Leilani
It's safe to say that Ava pretty much loves her Aunt Regina. Seeing their relationship grow seriously makes me misty-eyed. She is so comfortable with her, and you can tell that she loves her. It's the little things that makes me never want to leave Washington. This blog post is so short, but I am completely tired. I spent all weekend with some serious ligament pain, and Justin is going with me for my blood test on Tuesday. I will seriously be shocked (and worried) if I am not pregnant. I have had so many symptoms, it's crazy!
I hope everyone enjoyed this special holiday with the people they love most, and I hope everyone spent this holiday giving thanks to Jesus Christ, for without him, the lives we have would not be possible. His redemption on the cross, will always leave me feeling the ultimate grace and comfort.
♥- Leilani
Friday, April 11, 2014
With Easter around the corner, I am rushing to compile a goody basket for Ava's first Easter. I can't believe my bug is rolling up on eleven months so quickly. Trying to make a "baby friendly" Easter basket has actually been pretty interesting. Obviously we aren't going to include candy, stickers, etc. I wanted to use things that Ava will enjoy now. For those of you who are stumped on where to get your little one's special Easter basket, or even what to stuff in those baskets, look no further! I decided to share some of the goodies we are getting for Miss Ava.
As a lot of my readers know, I am obsessed with Pottery Barn! They are actually having a sale on their small and large Easter baskets until the sixteenth of this month. I decided to purchase one for Ava, and personalize it as well. I believe my entire total came to$23! Not a bad deal for a basket we can use annually. There is less than a two dollar difference between the large and small baskets, so I would definitely opt for the larger one. They have some personalized Easter books, and stuffed animals on their website as well, but I didn't purchase any of those.
So what are some of the other items we included in this years's basket?
Happy Friday all!
♥- Leilani
So what are some of the other items we included in this years's basket?
- A plush stuffed Easter bunny for Ava to snuggle
- Hide em' and Hatch em'Easter eggs (I want this to become an Easter tradition)
- A "first" Easter book
- Easter eggs filled with some of Bug's favorite snacks
- the sound of music soundtrack (Ava grooves to every song)
We are going to let her find Easter eggs in the grass as well. I think that'll be entertaining. This next week is going to be so fun filled. Ava's Easter pictures will be this Sunday, and I think I mentioned in a previous post about the upcoming birthday party for a sweet little girl we are attending. We've got Church on Easter Sunday, and my dad's birthday. I'm pretty excited about everything. I hope some of the gifts on my list help you find gifts for your little ones.
Happy Friday all!
♥- Leilani
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Here we are again at the close of another wonderful weekend. These last couple weeks have flown by, and I have a feeling the rest of April is going to be fairly busy. Sometime this week Ava is getting her very first picture taken with the Easter bunny (so excited about this), I have some shopping to do for a sweet little girl that is turning one in a couple weeks, and I am on the hunt for a new family car. On top of that, Easter is almost here, and so is my dad's birthday. All of these events on top of school, Justin's schedule, and Ava's, needless to say, the Howland's are busy. We also started some Friday night family traditions as well. Friday may very well be my favorite day of the week. I know Justin is going to be off for the next two days, it's the start of the weekend, I mean who doesn't love Friday?
Anywho, today was great, so let's recap the weekend. Friday night we went out to menchies (I'd never been before), and that was a real treat. The restaurant was decked out in eighties decor, and it was just so cute. The food was amazing, and the kicker? It's right down the street from our house. We spent the night watching old movies, cuddling, and talking about baby names. I don't remember when we knocked out, but everyone (including Cooper) was out before the norm. Saturday we got an early start, and then we went to my hometown to find a new location for Ava's birthday party. The venue I finally decided on is actually booked for the day that we'd need it. I was a bit devastated, but we've got options for other venues. I came across a couple that I really like, so hopefully when I call tomorrow, they have some availability.
We ended up going to the Muckleshoot Casino for brunch, and that was a real hit. I keep taking Justin to these places I went when I lived in Auburn years ago. He enjoyed it, and was shocked that the buffet was open to everyone, not just those who are gambling. Shortly after, we finally made our way to the only Sam's Club within fifty miles of us. It's right next to the mall I used to work at, so naturally, Justin got suckered into some shopping. Ava is seriously set for next winter! I hit up Osh Kosh and Carter's for their spring deals, and managed to get such a great haul. I think we wrapped up Saturday with a trip to best buy (for a tablet) and watching the second movie to Thor.
♥- Leilani
Anywho, today was great, so let's recap the weekend. Friday night we went out to menchies (I'd never been before), and that was a real treat. The restaurant was decked out in eighties decor, and it was just so cute. The food was amazing, and the kicker? It's right down the street from our house. We spent the night watching old movies, cuddling, and talking about baby names. I don't remember when we knocked out, but everyone (including Cooper) was out before the norm. Saturday we got an early start, and then we went to my hometown to find a new location for Ava's birthday party. The venue I finally decided on is actually booked for the day that we'd need it. I was a bit devastated, but we've got options for other venues. I came across a couple that I really like, so hopefully when I call tomorrow, they have some availability.
We ended up going to the Muckleshoot Casino for brunch, and that was a real hit. I keep taking Justin to these places I went when I lived in Auburn years ago. He enjoyed it, and was shocked that the buffet was open to everyone, not just those who are gambling. Shortly after, we finally made our way to the only Sam's Club within fifty miles of us. It's right next to the mall I used to work at, so naturally, Justin got suckered into some shopping. Ava is seriously set for next winter! I hit up Osh Kosh and Carter's for their spring deals, and managed to get such a great haul. I think we wrapped up Saturday with a trip to best buy (for a tablet) and watching the second movie to Thor.
Today we went out to Tacoma to do some exploring, and to have lunch with a friend of ours. Downtown Tacoma has always had some pretty fun murals, so it was great to get a look at those today. We hadn't seen Jennifer in almost four years, so it was definitely great to catch up. Ava took to her so well; I was shocked. At one point, Ava bug even refused to come back to me when Jennifer was holding her (if you know our Bug, you know that never happens). I think that's a sign for Miss Jennifer on the baby front! After our Greek lunch we went out to the waterfront in Tacoma. The last time I was there, I believe I was 19 years old. It was so beautiful. I seriously forgot how perfect Washington state is. There were people jogging, walking their dogs, and walking with their kids. Such a perfect environment.
This past weekend was perfect. I can't remember the last time I had a complaint about my day. It feels good to be happy, and active!
Happy Sunday all! I hope you enjoyed your weekend.
♥- Leilani
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