- If April showers bring May flowers... -

...then what do "May-flowers" bring?!

Pilgrims.

Meh.

They bring SPRING FAMILY PICTURES, of course!

And there were plenty of [almost] May flowers to revel in for this session!  Let it be known that I don't "spring" for these photography deals too often, because I have a pretty nice camera of my own annnnnd I don't like to shell out our dolla dolla bills.  I mean, really, the only two times we've ever had professional family photos were for the girls' newborn sessions in 2015 and 2018!  But!  Taking family pictures of your own family is usually stressful and someone [namely me] always ends up in a bad mood and it's rarely worth all the blood/sweat/tears when it's all said and done. And so!  As one of our Christmas gifts last year, my parents booked us a family session with Brittney, and I've never been so excited!

Brittney was literally my very first best friend [I can show you my kindergarten scrapbook with her name -- scribed in INK -- to prove it!], and I love that she was the one to capture these memories for us!  She is so laid back and all-around wonderful, and she wasn't at all flustered by Scarlett's signature squeal-flailing.  Win, win, winnnnnning.  You win it all in my book, girlfriend!

Long story short:  THANK YOU a million times over to my parents for gifting us this and to Brittney for executing and delivering!  I love how the photos turned out and I'm over the MOON to call these three beautiful humans mine! <3

- Alleluia, He is RISEN! -

Despite our current state of chaotic living, the 5-years-and-going-strong-tradition of visiting the [free] Easter Bunny at Wal-Mart did NOT make its way off the agenda:

Scarlett was not scared even a tiny bit, and Harper was puzzled as to "why the Easter Bunny doesn't get sweaty inside those hot clothes?" ...'Tis just another mystery of Easter weekend, my friend.  Both kids grabbed a goodie out of the candy basket and Emma had her turn on E.B.'s sweaty lap before we made a dash for it.

Next!  Whoever thinks 'dat Easter Bunny has a hand up on this mama needs to reevaluate! ...Thank goodness for #theofficelife and #legitlunchbreaks because egg-stuffing at home would've been immmmm-possible.

Then! The girls enjoyed an amazing kids + moms + grandmas egg hunt at Suzanne's house:

...and woke up to another house full of surprises on Easter morning!  Harper was up at 12:28am on Easter morning dashing around the house and marveling at all the goodies.  Brian conned her back to her bed "because we have to wait for Sissy to wake up [in like.............7 more hours]" and soooo very luckily, she fell back asleep with two handfuls of candy and the LOL Surprise that the E.B. left in her basket.  Phew.

But! 7:35am had us like: 

Everyone was thrilled with the Bunny's generosity! Scarlett's world is forever colored after she downed her first fun-sized pack of M&Ms, and there have already been many-a-fits thrown when she spots a piece of chocolate from afar and is then denied the goods.

All sugared up, we headed off to Mass...

...where Harper colored quietly and behaved perfectly, and Scarlett stayed successfully in the pew until the homily [progress!] and then retreated to the hallway screaming and flailing.  A+ for Harper, D for Scarlett.

Home to pack up the fruit tray...

...and off to Grammy and Papa's for another egg hunt and Easter celebration!

Happy Easter, all!

HE IS RISEN!

- Harp + Great-G's -

These two photos came up on my Facebook memories a few days ago... [Throwback to when Dad was awarded "Business Person of the Year!"]

But! Baby Harper with her two, beautiful great-grammies!

...Here's to strong women:  may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them!

So grateful for these matriarchs who radiate a love that knows no end!

- It's FUN to be FOUR! -

After Papa's birthday comes Kate's birthday, and boy, oh BOY did she have a fun party at the gym!

Harper colored this very special card for her very best friend, complete with "a mermaid with her tummy hanging out" and "a tongue with dots!" 

Halfway through the party was a short break for singing, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" and eating cupcakes...

...and then back to playing it was!

Happy 4th birthday, sweet Kate! You are so loved!

- Notre Dame circa 2008 -

Way back when I was studying abroad in the fall of 2008 and standing inside the Notre Dame Cathedral, I really had no idea what these memories would mean to me during this Holy Week in 2019!  I feel blessed to have visited one of the most beautiful places in the world and will hold tight to these photos forever.

 

Included in these photos is the statue of Joan of Arc, my confirmation saint.  She was accused of being a heretic and a witch and was burned at the stake when she was only 19 years old [the same age I was when I visited here].  Several years later, she was exonerated; several centuries later, she was canonized a saint here inside the walls of Notre Dame. Saint Joan of Arc, pray for us!

Also pictured is the relic venerated as the Crown of Thorns.  It is only presented to visitors during the first Friday of the month and every Friday during Lent.  13+ million people visit Notre Dame each year to view the relic. 

My heart hurt to see the footage of this beautiful building ablaze.  Sending prayers and love to the people of Paris and Catholics all around the world!

As the news reports that many parts were saved, including the cross at the altar and all of the relics,  I'm holding onto the hope that Notre Dame will be rebuilt and, in time, will shine again!