While this past weekend was Easter, it looked way different for us than it normally does. No visiting family or family visiting us, no big home-cooked meal, no Easter dresses and attending Sunday church, no Sunday afternoon egg hunts. Why, you may ask? Because my cousin went to the chapel and got himself married! Here is a picture of the sweet bride and groom to be at their rehearsal dinner. And one of Kinsley with my mom (we did get one of her looking at the camera but I love this picture and the way she is gazing so lovingly up at her). And one of the gift they gave Kinsley for being in the wedding (so, so, so cute and such a perfect present for her!)
Growing up, Craig was one of the cousins I was the closest to as he is only a few weeks older than I am. I remember summer after summer spending weeks with him and his family and vice versa. Needless to say, I am so excited to now have Janie in our family as well. She has fit perfectly since the get go and glad to finally see them make it “official”.
Kinsley was a flower girl in the wedding and did a fantastic job! I wasn’t too worried about her making it down the aisle as she loved her dress and she is all about weddings. I don’t like to bribe my kids but desperate times call for desperate measures. So, it didn’t hurt that we were bribing her with Disney’s Frozen shoes to make it down the aisle (which, come to find out, are not as easy to find as you would think….we could only find them on Amazon and Ebay and light up Elsa shoes were $45 and Anna shoes were $18…I will let you guess which ones we bought!) I didn’t know whether she would be able to stand up front the whole time but she sure did. Other than lots of moving around, trying to steal the little ringbearer’s pillow, complaining that she was cold, a little humming, trying to take the matron of honor’s flowers, telling the matron of honor that she was getting Frozen shoes, and jumping up and down quietly saying that she needed to go potty and she wanted Gammy to take her, she did great. Seriously, what more can you expect from a 4 year old?
Her favorite part by far was not the walking down the aisle or eating the cake and candy, but the dancing. Yes, my child is born to be a dancer. She danced to EVERY song even if no one else was on the dance floor and even if the song was one intended for couples. Seriously. Every. Song. And when she saw the cameraman taking pictures of her…she turned it on even more. Emerson pretty much was right along side her dancing too. They were adorable and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Here are some pictures from the wedding:
In the midst of this crazy weekend and little sleep, Easter was spent in the car on the way home Sunday morning (and then with our church family for a picnic that evening). I was reflecting on the resurrection of Christ with Ed on the way home Sunday and started to beat myself up a little that we hadn’t talked much that weekend with the girls about the true meaning of Easter (though we have talked about it in the last few weeks). When I asked Kinsley something to the effect of “What happens on Easter?”, she replied “Jesus is alive.” Thank you Lord for the way you are working on the heart of my child even despite the fact that I am weak, a sinner, and forget to tell her all the right things. Thank you for reminding me that it isn’t about me and that you are the one who changes hearts and reminds us the reason for Easter!
And this is how you wear your kids out during the day when it is raining outside. Send them to the hotel’s gym!
We pray you had a great Easter reflecting on the death and resurrection of Christ and that HE IS ALIVE!!!