Spring Pictures

We usually get a semi nice fall pictures taken of the kids or a family picture... or something. But we didn't this last fall. We didn't have a year photo taken of Paige, and guilt was setting in. So, when the kids got their Easter clothes, we took them out that Saturday afternoon and had fun taking photos. Getting all three kids to hold still and smile for the camera is a joke. I caught on to that pretty quickly and had a good laugh over all the ridiculous photos I snapped (and deleted) of Tessa crying over mud on her shoes, Cole escaping to run and get more mud on him, and Paige who seemed to be above it all and done with the whole process. Bless Jake for the intense effort he put in to trying to get all kids to at least look toward the camera. Thank heaven for the sports setting on the camera!
Even though it was cloudy, we were dealing with a case of the squints in some pictures, but, frankly, we don't have the energy to do this again soon! :)
Here is a huge slew of pictures that I narrowed down as my favorites. I think I'll print a few. It's time to change out the hallway pictures.

Easter 2013

Good Friday = Good times dying Easter eggs. We dye a dozen. Keep it simple, I say (and the clean up minimal).

 She's a natural.

 Cole is winking at the camera. Clearly.

 Easter Saturday:

 The Easter Bunny comes on Saturday on our house. We went ahead without Paige since she hadn't gotten up yet so Tessa could get to her dance rehearsal.

 Soon after...

Come on now, Jump!

The kids think it's the absolute best when Jake or I get on the trampoline and jump with them. Cole asked me if I would, and I went for it with my beginning of the new baby weight flop. He was thrilled. It's hard not to bounce him into the atmosphere because he's such a lightweight.

 The giggle coming from outside were infectious on this one:

 That evening, after we put Paige down, both Jake and I got on the trampoline with Tessa and Cole played "Dead Girl" (who came up with that game??) and put on a family circus. We all had a really good laugh at each other. Then we lounged and watched the stars come out. It was one of those really sweet times that I treasure.
Something else I treasure:

This photo. It was super cold on this morning, but Cole is going to do what Cole is going to do. I didn't have much of a reason to say no. He had the best maniacal laugh to go with his ensemble. He's such a funny kid.

Gramma Lori!

My mama had a break from school near the beginning of March and was able to come and spend some time with us. Hooray! 

Jake happened to have business in San Antonio that week, and, at his urging, we decided to make it a quick road trip and accompany him. I'm so glad we did. We had a lovely time.

Here is Grams with the kids in the hotel room before our morning Riverwalk stroll:

After Jake got back from work in the later afternoon, we took off for the Alamo. We add a kid every time we come here. 

Cole is shouting "Remember the Alamo!" at the top of his lungs:

The phrase turned into an unintelligible mess after a few hollers, but I think he thought that was even better. I also think bystanders thought our kid had clear issues.

We went back down a portion of the Riverwalk, and Cole asked Tessa to hold his hand. That's pretty sweet.

 The Japanese sunken garden.

 This place is just cool. It was still coming out of winter enough that not everything is growing or green, but it was still really pretty.

 Up, up, and away!

Nice poses.

As Cole tried to feed the Koi leaves, Gramma taught Tessa the ever disgusting lesson that if you spit into the water, the fish will aggressively go after it. Both absolutely disgusting and fascinating. I remember my parents showing me this at Lagoon when I was small with the nasty fish there. Luckily Tessa and my mom kept it to a minimum, because seriously, that's gross.

 We stopped for dinner at a place called Good Time Charlie's. Can't go wrong with a name like that, right?

 The next morning we checked out a couple of missions.

I'm a little uncomfortable with my kids posing in an oven... Hansel and Gretel!

 Those missions are packed with history and all around very cool to visit.
When we pulled up at home, Cole sobbed because he wanted to go back to the hotel. They DID serve nice breakfasts, so I can understand the disappointment. :)
Later in the visit, we took Grandma to the Perot Museum. She thought it was as awesome as we do.

 We had a great time with my mom zipping around, but also looking for houses and relaxing. She came with me to my first OB appointment where we both heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time. I was rounding out the end of my first trimester constant nausea and am grateful she gracefully put up with the snark and impatience that I'm terrible about letting creep in during that time, like when I wanted to hurt the dude at one of the missions for telling me what to do -the obvious.
Can't wait to see more of you, Grandma Lori!