Happy Easter!

We are so thankful for our Savior and for His atoning sacrifice.  We know that it is only through Him that we can return to be with our Heavenly Father and be a family forever.

The weather was beautiful this weekend and we had a fun Easter egg hunt at Grandma/pa Anderson's home, dyed eggs, ate sweets the Easter Bunny left us, went for a Sunday morning walk, attended a lovely church service, then had a nice Easter meal with Matt's family.

Together Forever

Easter Egg Hunt in Grandma/pa Anderson's backyard

 The classic "look" when he's excited about something new

 Loved the plastic eggs more than what was in them  :)

Lucky ducky!  Grandma/pa Anderson spoiled me!

 Taking a break

 Dying easter eggs with Daddy...

...and Mommy.

Matt made this egg for G-Man.

The finished bunch

Easter morning.  

We told Gavin that the Easter Bunny had come.  He figured something exciting was happening. 

 He couldn't reach his basket and...

 ...was pretty disturbed about it.

 Yay for Easter!

 Eating some Easter candy

Shake, shake, shake!

 I'm one lucky boy!

I thought I saw the Easter Bunny...

 Please, no more pictures.

I mean it!

An Irish Blessing???

 Cranky Pants O'Riley

Throwin O'Fitagain

This year St. Patrick's Day fell on a Sunday so we had a nice, quiet dinner at home consisting of potato soup, Irish soda bread, and shamrock sugar cookies.

Irish Soda Bread

2 c. flour

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

3 T margarine or butter

1/4 c. raisins

1 egg white, slightly beaten

3/4 c. buttermilk

In medium bowl, stir first 4 ingredients.  Cut in margarine until mixture is crumbly.  Stir in raisins.  In small bowl, combine egg white and buttermilk.  Add all at once to dry mixture.  Stir just until moistened.  On lightly floured surface, knead dough 10-12 strokes until nearly smooth.  Shape into 7 inch round loaf.  Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.  Place dread dough on sheet.  With sharp knife, make 2 slashes on the top to form an X.  Bake @ 375 for 30 min or until golden.  Serve warm.  Makes 1 loaf. (16 servings)

FYI:  The X represents the cross that Jesus died on and in order for this bread to truly be "Irish" you must smother it with soft margarine spread - a layer that's at least 1/2 an inch thick.  :)

11 Months, Already.

11 months.  Can't believe our G-Man will soon be 1.  A few days ago I was looking through photographs of the past year and just couldn't believe how tiny he used to be.  He's becoming my little sidekick, and I love it.  He follows me everywhere in the house and loves my attention.  He enjoys going places with me and gets excited to go out when I put his jacket on.

I've been wanting to document the following for a while now, so here goes.

Some of his favorite things:  

• pears - by far his favorite thing to eat
• Mommy and Daddy's bed - he goes CRAZY when he gets to be on it 
• doggies - he gets excited whenever he hears our neighbor's dog
• the toilet - he's fascinated by it
• Mommy's hair - when I feed him a bottle, he ALWAYS reaches up with one hand and fiddles with my hair  (This is the main reason my hair is always a mess.)
• otter pops - first gave them to him when he was sick and he's addicted now
• ceiling fan - points to it then begs me to hold him next to the switch so he can turn it on
• electronics - (of course)
• walking around the house nude - as soon as that diaper's off, so is he.

Some of his least favorite things:  

• the vacuum cleaner - freaks out every time it's turned on
• shoes - refuses to wear any
• sleep - I was NOT blessed with a sleepy baby, that's fo' shore.

 Ooooh..

Yay!

Engrossed in Play

Love his dimples

Does Gavin look more like I did at 11 months

or like Matt?

Yes.  Matt.  Picture this baby w/o hair and a rounder face and you've got Gavin.

(Pretty sure he's an Anderson.)