Monday, April 21, 2014

Little Happies -- One Joyful Easter



I hope you all had a wonderfully joyful Easter Sunday! Alleluia, Christ is risen!

John and I had special visitors with us throughout the Easter Triduum: his parents AKA my awesome in-laws! We had a lovely time relaxing with each other, exploring downtown Memphis, attending various Masses/services, and even doing a little baby shopping! It was just SO great that I have SO many Happies to share with all of you!


 --one--


Playing a new favorite game with two of my favorite fellas -- husband and father-in-law. Don't you just love their goofy faces? Also, you know I stood on a chair to get this picture for you. You're welcome.

Btw, this game is called Bohnanza, and it's a GREAT party game! There's not too much to it -- you basically just plant, grow, and sell bean fields for coins. But then there's also a lot of wheeling and dealing and luck of the draw. And the illustrations on the cards are a hoot! Stop by sometime and we'll play it with ya!


 --two--


When we told John's mom & dad that we could possibly be adopting in mid-May, they were SO excited and then insisted on taking us to Target to stock up on the essentials! Car seat, diapers, wipes, binkies, diaper pail, crib sheets, formula, travel changing pad, an outfit for baby to come home from the hospital in -- they were just SO generous! And my mom & dad bought us a beautiful crib!! I can't believe we own so much baby stuff! If you'd told me just a month ago that I'd be buying baby gear, I would have told you you were ruh-diculously crazy. And I would have been totally wrong. Mea culpa.

I think we're ready for baby now! And all thanks to excited future-grandparents. :) 

So now we just wait and see! The birthmom I mentioned in my last Little Happies post will probably be shown 3 profiles (including ours) on Wednesday. Ahh! Praying for patience, patience, and more patience! 


 --three--


The Rock n Soul Museum in downton Memphis is super cool! We took Mom & Dad Saturday afternoon and they loved it! I obviously had to force John to pose in front of this ridiculous costume, once worn by Elvis himself. We bee-bopped our way through the whole museum, learning about the history of rock and soul music in Memphis while listening to some great classic tunes. We highly recommend it if you ever visit Memphis!


 --four--


After the Rock n Soul Museum, Mom wanted to grab a drink on the rooftop of The Peabody Hotel, a hotel famous for the ducks they let swim around in their lobby fountains. We were 13 floors up! And the weather was perfect! Check out the view! 


  --five--


The Easter Vigil is always beautiful. I especially love when the church is lit only by candlelight. I wasn't able to get a great picture, but I can still feel the inner-happies I experienced surrounded by the warmth of the glowing candles. 


 --six--


This little creature was randomly formed by the dripping wax from my Vigil candle. What do you see?

I see a t-rex!! See the little arms and the long tail? Wait, did t-rexes have long tails? Oh well! I think it's super accurate and cute!


 --seven--


John, Stephanie, Mom-in-law, and Dad-in-law after the Easter Vigil. So lovely!


 --eight--


I made my Sriracha deviled eggs for the Easter party we attended yesterday. They were a huge hit, gobbled up very quickly! I may have gobbled 4 myself. Mmmm! 


 --nine--


Our friends have a hilarious birthday gift tradition. Since they're all at the point in their lives where they really don't want/need gifts, they instead just give (or re-gift) gag gifts to each other. Above you see Mr. D showing off this silly Italian chef with fish statue, re-gifted from some friends that are moving and don't want to bring it to their new home. We all had a good chuckle out of it.

There are some gifts in this circle of friends that have been re-gifted at least ten times. They're all so familiar with these re-gifted gag gifts that the birthday boy or girl will try to guess which gag gift is in the bag before they open it. Ha! I think this tradition is great because it takes the focus completely off gifts (AKA material possessions) and puts it on the truly important stuff: quality time and good laughs with family and friends.


 --ten--


Speaking of traditions, here you see us showing off our Easter baskets! Growing up, my parents would hide Easter baskets for each of us and we'd have a basket hunt around the house early on Easter morning. We didn't hide our baskets this year, but we still get a little something for each other to celebrate this great Holiday. This year was blu-ray themed (since Target had a sale)! Nothing says Easter like Despicable Me 2 and The Little Mermaid, right? :P


Happy Monday, friends! Can't wait to see your Happies!! 



27 comments:

  1. LOVE the wax creature. I think it kind of looks like a dancing rat? Maybe not. The skinny tail is what's getting me. Haha. Happy Easter!

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    1. I see the dancing rat!! Good call!! Happy Easter to you too! :)

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  2. Happy Easter!!! I love that you both are gamers too!!! We've never heard of Bohnanza. Going to have to look into that one! That's so fun that you were able to have your in laws in town for Easter and that you got to have some carefree timelessness going to museums and playing games. Oh and shopping for BABY items at target!! EEEP! What an amazing story God is writing through your journey to parenthood. To Him be the glory! Lastly - I really need to make those siracha eggs, they look sooo very delicious.

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    1. If you end up playing Bohnanza, let me know what you think! We really like it! Oh, and let me know about them eggs too. Mmmm, they're so tasty. And now I use Trader Joe's Sriracha (gluten free!) and I don't have to feel bad about eating 4 of them, not one bit!

      To Him be the glory!! Amen!! :)

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  3. Such an exciting happy time for you guys!!! I am SO glad you had such a wonderful Easter, and that you're enjoying this season of "waiting" so very much...we could all use a dose of that! Prayers for you today and especially WEDNESDAY! :)

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    1. Thanks, girl!! We'll really need those prayers Wednesday! I don't know if I can handle all this excitement/nervousness/limbo much longer!

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  4. We love Bohnanza!!! So fun! And baby shopping is exciting! Prayers!!!

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    1. Yay! Another Bohnanza fan!! :) Thanks for the prayers!!

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  5. Love that you had such a great Easter and praying things go well (however would be truly best for everyone) on Wednesday! I just hope that means you have a baby soon!!

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    1. You are SO sweet!! Thank you! I hope that means we have a baby soon too. :D

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  6. Things can happen so fast in adoption. Mid May is just around the corner. Lord willing, everything will work out for you two. Looks like you had a nice Easter. God is good!

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    1. God is SO good!! Even if birthmom chooses someone else or decides to parent. It'll be hard news to hear, but God will provide!! Now we just wait and see what He has in store for us!

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  7. I love Bohnanza, too. My mom really enjoys it, though my dad isn't as much as a fan. Husbandido is really into board and card games, so if you ever need any suggestions, just let me know!

    It's wonderful that both your parents and your in-laws are supportive and helping you be prepared for the potential adoption. I'll especially keep you in my prayers on Wednesday!

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    1. Another Bohnanza fan!!! I thought I'd be the only one! :) Such a good game! What are your husband's top favorite 2-player games? And also party games?

      Thanks for your prayer, Stephanie! We really appreciate the support!!

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  8. Adoption prayers are headed your way! My youngest brother is adopted (from South Korea) and it's a crazy exciting and stressful time! JMJ

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    1. Thanks, Caitlin!! You are so sweet! I love hearing that adoption has touched your life too. :)

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  9. Wow! So awesome your in-laws took you to stock up on baby stuff!!!! How exciting! It is getting so real for you two!!! Praying for God's will to be done on Wednesday!

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    1. Thank you, L! You are so sweet for praying for us. God's will be done, indeed!!

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  10. My dad is so precious!!

    PS when can I come over and watch Despicable Me 2?!?!? Thaaaanks, goof!

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    1. Your dad is ridiculoussss and thinks I dislike him. Silly boy!

      PS - Anytime. You, Rachel, ALWAYS have an open invitation! :D

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  11. I love your Easter skirt!

    And you may have more baby stuff than I do (except clothes... I'm up to my ears in pink clothes, between hand-me-downs and gifts!). Ha!

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    1. Thanks, Katie! I bought it and wore it last year for Easter. Ha! Two Easters in a row in the same skirt and I'm not even ashamed. :)

      Any advice on the baby item front? Anything you have or friends have told you to get that we MUST have for our newborn?

      At least Maria will be the best dressed little girl out there! :)

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    2. hmmm... nothing that I would say is *necessary*. I've gotten a lot of advice on baby carriers; the ergo seems to be popular. Sounds like you have the basics, though :-)

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  12. I love your Easter skirt! Where did you get it? Also so random: I had a dream we went shopping together and found the cutest clothes, mainly modest yet stylish skirts and dresses. So weird, right?!

    Happy Easter! I am praying for your potential adoption situation! How fun to go and get some baby gear :)

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    1. Ha!! Kat, your dreams are cracking me up. That is a little weird, and also probably means that we're all just spending too much time on blogger. Haha. Glad to hear we found some cute stuff, though. :) We must have good taste!

      My skirt is from Target, though I got it around this time last year. Hrmmm... I wonder if you could find it on ebay?

      Happy Easter, friend! And many thanks for the prayers!!

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  13. Excited for you, friend! :-)

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