Easter Parade

Every year, Hazel's preschool has an annual Easter parade. This is a time for the kids to decorate a hat to wear along with their Easter best and sing songs of praise to our God. All the kids hats were so cute and I loved hearing their sweet voices. Hazel worked hard on her hat (with Mommy's help) and she was so proud of it!

Hazel & Carsyn

Waving the palm branches

Lucy

All the kids singing praise to God for his Son, Jesus!

Hazel and her teacher, Mrs. Martin

Sunday School Easter Cookout

Let me start out by saying what an awesome church and Sunday school class we have. Steve and I are so blessed to me a part of such a wonderful church. We had an Easter cookout at the Cothran's house and it was a blast! There was bouncy slides for the kids, an egg hunt, and a visit from the Easter Bunny! Also, lots of good fun and fellowship. We had some of the best Oysters that I have had in a long time. The Easter Bunny definitely livened up in the party and the kids tried to torture him by trying to take his head off, pulling his tail, etc. Poor Kyle! Thanks for stepping up and doing a man's job when no one else wanted to- the kids LOVED you!

Hazel & Eliza going down the big slide

Watch out Conner! The Easter Bunny is coming for you!

All the kids couldn't get enough

Little E looking for eggs

Caitlyn, Anna Grace & Caleb

Hazel found lots of eggs too!

Is there candy inside this one?

Thomas & AG

Bridge Run Weekend

We had so much fun this year in Charleston at the Bridge Run. This year, Nana & Papa came with us and we took the girls. They participated in the Kids Run on Friday afternoon and had a blast. There was tons of games and activities at Hampton Park for the kids to do. Later that night we enjoyed dinner at Vickery's in Mt. Pleasant with several of our friends- then it was off to nite-nite to rest up for the big run. 5:45 came early and Steve and I ventured over to Mt. Pleasant to the start line to meet up with our friends. I was proud of my time this year 56:48 and Steve was about 49 minutes and something. We had a great time and can't wait until next year!

Hazel and Lucy lovin' on Mr. Blueberry
Steve and his Mini-Me before the Kids Run

Hazel helps Eliza during the toddler dash

Eliza gets her medal! Yay!

Hazel gets her medal for running 1/4 mile! Way to go!

Hazel & Lucy celebrating

The gang at dinner

Post Race party

Cooking with the Easter Bunny March 29, 2009

A couple of weeks before Easter, Hazel, Caitlyn and Lucy went to Young Chef's Academy to do some Easter baking with none other than the Easter Bunny himself. They had a great time. They had different stations set up where they made chocolate lollipops out of chocolate Easter molds, decorated sugar cookies on sticks, and painted a flower pot. The end product- an Easter "bouquet" that was very tasty. They also played some fun games like "Don't break the egg," "Egg roll, " and an Easter egg relay race.

Hazel pouring the chocolate into the molds

Decorating sugar cookies

Caitlyn & Lucy make sure to spread on LOTS of icing

Hazel & Caitlyn painting flowerpots

Don't drop the egg!

Egg Roll race

Caitlyn & Hazel with their finished project

Walking for a Cause- March 28, 2009

Ok- all of you know how important I think exercise is. I want to teach that to my children at a very young age, so when we got asked to walk in the 2009 Walk to Cure Juvenile Diabetes, I of course said yes.

Back in November, one of Hazel's classmates, Jack Guinn, was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. They have it under control now with shots and diet, but it is still a major lifestyle change. Hazel absolutely adores Jack and was very concerned about him. Hopefully, one day they will find a cure for this disease. Hazel did very well in the walk 3 whole miles and never complained! Eliza loved being pushed in the stroller and all of us enjoyed the festivities afterwards. I'm so glad we were able to be a part of it! Me & the girls at the finish!

Eliza LOVES these jumping castles!

Face paint & ballons

Little E enjoying a healthy snack

Frosty 5K

This morning, Steve, Thomas and I ran the McLeod Sports Medicine 5K at Briggs School. We had a great time, even though I had the slowest time ever! I don't know what was up with me! The Bridge Run will be tough on me in a couple of weeks if I don't shed some serious lbs!! It was SO COLD! The whole time I was running my hands and fingers were numb! I finished, but not before Steve & Thomas! Oh well, at least I finished and when I did, I wished I would have done the 10k instead. Steve, me and Thomas all won medals- Steve was 2nd place in his age group at 23:22 and Thomas was 3rd in the same age group at 24:49. I won 3rd place in my age group at 25:58. I know that's pretty sad, but hopefully I'll NEVER be that slow again!

Sleeping Beauty Ballet

Last weekend was so busy with Hazel's dance company's production of Sleeping Beauty. There were three performance at the Florence Little Theatre and Hazel was in two of them. The whole company has worked so hard on this and it showed. Everyone did beautifully. Hazel was so excited to be a "shadow fairy." Steve and I went and watched the performance on Friday night along with Nana & Papa, Mrs. Katie & Caitlyn & Mrs. Kanye & AG. It was long, but good. I never took ballet and is really not that into it, but my Hazel LOVES it and I'll watch her even if it means sitting for 2.5 watching girls (and boys) dance to weird music and not talking.

Mommy & Daddy during intermission

Mrs. Katie, Caitlyn & AG during intermission. Hazel was so happy they came to watch her dance. They are two of her closest friends!

Saturday afternoon was an abbreviated performance (Thank God) and Hazel wanted to go watch some of her other friends that were dancing as shadow fairies. Her good friend, Lucy went too Afterwards they had a "Garden Tea Party" and the girls had so much fun.

Note: Cheryl took more pictures of Hazel & Lucy at the tea party and I will add those as soon as she emails then to me. I was helping serve food at the party.

On Sunday's performance, I helped out backstage with the girls and did hair and makeup. So, when you see these pictures of these "fairies" they look more like drag queens! Just kidding, the makeup has to be heavy on stage. Hazel had a blast and can't wait until November and maybe she will get a part in The Nutcracker. I hope so!

Look at that makeup! Does mine look that bad?

Killin' time backstageAll the "Shadow Fairies" before their dance on stage

Me & my favorite ballerina