Easter 2012

Easter this year was relaxing and low-key. We attended church and took special time to celebrate our Savior. How grateful we are to know that He lives!
After church we had a little egg hunt in our backyard just for Natalie. It was so cute to see her "get it" and go around putting all the eggs in her basket. She was particularly delighted to find treats in some of her eggs and the chocolate teddy grahams were her favorite by a long shot.
It was also so fun to have Natalie wear her special Easter dress from Peru, given to her by her Grandma and Grandpa Waddell when we visited last November. She looked so sweet in it.
A little video of the egg hunt.

Utah Trip

We just returned from a great week in Utah. We enjoyed the spiritual lift ever-present at General Conference and had a wonderful time visiting with family. My parents and Jonathon were up from Lima, Peru and Rebecca, Gerrit and Marc are all currently attending BYU. It was the first time we have all been together since last July and will be the last time we are all together until Marc returns home from his two-year mission to Concepcion, Chile in the summer of 2014. It is hard to believe that the next time we see him Natalie will be 3 1/2 and our baby girl will be 2!

Friday was the first day of our trip where the whole family was together. It was fun just to relax and hang out and of course Natalie was in on all the action.

Video gaming with the boys

Ping pong with Dad

Foosball with Rebecca and Marc

Russ and I were able to attend the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference. Thanks to Rebecca and my aunt Jean for watching Natalie for us. It was fun to be in the Conference Center for the first time in 7 years for me and the first time ever for Russ! We had great seats (thanks Mom and Dad!) and it was so neat to be able to see the Prophet and members of the Twelve so close up. Russ also attended Priesthood Session with all the men that evening.

Sunday night we had a nice family dinner and took an official family picture to hold us over for the next two years. The last official family photo was taken in Hawaii a year and a half ago. Why do I always have to be 7 months pregnant in these pictures?! Hopefully I can time it right so as to be a normal size for our next family photo.

Natalie and "Pa" enjoying a book together.

With the birthday boy
We opted not to take Natalie out of her high chair for the group shot of Marc with his cake because she was covered in tomato sauce. The girl loves her spaghetti!

Monday evening we went out to dinner to celebrate Marc's 19th birthday. We celebrated two nights in a row, but that seems fair since we wont be there for his 20th or 21st.

The original Waddell siblings, plus Natalie. She does have Waddell blood after all.
Natalie and Daddy
She loves her Uncle Jonathon
And her Aunt Rebecca
Natalie helped Marc open all his presents.
Our last day in Utah and our last picture with Marc! He is going to be such a great missionary.

In addition to all the family time, I got to see three of my best friends - Suzanne, Hillary and Michon - who I haven't seen in years. It was so fun to catch up in person and I love that even though it had been years since we had been together, as soon as we saw each other it was as if it had only been days. Love friends like that. Oh, and we also hit up BYU campus. Boy does that bring back memories. My first time back in the four years since I graduated and there I was, buying matching pink BYU shirts for my two girls. How times have changed!

Cherry Blossoms Take II

The Cherry Blossoms are so beautiful that I was compelled to go a second time with some friends. Spring here is glorious.

Cherry Blossoms

I love going to see the Cherry Blossoms every year. They are so beautiful and this year the weather was perfect for being outside - in the mid-70's and sunny with a breeze. Bliss. As always, Natalie was just happy to be running around outside.

Natalie loved picking the dandelions. She had quite a little bouquet by the time she was done.

Another highlight was the butterflies. Oh, how Natalie loves butterflies.
I was so glad I caught her happy face when she saw them fluttering by.
Daddy is the best.

Sunday Shoot

Natalie was looking so grown up and beautiful in her dress on Sunday that I couldn't resist a little photo shoot after church. I love the dress she was wearing; it is a hand-me-down from her cousin May and I feel very lucky to have inherited it! Even better than the dress is my sweet little girl who is looking less little and more grown up by the day.

Hap Day

aka Happy Birthday according to Natalie!
It was Russ' birthday last Tuesday and we had a few small celebrations to honor him as he turned one year older and wiser. Russ is not big into parties or making a big deal out of his birthday so things were simple, but I think that's just how he wanted them.

The two of us were able to go out for a nice date night to celebrate on the Saturday before his birthday. He choose the Lebanese Taverna for dinner and I was thrilled. If you haven't been, I highly recommend it and if you're worried about what to order, Russ and I would be happy to go with you and help pick things out. :-)

Monday evening we had a family celebration at his parent's home with both his siblings and their families. We had sandwiches, arguably one of Russ' favorite foods, and fruit parfaits for dessert.

Tuesday was his actual birthday and we celebrated with our little family at home. Natalie welcomed him home by waiting at the front door per usual and was thrilled to show him the balloons we had gotten for him (let's be honest, they were largely for her as well). Russ requested a birthday dinner of filet mignon, mashed sweet potatoes and sauteed green beans. I have never cooked filet mignon at home and not wanting to disappoint, took his request seriously. I found a local butcher for the meat and followed instructions very carefully on how to sear the meat and just how long to cook it. It was amazing, if I might say so myself.
I got a picture, though it doesn't do the meat justice. The camera was on auto, with a flash, and it didn't do it any favors. Just trust us. It was so good that Russ has requested this as birthday dinner forever and I am all in.
Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband and Natalie's great daddy. We are so lucky to have you!