Emma's Baptism

We joined Emma and her family to celebrate her baptism on April 27th. I did not take any pictures in the church but have many from the party back at the Donlans' house.

Lucy and Hollyn were done being quiet in church long before the Mass ended. We ducked out early and went back to the Donlans' to play and help set up.

Lucy and Hollyn loved playing together!

Big smiles.

The star of the day, Emma.

Three friends together again.

Hollyn (9 1/2 months), Emma (6 1/2 months), Lucy (7 1/2 months)

The girls seem more interested in each other than most babies their age.

All looking the same way! Someone must have been doing something crazy to get this attention.

Happy Emma!

The Cotting Family.

The Donlan Family.

The six of us. I am so fortunate to have such wonderful friends.

Elliott and his new friend, Charlotte. Charlotte is Emma's cousin.

These two hit it off and had a great time playing together all afternoon.

I wish I had audio to go with the loud "cheese" I was getting from these two. You can see the veins in Elliott's neck bulging!

We hope to play with Charlotte again, soon!

Running fast to keep up with Charlotte.

Emma napping with Grammy Cotting (Danielle's mom).

Lucy and Emma.

Side note: I love summer dresses!!

Ned's 5th Birthday Party

Ned is 5!!! We celebrated his birthday on April 26th with a cowboy party. His actual birthday is the 28th.

Jesse surprised everyone (but me) and came straight from the airport to the party. He flew in from the Canary Islands. This is the second time he has flown from overseas and come directly to a party at the Ortmans' house. Lucy loves playing with her daddy.

What's better than cake? A big pile of brownies!

Chomping at the bit to blow out the candles while waiting for them to be lit.

Almost ready. I love Elliott sneaking into this picture.

Singing!

Finally! Blowing out the candles.

All of Ned's school friends went in for hugs.

Then the girls proudly told Holly "I kissed Ned!!!"

Love this picture of Dad and Hol.

Lucy had a great time at the party.

The big girls loved playing with her.

Our great babysitter, Heather, was there to help with all of the kids. She's showing Lucy how to be a Bills' fan.

Ned is really into heraldry. He got armor for his birthday!

A sword fight promptly ensued. Three young kids and swords. It's a miracle no one got hurt.

Elliott was pumped to be wearing cowboy boots that Daddy wore as a little boy.

Ned's sword storage.

On the move.

Elliott's sword storage.

Thanks, Ned, for a great party!

Easter Cuteness - 2

The Easter cuteness continues . . . 

The girls napped through the egg hunt and the Easter bucket reveal. Here is Lucy checking out her bucket.

Getting some help from me.

This is the best picture I got of Lucy in her new sunglasses.

An egg!

Lucy's first headband.

Penny and her bucket.

We gave this dress to Penny for her first birthday and she wore it on Christmas Eve. She is such a peanut that it will probably still fit her for her second birthday!

Penny took an egg over to Elliott.

Cool kid.

  

Ned snuggled into Lucy. She loves snuggles.

We really wanted a cute picture of all four kids. In an attempt to get one good one, I took 100 pictures. And . . . still no perfect picture.

Elliott did not want to give up his sunglasses.

Penny's ability to hold the same facial expression through the madness is impressive.

Lucy is getting lower.

And lower.

Finally big smiles from Elliott.

What are the big smiles about? Silly Uncle Teddy wearing five pairs of sunglasses!

Pretty Penny.

How cute is she?!

Is there a hole in your bucket, dear Penny?

Penny loves to love on Lucy. She's an aggressive hugger.

More Penny-Lucy love.

Look at her beautiful curls!

A few hours later, Penny was enjoying some banana after her dinner. Coco and I were amazed by how much she was eating. I kept giving her more and more. Then we spotted something . . .

A pile of banana on the couch behind her! Silly girl!