The Birketts: Happy Easter 2010!

Easter Sunday! 2010

(Kevin bought Megan this dress in Ireland when she was just 3 months old... he's been saving it for her until it fit.)

Megan was so excited to open her basket. (NOTE to self... she was mainly interested in what the Easter Bunny put in the eggs... and not all the other gifts. So next year... stuff the eggs!)

This was our 3 second attempt for a family photo.
We didn't get too far... when the sprinklers turned on... and ran us off the porch!

(Better luck next time!)

Daddy and Jacob... all spiffed up for Church!

Megan was sniffing the azaleas outside the church. She is tough to get still long enough for a photo these days... so you have to get her in action.

Mom and I tried to grab a quick one... it was a mess. We kept trying over and over... and kept laughing. We were trying to not be so posed... oops... failed that one. I kept telling her "shake it loose..." and then of course... we couldn't be serious... so had to stop trying.
The best part was catching her rubbing at her neck during the sermon... because she threw it out / tweaked it... shaking it loose too much. SCOOCH!

(Enjoying the Newly Renovated Hall/Fellowship area... for Easter Sunday!)

We widened the hallway... by cutting back the old nursery wall... and using it as additional greeting area/ traffic space! It has really opened the space up... and allowed for more conversation time. It was the best we could do without a major construction change!

The newly tiled floor (compliments of the hard working men of the congregation...) have really made it look sharp! It looks clean and neat! Having freshly painted taupe walls... framed photos... and new base boards really set the whole thing off. Saturday was a major work-day! We did a lot of behind the scenes... finishing touches. Cleaning... organizing... painting... hanging new blinds on the new windows...
and best of all...
Building 2 VERY much needed playgrounds!!!!!!

I gotta say... I never thought they would be finished.
The construction process looked a bit sketchy on Saturday.
There were extras of some parts... and not enough or completely missing of other parts...
not to mention... the instructions made absolutely no sense!

I think I can speak for the Dads when I say...
"It was all worth it watching the kids play on Sunday morning!"

"Say Easter Eggs!"
"Say Cheese"
"Say Happy"
"Say anything you want... just smile and look at the camera!"

They built one side for the smaller kids... and one side for the school age kids.
Big and Small... they all loved it!

(We caught the older boys all hanging out in the playhouse.)

This is the pre-school / toddler group

Both kiddos took a nap after church... and woke up HAPPY!
They didn't have time to open their baskets before church.

Hooray... this is Jake's first Easter basket!
(I think he liked the plastic grass the best!)

Every once in a while... Mom's get pictures like these.
This one really says it all...
He is my buddy!!!!
I love him so much!!!!

We had our Family and friends over for a nice Easter afternoon.

Grandma was here too! She is Grandma to everyone!
(Do you see a resemblance here?)

The boys FIRST Easter!
(They were so cute!)

Jake- "Hey... If you just look at her the first time... she'll take less pictures"
Eric- "Which one do I look at? There are 3 cameras!"

Jake- "Why are they so excited about empty plastic eggs?
Eric- "If they wanted to hide them... they painted them the wrong color... these stick out like a sore thumb!"

Eric- "Hey... that's my Grandma!... Hi Grandma... down here!"
Jake- "Hey... I'm smiling... did you catch it?... I'm throwing her my irresistible eye brow tilt!"

Jake- "Dude... this ones empty too!"
Eric- "Yeah... they're all duds man"

It's so much fun watching him discover new things!
And yes... they did actually seem to enjoy playing with the empty eggs... and grass!

I love my little man!

Nae and I with our boys!
Next year... they will be all over the place!

Megan was so sweet with Jake. She tried to hand him all the eggs.
Megan- "here Jake... you have this one... and this one... and this one"

... then the cousins came!
Megan loves running around with Samuel and Livy!

We snapped a picture out under Pop's tree. He planted it 5 years ago... the week he passed away. It will always be special... because it was one of the last things we did together.
We always think of Daddy more at Easter... because it falls around his birthday.
He passed away April 7th... and his birthday is April 8th!
Pop would be 67 years old this week.