I took Rosy to Maggie Moo's last Thursday to get some ice cream for her birthday. We always go there on her birthday but we ran out of time this year so we made up for it on Thursday. While we were eating, I got a call from Marci saying she was coming the next day for Easter!! We were so excited!! Nebraska got rain so they were able to come!! YAY!! It was such a fun surprise!! We always go to mom's when Marci comes and wait for their Suburban to pull up and when it does, we all run and hug them...jumping up and down in a circle. We love it when they come!!!
YAY!! They are here!!! :) Marcifest begins!! :)
Mom with all her girls.
Ellie also came for Easter!!! YAY!!! She got here a couple of hours after the Epps did. In these pictures, I was giving Ellie a "talk" about a guy who is not our pick for her because she's number 2 after another girl!! UM....don't think so!!! In the middle pix, I was telling her to kick his boohiney right on out the door and tell him not to let the door hit him on the way out! Hannah was snapping pictures the whole time. When I looked at the pictures, I laughed so hard!!
Marci brought Macy an Easter present from Grandma and Grandpa. For as long as I can remember, they have sent presents to May May for every occasion. So sweet and means so much!!!
Friday night, we sat around the living room and talked and laughed, as usual. Sheldy entertained Banner with juggling. Banner laughed so hard. It was adorable!!! Mom "kicked us out" by 11:00 on Friday night. :) Their bedroom is right off the kitchen and we're not a quiet group. :)
Saturday morning, we met at mom's for Marci to lead us in Jazzercise! She's a Jazzercise instructor in NE and by far the most fun instructor I've ever seen. We laugh the whole time...and sweat, too!!! Mom's neighbor came and joined us for a couple of minutes. She was so sweet and said she wanted to be a part of our family.
After Jazzer, we headed to Larry's pizza where I always start my meal with chocolate chip pizza!! I have absolutely no problem having dessert first! Who made up that rule anyway??? My philosophy is that I'm going to eat dessert anyway, whether I'm full or not, so I might as well eat it first and then eat less pizza than I would if I would have started out with the pizza hungry. Mar gave Macy and Ellie some money to go shopping. They were so excited! It's fun giving college students money. They are always so appreciative. Ellie said it reminded her of Pickin and Ginnin in Rayville (that they no longer have) where they would get $100 every year to spend on the booths.
We always eat at Larry's because we have such a big group and the room will hold us all.
I just realized that the "kid table" is all girls! :)
We looked over and Ellie was painting nails. She's an artist and did such fun designs on everyone's nails.
Cute!
After Larry's, I came home and rested while everyone else went to Barnes and Noble. After that, I met them at Skinstar. Macy, Ellie, Madeline, and Julianna all got feathers in their hair. That is the latest craze. I saw so many people wearing them at church on Sunday. Ellie loved this star at SkinStar. SkinStar is such a fun place because Sheldon and Sabrina's art is everywhere. After SkinStar, we went to the mall to eat at ChickfilA and go to Forever 21.
After the mall, we headed back to mom's. We talked and laughed, as always, and then filled eggs.
On Sunday morning, we decided to go to the 9:00 am service where we would have time to cook before lunch at mom's. The service was WONDERFUL!!! The worship was GREAT!! We sang "In Christ Alone" which is my FAVORITE!!!
After an awesome service!!!
At mom and dad's after church, we got a picture with the Smith "originals". :) Mom and Dad with all six kids.
I made the easiest yummiest ice cream sandwich cake. Here's the recipe.
Layers upon layers of ice cream sandwiches, Cool Whip, hot fudge, caramel, M&M's, and Heath bar bits. :)
After a delicious lunch, we all prayed over Madie. She has Cushing's disease and is having surgery on May 11th to remove a tumor from her pituitary. She has been through a VERY hard year and a half. We were SO happy when they found that tumor. They knew something was wrong from her cortisol levels and symptoms but she didn't have the typical Cushing's symptoms so the diagnosis took a long long time. Finally, the second MRI showed a tumor. I never knew we'd be so happy to find a tumor on a family member's brain but now they can remove it and the symptoms will go away!!! Madie is counting down the days until she gets that tumor out. I am so thankful to have a close family who love the Lord so much and each other.
After prayer, we had the Easter egg hunt. All the grandkids are so much older now so it's just Rosy, Julianna, and Maxx who hunt. Next year, sweet Banny will be able to hunt, too.
After the hunt, Ellie did her gymnastics for everyone. We were all impressed!! She can do all kinds of fun things...even a back tuck!! She didn't do it on Sunday, though, because the grass was too wet and there wasn't enough spring. After watching Elle Belle, Jerry Lu and David came over and we just all hung out until we had to say goodbye to the Epps. :( They didn't leave until Monday morning but we all said goodbye Sunday night because they leave so early on Monday morning.
It was a great Easter weekend celebrating each other and that He is Risen!!!
He is Risen, INDEED!! Thank you, Lord, for dying so we could have life.
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