April is Awesome (and almost over).

Happy Easter, everyone.  Hard to believe that came and went so quickly!

We began our morning at the Stonewall Memorial Gardens Sunrise Service.  That meant getting out of bed at 5am, rousing a sleeping baby, and getting us down the road to Manassass by 6:15a.  The weather was beautiful, however, even so early in the morning.  And to watch the sun burst over the mountain in all of its glory . . . it always just takes my breath away.  It's one of two mornings every year where I really don't mind the wee hours of the morning!

After the service we all went back to the Nusbaums for breakfast and baskets.  Bonnie has been very generous recently by handing down to me and my sister-in-law jewelry she inherited from her own mother, so that is what we found in our baskets. Though she told us that she wasn't sure if any of the jewelry was actually worth anything, it doesn't matter to me.  I hold hand-me-down items in the 'priceless' category, anyway!  Cassy of course got a basket from Grandma's easter bunny, but she also got one from Aunt A's easter bunny, too! 

At our house, the Easter bunny hid six eggs and brought four baskets.  Cassy had a BLAST finding the eggs -- she was a natural at it!  She would waddle over to an egg (that we pointed out to her), pick it up, and proudly put it in her little easter basket.  I don't know, I was impressed.  Is that crazy?

We got very nice baskets this year.  Eric got VT shorts, CS Lewis 'Miracles', lots of candy, and a couple of little things I found -- the Webkinz Tee Time Raccoon, and a wind-up robot that dances.  It reminded me of Eric.

I got a new Bible study outline, glow int he dark stars (that will be put up in Cassy's room this week), and a cell phone jacket.  I've been needing one -- my phone is barely over a month old and already has some dings.  Not a good sign.

CASSY got too much this easter.  Seriously.  Spoiled rotten.  Two pairs of sunglasses, bubbles, lots of books, a bunny rabbit stuffed animal, lots of ducks, a mini mario kart (baby peach), an inflatable octopus (for the beach), sidewalk chalk, a bit of candy, googlie eyes, a watering can, a dump truck (for the sandbox), flash cards for ABCs and 1,2,3s, and really, a bunch of other stuff.  This is just from us.  Mind you she got FOUR OTHER BASKETS!

After our house, we headed over for another easter egg hunt and dinner at my parent's.  Everyone was around; my brother even made it home from EMU to celebrate with us!  Cassy faired just as well at my parents as she did at our house and the nusbaum's, plus she got a sundress and crocs to boot.  Easter was a blast :-)

The weekend before Easter I was at the women's retreat.  Man, it POURED the whole time!  Poured buckets.  My sis in law and I tried to dash to the car, which was parked right out front, and got D-RENCHED.  Crazy.  I tried to get in the spirit of things, but something just wasn't settled that whole weekend within me.  So, I didn't get as much out of it as I normally do. 

The weekend before THAT was my super amazing big 3-0 and week long celebration.  It started the Monday before my birthday, actually, with Lunch with Matt.  Then Tuesday lunch with my office!  Then Friday, lunch with my mom, my daughter, my sister, and my friend (four different people, thankfully.)  Friday dinner Eric took me to J. Gilberts which will always be just a genuinely good dinner experience.  Saturday evening was dinner with the Nusbaums -- cooked out burgers and had all the fixin's. 

Saturday night, though . . . that will be forever in my memory.  They (Eric, Manda, and Michelle) threw me a surprise birthday party.  And for whatever reason, I had thought the 'surprise' part would have already happened.  So when I walked in the door and the lights popped on and everyone yelled 'SURPRISE!' I very nearly took out me, my husband, and my daughter as I turned tail and ran out the front door, nearly falling off the porch.  Apparently my natural instinct is to get the hell out if I feel attacked.

After my heart slowed from the marathon pace it had set, and my breathing returned to normal, I was able to greet my guests and let the good times roll.  Karaoke, party games, etc.  Good food, music, and just an overall excellent time!  Man, what a good time.

I got:
Two tomato plants
Mini Projector
Easy Feet!
A New Camera
Munchkin card games

and a bunch of other random things.  Really this was an amazing way to enter my 30's!

So yeah, that's april in a nutshell.  I can't believe this Sunday is May 1.