firsts and festivities

This last weekend was full of firsts for our family. 
We decorated Easter eggs and had a hunt with friends.  I was thrilled to have someone else host the festivities. 
You read that right...someone was crazy enough to invite our entire herd over. 
Crazy Generous, right?? 

serious business

waiting...waiting...waiting

the finished product

The egg hunt:

hiding the eggs

ready to be found



the contestants



beckham was stopping after each find, opening the egg and eating the candy

digging for treasure



beckhams first hunt

success



mission accomplished



The hunt was a first for our kids...they loved it, of course. 

There was also this little first between siblings:

Harper usually would have stolen the candy for herself (she is my daughter, after all).   

Instead she took the candy, but then unwrapped it for Beckham. 

Definitely a first...because we don't share...especially Reeces.

Right after the Easter festivities, Dylan took us on a surprise outing. 

We drove and drove without knowing where he was taking us. We pulled off the freeway in Woodburn and I immediately thought we were going to the outlet malls...I was beyond thrilled.  We ended up at the Woodburn Tulip Festival, which was equally as exciting and a first for our family.  Ever since I learned about the festival, I've been counting down the months until we could go.

It really was all I hoped it would be. 

(note: if you are uninterested in a much-too-long recount of our day and 20,000 photos of flower and our family, you should navigate away from this page right now...because that's what is following)

there were millions and millions of tulips, in every color

on the tractor

don't mind the drowned rat look, it had been pouring rain

more tulips

this photo was actually a candid...she would have never been this cooperative by choice

it was so bizarre...there were thousands of hazelnut shells all over the ground

we actually got 2 family photos on this outing, a new record.  notice the look of joy on harpers face

wooden shoes

the things i put up with for a good picture

beckham seemed confused

the rain let up for a bit...we hurried to squeeze in some pictures

harper choosing her favorite flower...don't worry, we didn't let her pick it

what a handsome guy

they had hilarious wooden cut-outs all over

running through the field over to the market/carnival area

We let each of the kids pick one of the activities to do.  They had bungee trampolines, face painting, inflatable slides, jumpy houses, and pony rides:

dawsons choice

even though it was raining, he had a blast



harpers choice

this is a REAL smile people...success

on her pony, 'lagger'

beckhams choice...he got a ride too, but not nearly as excited as a pony

we finished out the day with a treat...2 scoops of sherbet and 2 scoops of huckleberry

We were all exhausted by the end of the weekend.  It was full of fun firsts for our family (say that 5 times quickly). 

xo,

tracy

ps: ice cream really does make everything better...even the Tulip festival.