EASTER!!!!!!

This year was the first year we've dyed Easter Eggs. Maeby was actually terrified of the whole process until she watched me do most of them - but come time for the LAST egg....she decided it was the best thing EVER!

Now, while many of my friends who have children have adorable Easter morning-basket opening-adorably dressed pictures....we don't. We have the real deal.

Would Maeby let us get her dressed? NO WAY!

Would she even put back on her pj's after having her diaper changed? NO WAY!

She INSISTED with a stubbornness of a thousand generations from both sides that she would ONLY wear a diaper....oh and her beloved boots! Yes, boots....at that hour of the morning!

This is Violet, her new puppy that sings to her, teaches her how to spell her name and sings and plays games about her favorite things. Maeby LOVES her (although she is NO Shirley Bear)

Getting her ears on herslef and wondering....when is Mama and Papa going to move all of this stuff so I can eat? Quickly followed by...wait....they WANT me to touch this stuff?

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is probably her FAVORITE movie right now - girl's got good taste :)

Later, we packed up and headed up to the Portland LDS Temple to take some pictures with cousins. We figured there couldn't be a better place to spend Easter than the Temple as a family.

We had a very nice time walking around the Temple, talking about it and taking pictures.

This is as close to an Easter Egg hunt as Maeby could manage - too much excitement.

I'm pretty sure they thought she was being sneaky by running off with one of the eggs.

Where there is water - there is Maeby. I'm just thankful she didn't dive into the fountain.... You may think I'm joking, but seriously, given a chance, she'd be in there rain or snow or sun.

One of my most recurring memories are of family outing in which my dad would end up taking pictures of us smelling the tulips - I think that in the future, Maeby will look back and remember the countless times in which she had to pose with various species of birds. (Sorry dad, she wouldn't smell the tulips, she kept trying to tear off the petals, so we stopped trying to get pictures of her doing that for you)

When there are rough days with her, I think back on times like these and know without a shadow of a doubt that it is all worth it.

My two favorite people in my favorite place.

I am so grateful to know that no matter what happens we are an eternal family. What a blessing in our lives! What a great day, Easter, the day we reflect on the Saviors atonement, to spend at the Temple.