Beach...

Of course it would not be a trip home from Afghanistan without making a trip to the beach.... which is exactly what we did with the Mullis family!  

Jennings and Liam

 Steve and Jim out on their boards

Game days with Daddy

 Steve came home Friday afternoon and rushed straight to Morgans game.  She was so happy he was there to watch her play.  

After her game, we went to Pablo's of course... He hasn't had Mexican food in months.... 

Pablo, Steve, and Fernando

Saturday morning we woke up early and headed out for Aydins soccer game.  I was so glad he was able to see at least one of their games while he was home and they played so well.  

Saturday night we went over to the Evatts house for dinner with great friends who were also more than happy to spend a little bit of time with Steve.

Welcome Home Daddy!

Oh, how we have missed you!!  Steve is finally home.... for a few weeks that is.  10 months has passed since Steve left for Afghanistan so having him home for a few weeks was fantastic!   I am not too sure if he felt the same... we had planned enough activities and trips to make him crazy but the rest of us had fun :)

Liams FIRST haircut!

Can you believe that Liam is almost 2 and just got his hair cut for the first time ever?  All good things must come to an end and his hair was one of those good things.  It was getting so long that if the weather was not humid enough, it would get straight and crazy (see picture below).

  I hate to say it but I wish I never cut it. He does not even look remotely the same and his hair was so cute!!  Good thing it will grow back.

 Before:

 After.... wet.  It does not look that cruly dry

Happy Easter

As we celebrate the sacrifice the Savior made for us, we also had the opportunity to spend the day with friends and their family.  We are so blessed to have wonderful people enter our lives and accept us into their families while we are away from our own.

Today was difficult as it was our first 'big' holiday without Steve or any other family members coming to visit.  Like usual, the kids woke up before the sun came up to see what the Easter bunny brought them.  They were very happy- as they should be- to see that they got what they wanted!  Like he always does, Liam made me laugh... he didn't care about what was in his basket.... other than the CANDY!!  I think he ate whatever candy he could find while the other two sorted through their toys to see and compare what they got.  He ate so much candy... he barely had breakfast.

Liam's basket

Morgan's basket

Aydin's basket

Happy kiddos...

Looking for more candy... every picture I have of him is either looking for more or eating candy!

Their first clue for their GOLDEN EGG!  Where was it this year?  In the washer...

We then got dressed and ready for a wonderful Easter message on God, His love for us and our ability to return to His presence through His Son at church.  I am so grateful for Christ and all he did for us.

After church, we went to the Mullis' (Jimmie and Barbra) for Easter lunch and an egg hunt.  It was so nice of them to have us be involved in the Easter tradition and celebrate with loved ones.  The kids had a great time and brought home way too much candy!

 

Where is the carrot hiding this year??

 Once we gave them a hint... the kids took off!!

 Liam trying to take Jennings' candy...

 He just wanted to hug it...

I didnt get the other three swinging... but Aydin cracked it open... and all the kids gathered as much candy as they could!

Mullis kids and ours....

For dinner, we went to the Mullis' (Jim and Jennifer) for a great dinner.  I love these people and am so grateful for their friendship!!