Happy Easter 2009

This is one of my favorite parts of being a mom! Eating leftover candy left by the Easter Bunny is a nice bonus as well.

Brenna's basket was filled with Madagascar everything...it's her favorite. However she went straight for the Easter cake.

Sleepy Jace! His favorite thing actually turned out to be his Iron Man ice-pack. It has come in very handy...any falls, scrapes, or tantrums.. 3 seconds of the icepack and he is magically good to go.

and Brenna now eating her Easter cake candy sandwich

Cousins Ava and Clayton wishing their Easter Bunny was as cool as Jace and Brenna's ;)

An attempt at a family picture! Better luck next year thanks to my kids

Sweet Brenna Leigh

Mom and her boys(we'll photo shop you in later Clay)

Happy Easter Everyone! I love my family, my Savior, and the knowledge that he lives!!

Cousins cousins everywhere!

No these are not all my kids.....despite what you may wish Chad! Finally we get all the cousins together(minus Tiff and Clays in the belly baby). Heather and Kyle came up from Knoxville with Clayton(9), Ava(4), and Lincoln(2) along with Bryce's kids Chadder(8) and Autumn(7). The kids basically lived on the trampoline fueled by fruit snacks and goldfish. Grandma Sandi and Biscuit were the stars of the show.

Ava, Lincoln, Clayton, Biscuit, Ella, Chad, Jace, Brenna, and Autumn

Grandma Sandi and Brenna feasting on Chad's cobbler creation(which he cooked over sand from the kids sandbox in our backyard, right beside the new smoker he bought himself for Easter, while 50 millions kids are shooting off rocket balloons off the trampoline--can we say redneck?)

Highlight of the trip: Marbles Children's Museum Yippee!!!!

Brenna putting on a show, Lincoln wishing he was wearing that

Jace was very disappointed to see that there were no dinosaurs that came alive(thanks Night at the Museum movie) This helped ease his pain.

This is why Chad is usually the one behind the camera.....hold on, is that a bicep flex I see?

Just a dang cute picture

The gym is hazardous to your health

You know when you're on the last 10 minutes of your workout where you just want to give up and quit? I see the lovely nursery lady walking towards me and I think, yes...Brenna has a dirty diaper...I'm saved! Well not exactly the case. Jace decided to dive into some podium at the gym nursery. Blood everywhere!! I got that look of pity and you shouldn't of had two kids so close in age as I left the gym...Jace bloody and screaming, Brenna screaming because Jace was screaming and of course, a dirty diaper.

Mommy dressing the wounds

Poor kid couldn't close his mouth for a few days

This is for you Dr. Poppa Titensor

Rock on Jace Boy...this will be one of many I'm afraid...the Barnes boy curse is upon you.

Twilight party of the century

So sorry to all who were not able to attend the best party EVER! A few of my friends and I decided to throw together a little party in honor of the Twilight DVD release.

Raleigh's top Twilight fans! Suzette, Julie, me, Amanda, Vivian

The house was lit with white lights and we even had a fog machine(that we gave up on after the first 10 min) Suzette's daughter made the sign for us!

Entry way of Suzette's beautiful home

Our dinner menu (notice the Twilight font and crest- go Wil and Vivian)

We had homemade mushroom lasagna(in honor of Bella's mushroom ravioli), spinach dip, garlic bread, pizza, and veggies. We had movie quotes scattered throughout the spread.

My edible art re-creation

and my other homemade creation- thank you Pizza hut- in honor of Edward's attempt to eat human food

Most of our fun group of gals

Vivian- my adopted sister hard at work. She was the backbone of this whole operation. She basically cooked everything, set up everything, and even got her husband to read and enjoy the book. Super woman.

The lovely host Suzette and her husband serving "blood"

Let the movie begin!

Julie, our most dedicated fan stumped us all with her trivia questions and stumped herself trying to make black icing for the cupcakes. Hence, red velvet cupcakes...white icing.

My fav quote- Do I dazzle you? strategically placed by the chocolate fountain.

Tower of calories

Thank you Edward. Without you, we would have no excuse to leave our husbands with the kids and eat food all night.

Same time, same place, next year for New Moon....

Spring recital

First recitals of the year! I have an awesome music studio of about 35 piano, violin, and voice students. This is our fun performance where the kids get to pick their favorite "popular" song and get to dress the part. We had everything from Green day to Fiddler on the Roof to Star Wars. Since I have neglected to take pictures of any of my recitals the past few years, I thought I'd make up for it and post a few. I love my job and all the kids I get to see grow and progress.

Everyone take a bow!

A few minutes before showtime- at least Sydney is excited to perform

Montgomery sister who play violin and sing, thanks for the fake smiles!

Siblings Brinna and Connor- sweetest kids you'll ever meet

"Rock Star" Paige who is visually impaired- her talents astound me each week

Sabrina, Alyse, and the Robinson family eating from our "candy bar"

Jace and his partner in crime Levi Pulley sneaking treats before the recital

My beautiful and amazingly talented accompanist Amanda with her partner in crime Danny, page turner extraordinaire

Elizabeth Waldorf and her musical family- they were quite the hit!a>

and Jace at the end of our second recital of the night...completely stuffed with candy