Becca-boo is 7

 Rebecca is 7 years old! 

It's amazing to even believe.  We partied enough that it's starting to sink in.  She brought flower cupcakes to school on Friday for her class & they sang to her.  We were supposed to leave for my niece's Confirmation in Chicago Saturday but illness kept us home.  So, we did our best to make the weekend here fun, too.  Daddy took her out to a movie on Saturday afternoon, just the two of them.  Sunday morning was sad again but Red Grandma saved the day by handing off Rebecca's present early.  She opened up this adorable tea set!  They played tea party all morning.

 Finally, Monday on her actual birthday, we had her traditional requested pancake breakfast.

 After breakfast & getting ready for school, she opened up her presents.  She is ready to garden!

 After getting sung to again at school, we went out for Yogurtini... her favorite.

 She requested La Paz for dinner & was surprised by even getting a free fried ice cream.  Yummo!  We came home & decorated her cake, but were too stuffed to eat it.

 After school on Tuesday (when we were SUPPOSED to be home) she had over a few friends to play.  Her "garden party" included painting & planting flower pots, making ladybug crackers (had to find a way to work her favorite black olives in to the party), cake, & garden races in the basement.

Such sweet & fun friends.

Happy birthday, beautiful Rebecca!

We love you!

Sunlit snooze

ZOO

What do you do when cousins are in town?
Go to the zoo, of course!

 Teresa LOVES Maria.  Everything she does is awesome. 

 Petting the flying squirrel

 Two of a kind

Such fun!  Glad we could go with you, cousins!  

Diorama dude

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter! 
Rebecca started off the morning with a bang by finding her basket hidden in the bathtub right after waking up.

Sarah followed suit not long after when she crawled directly to hers hidden under the jumperoo.

 Teresa found hers in the ottoman.  She adores this light up Princes Sophia spinner!

 Andrew had a pretty extensive search before he found his hidden in our room in the old ottoman under some pillows. 

 After the initial diving in, we headed downstairs to find all the eggs that were hidden.  Lots of good ones!  The group favorite was one held up by darts on the dart board.

 Back upstairs for breakfast 

 Rebecca trying out her bubble spinner 

 After a beautiful, packed 10:30 Mass we were delighted to find our cousins waiting in back to say hi before they headed to Green Grandpa's.

 We ran home to change & headed over to my sister Cara's house where Red Grandma & Grandpa, Uncle Fr. Jon, & my sister Chris' families were all awaiting us. 

 We had way too much fun with these huge Easter eggs.

 

 Fabulous food & conversation with those I love. 

(Look at Dad's face!  Ha!)

 In between bursts of rain the littles had another egg hunt out back.

Most of the crew

Such a fun group!  Glad we could all be together.

Happy Easter!

Alleluia!  He is risen!

Free wheelin'

After a couple of hours of lazing about, we decided it was time to finally get those training wheels off of our almost 7 Rebecca's bike.  She was all for it & had a great attitude!  "Mom, I made it a whole 7 blocks without falling!"  She meant 7 squares of sidewalk, but it was still pretty impressive.

Never one to lag behind, Teresa begged for her training wheels off as well.  Daddy did his best with Rebecca & Andrew was Teresa's personal coach.  She looked pretty good but wasn't ready for him to let go yet.

Here's Andrew his first time without training wheels 4 years ago on Holy Saturday.  I guess we were continuing yet one more tradition!

Holy Saturday

 The tradition continues  :)

Our Holy Saturday was full of preparations & fun.  After breakfast, morning routine, & putting away our Lenten decorations (which are few), we headed off to Church for the Easter Eggstravaganza. 

 Even more fun to get to just show up & enjoy it!  Thank you Freshmen & Sophomore GodTeens!

 Sarah was a good sport even though it went right through her morning nap.  She crashed before we left the parking lot, so we decided to just head home.  While she was snoozing, we colored our Easter eggs.  Two dozen this time so that we could bring abundant deviled eggs the next day.  It was really fun not feeling like I had to "ration" out how many they could each color.  Definitely need to do that again next year. 

 

Their faves

A simple lunch & we were off again!  This time out to the cemetery to put flowers on Zachary's grave & then out to Orschyln's to enjoy the baby chickies & bunnies.  Forgot to take any photos this year but it has been a great tradition for quite a while.  Came back home & the girls helped me to put up most of the Easter décor.  I can't believe that I used to do all of that by myself after they went to bed PLUS the other stuff.  So much easier this way & they had fun doing it, too.  Another keeper idea for next year!