Spring has sprung...

... and so have the TULIPS!

We are enjoying bright red tulips on the farm as we speak! They are so beautiful and springy! Most of you may know, but some may not know that we live on Jon's Grandparents farm. Grandpa is now living in town and Grandma passed away last summer and we miss them greatly. What a blessing it is to look outside and see the flowers that they planted together coming up again this spring! I think about Grandma when I look at those flowers. My Grandma Kaliff who is also in Heaven now was a wonderful gardner as well and when I plant flowers each year I think about her. It is such a blessing to have a rich heritage that went before us that instilled talents, values and memories within us that we can now pass down to the next generation.

I loved them so much I had to bring some of the beauty inside!

Other things that are springing up are my tomato and pepper plants! I took them outside to a little bit today to get used to the outdoors. Usually they live on our kitchen table!

Happy Spring!

Elli & Ellie... and two lil' toofers!

My friend Zuerela and her daughter Ellie came to visit us last Friday. HER Ellie just turned 1 a couple weeks ago and it was so much fun to see her and MY Elli interact! They were smiling at each other and big Ellie was enjoying using all of little Elli's baby stuff that apparently she didn't like when she was that size but now all of the sudden it great fun!

Zuerela brought Ellie's Jenny Jumper for us to borrow. Aunt Tessa had her try it out right away. She thought it was pretty fun! Doesn't she look enthused??

In other news... Elli is now sporting two teeth! She is so cute with those lil' toofers! Daddy calls her a little pirate! She got the first right at 4 months and the other popped through last week!

First Easter

Elli enjoyed a full Easter weeekend. We were able to spend time with Jon's family on Friday and Saturday night. On Easter morning we went to the sunrise service at our church and then headed east to my parents for the day!

Elli wore a beautiful pink Easter dress that she got from Nana and Papa. She is just checking out her Easter basket full of goodies from Grandpa and Grandma! She loved the crunchy sound from the cellophane wrapping.

Lots of loves from Grandpa and Grandma...

...and Uncle Chase...

...and Great Grandpa Kaliff...

... and Aunt Tessa and Tom...

...and of course Mama!

Hope you all had a blessed Easter! He is risen indeed!!

Head and Shoulders Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes...

Lately Elli's legs and toes have been the area of interest! She is a flexible little thing and loves to grab her feet and put her toes in her mouth.

Good thing we bathe regularly!

4 month photo shoot!

more than a bunny rabbit...

... although this one is pretty cute!

This is our first Easter with a little one and while bunnies and Easter baskets are lots of fun and will probably be enjoyed in this house, we never want to lose sight of the reason we celebrate this Easter season. We are so thankful for Christ and the HOPE that we now have because of what He did for us on the cross.

You see, just at the right time, when we were powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…God demonstrates his own love for us in this; While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

We can now live every day with HOPE and a PURPOSE and can look forward to an eternity with Christ! Hope you all have a blessed Easter season!