The Lord is Risen indeed! Happy Easter!

We had such a lovely Easter Sunday - wonderful worship at church, cozy lunch with friends, quiet evening at home with a rumbling, overcast sky.

This gives a feel for Naomi's Easter ensemble.  Unfortunately a diaper malfunction forced us to plan B just before lunch.

Happily, plan B was adorable too.  Naomi thanks Tante Anita and Oom Paul for thinking, "A girl can never have too many clothes."

Naomi was rescued from her first trip to crib by her dad.  Just before getting put down for real, Naomi and I enjoyed a good chuckle over the Barnyard Dance.  We read it twice for good measure.

Holy Saturday addendum

ü Thumbprint cookies and truffles.

ü Walking around Bettinger before the storm hits.

ü Rounded out by dinner served by Daddy.

The food scored even better the second time around though Naomi woke up twice during the night.  We will have to work on our cereal-milk proportions to get a winning, stomach-filling combination.

Holy Saturday Happenings

     ü Listening to the Handel's Messiah and Rutter's Requiem 

     ü Putting away winter clothes

     ü Feeding Naomi rice cereal for the first time 

 We tried some apple juice in the cereal since apple was approved last week.  Some complications arose when little hands came up to investigate.   

The gelato bowl decoy proved only moderately successful. 

We learned to cooperate though no one is sure in the end how much cereal actually made it to her belly.

At least Naomi appears unscathed by the experience, so we will give it another try this evening to see if a full night's sleep may be resumed. 

Play ball!

 Watching the CCA students become districts champions...well, some of us were watching. 

Mommy played a little joke on Naomi, giving her a big cup with a little bit of water.  Here she is still dry though a little dubious.

Extended time in Belmont

Opa always comes with super-fun activities for the girls.  This time a flower garden project.

What good is a walk without an ice cream cone afterwards?!

Breakfast Monday at the Flying Biscuit before Grandma and Opa leave.

Naomi enjoys a good laugh with her Opa.

No John - napping.

No John - doctor's appointment.

Together, finally.

Our first attempt at getting back to Texas was thwarted by storms, so we got to eat lunch with Uncle Micah. Naomi has taken to drinking water (but only water) from her cup.

Headed home to Texas, catching a few winks.

Festivities in the name of Kate

 

Kate turned five on Saturday and had a bea-u-tiful princess party to celebrate.

 After all that delicious cake and to prepare for our three-pizza taste test, we had to take a jaunt up and down South Forest Lane.

 The walk was too much for Sophie, Uncle Micah, and Kate.  They barely reached the driveway before collapsing.

Sunday, Naomi is the first one dressed for church after a super night's sleep.

 

 

Some John-bonding time.

 And some bonding time with the three of us.

DFW -> CLT

At DFW, Naomi was fascinated by the hustle and bustle of fellow travels.

As the 8:15 pm departure turned into 8:40 turned into 10:00, Naomi had to grab a quick snack. In spite of being up hours beyond her bedtime, she remained cheerful and friendly towards the other passengers.

And as a special treat for me, the flight attendants let Naomi sit in her very own seat.  She slept through the entire flight and car trip to la casa Bomgaars.

Who is going to make me laugh now?

With Phil going out of town to watch his lone student play in the state golf championship, Naomi and I decided to skip town ourselves.  Naomi is taking her first flight to North Carolina to be at her cousin Kate's fifth birthday party in the morning.  

Daddy and Daughter before the drop-off. We ladies hope to be smiling still once we land in Charlotte...really I hope one of us will be smiling in her sleep. 

A week of sweet nothings

Hanging out with Daddy.

Hanging out with Mommy.

Always remember to stop and smell the flowers.  Perhaps give them a lick as well.

But not too much lollygagging - there's a whole world out there!

A quick visit from the Houston grandparents

Grandma and Opa came down Saturday, April 9th, and left Monday morning.

Grandma is unsurprisingly more interested in Naomi and her ducks than the new game we taught them. Naomi, on the other hand, is intrigued by the dice.

Opa gives Zilch! a try. Meanwhile, Naomi appears to be making her ducks interact.

I know, yet another sleeping baby picture.  There is just something about a sleeping baby I find irresistible.  

Naomi dressed to impress for Daddy's athletics banquet April 2nd.

Then, how Naomi feels to have her daddy home from work.

Naomi encounters her pink 'Raffie for the first time and loves that she not only emanates music but rocks her head back and forth in time.  

When Mama wears PJs all day, so does the little munchkin.  Sneakers were added so as to not slip-slide around the disk though such accessorizing is not typically condoned.

Call me crazy, but I would have thought PJs produced by the tallest people (by country) on earth would be able to fit my half-Dutch baby a wee bit better.  

Also, don't judge me, but...

I may have gone out to our local tattoo parlor Monday night and had my nose pierced. Don't worry: I had empathetic moral support/photographer on one side and legal counsel on the other.

Intriguing to see my piercing specialist also had experience with wrist and shoulder-blade piercings (NOT for future reference of course). 

Happily this is far enough away that you cannot see the pooling blood (yikes!). 

Familial response: unconditional love!