DIY Easter Baskets

I have been wanting to make the kids collapsible Easter baskets for awhile now. The big ones while beautiful are a pain to store every year, so I headed to Pinterest for some pinspiration. I found this little bag and I was super excited about it.  It even had a free tutorial. I decided to forgo her instructions and just make it up as I went with her original photo as my inspiration. 

I knew that I wanted them lined and I also wanted them to coordinate. Thankfully I had all the the supplies accept for the pink gingham on hand. So I began to sew. I didn't want to take credit for this project and create my own tutorial since the original link had free tutorial, but I did make a few changes such as the happier face, embroidered names on the back of each bag and adding a little bunny tail to Leif's bag. I was planning on adding pom poms to all of them for tails, but then I realized they would get squished when I packed them away. So I appliqued on a tail onto Leif's and I just love it!

The face was a bit trial and error as were the length of the ears.

I am totally in love with the gingham! 

I really wanted to have the kids names on the bags. I just makes everything seem so personal, but I didn't want it to be loud and in your face. I think we found he perfect balance with the subtle name hand embroidered on the back. 

I did a more masculine font for the boys.

So happy with how they turned out and the kids really enjoyed using them at their egg hunt! After 2 years I can finally check another project off of my list!

Easter

While we had every intention of making Easter a big deal, it ended up being 20 minutes of festivities and it was just perfect! Manfred decided that there was no way I was going to get him into his Easter outfit, and it just wasn't worth the fight. Despite his choice of clothing I think this photo turned out rather nicely.

At two days old it was Leif's first Easter. What a hunk!

He really wasn't in the mood for a bunny photo shoot. Thanks for the hat and booties Aunt Janet!

Then it was time for our egg hunt in the yard! 

I was so excited to have SUNSHINE!!! Egg hunts are so much better outside in the sun!

E was a bit faster than Bear, but she was more than willing to re-hide a few of her eggs for him! What an awesome big sister. 

Every time Duke would see an egg he would paoint and yell "It an eeeeeegggggg!" and laugh and run over to grab it. It was the cutest!

I packed the kids baskets before I went to the hospital and I'm so glad that I did! 

E's basket.

Duke's Basket.

Leif's Basket.

I am so thankful for this Easter season and for our Savior who died for us and who rose again! I am so thankful for the atonement and how it has blessed and continues to bless my life. Happy Easter everyone!

Uncle Clark's Visit

 When the topic of Uncle Clark coming to visit us the same weekend that I would be delivering the baby came up I will admit, my first thought was I really don't think that will work. And while it would have been nice to be there when Clark arrived and not have to steal Jakob away, back and forth from the hospital while Clark was visiting, it really worked out perfectly.

 I love Jakob's family and Jakob loves spending time with his brothers. He was pretty excited to get to spend time with Clark and the kids had a great time with him too! 

 We decided to skip Easter on Sunday and just eat some yummy food and visit with each other and that was the greatest plan! We simply sat around, chatted, and snuggled on a little baby. 

 The following morning the plan was for Clark and Jakob to both head out bright and early, one to hit the road for another long day of driving and the other to study for his CFA exam. Both boys were dragging their feet, so we ended up getting donuts, and chatting some more. Jakob was pretty bummed when Clark left. We so wish that we had family closer!!

I think my favorite part though was watching Clark hold Leif. Crachel are expecting their first baby in a few weeks and Clark was just so cute with Leif in his arms. He's going to be an amazing Daddy!! Thanks for visiting us Clark and for being so understanding! We hope that we can all get together again soon!! Good luck in Redding and on your new adventure!!!

Leif's First 36 Hours

 Please excuse the ridiculous amount of photos. I may or may not be completely obsessed with this little man. Our first night went well. Leif was spitting up a lot which had me a bit on edge. He would choke on his spit up and it would make my heart race. Apparently it is was because I didn't push for very long, it didn't squeeze out all of those extra juices. 

 I only took one pill of pain medication and then I stopped. I didn't hurt at all. I didn't tear so recovery was fairly simple. I was determined to get out of the hospital as soon as possible. I expressed my wishes to my nurses and Doctors and they tried to make my wish come true. 

 Since Leif was born at 6:02 p.m. it made our discharge a bit difficult. We had decided to get him circumcised, but the procedure couldn't be performed until he was 24 hours old and the team that does the circumcisions leaves at 6:00. Plus it was Easter weekend. 

 At first I was seriously bummed, I had so wanted to be home, with the kids, in my own bed. Uncle Clark was arriving and I wanted to be there for that as well. Plus it was going to be Easter Sunday and I had wanted to participate in the festivities. Needless to say it wasn't what I wanted. 

 Gretchen and Anna visited and it was so nice to show off my little Leif! Daddy left to pick up the kids and I was so anxious to see them! I was a bit nervous about how the kids would handle seeing a baby, but it was so sweet! 

 E, almost immediately jumped up on the bed and asked to hold him. She was just so cute smiling and giggling at him. It almost made my heart burst. She is such an excellent big sister and I know she is going to be a wonderful helper!

Duke was curious, but he mostly wanted to be with his Mama. We jumped up on the bed, turned on a movie and ate cookies while we snuggled. It was just perfect. After about a 45 minutes the kids left. I was so thankful to have Mom Tobler there to help with the kids. What a life saver. It was such a relief to know that the kids were having much more fun with Gramma then they would have been having with me! 

Daddy returned at about 4:30 and stayed until Uncle Clark called and said he was at the house. Jakob left to go visit with him and I was all alone for the evening. 

 What a blessing it was! I got to sit in the peace and quiet and just be. I wasn't worrying about how comfortable Jakob was, or if he was bored. I just got to sit and snuggle my sweet baby. I got to bond with him all night long and it was absolutely exactly what I needed. It forced me to relax and not to worry about the holiday, the kids, or company. It was just Leif and I. 

 At midnight they came to take him for some tests and I got to sleep for a solid hour, without having to worry about him choking! Such a relief. Then at 6:00 in the morning, they came to take him for his circumcision. I really liked that they did it right there in the hospital. In Nevada, they do not do circ's in the hospital, so you have to go to the doctors office several times after delivery, which is a huge pain.

Jakob came back at 7:00 a.m. and Doctor Sheridan came in to check on me bright and early and by 10:00 we were discharged. It felt very surreal leaving the hospital. Almost as if I was in a bubble where I only had one baby and now I was headed home to be a Mama of three. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed, but I was beyond thankful that Clark was at the house to take some of the attention off of me so I could get my thoughts and feelings in order and not have everyone watching me. There were so many tender mercies throughout this whole experience and I know it is because my Heavenly Father knows me better than I know myself. I am so very blessed.

 My heart is so full. I have the most amazing husband, family and friends. Everyone has been so supportive, and loving, knowing my needs even before I do. I am so beyond in love with little Leif and I am so excited to bring him home and start our lives as a family of five!

 And now for my favorite outtake! Makes me laugh every time! :)