happy easter.

Knock, knock... well, hello, come on in to our little home...

...where holidays like Easter give me an excuse to decorate with little birds.

i live with a boy, you know.

...and thanks to pictures from design blogs and magazines,

I finally know what I can do with this adorable wedding gift.

...where the easter bunny still finds you on Sunday morning (even if you're 25).

our Easter Sunday took us to the little city of Stillwater to visit this little easter egg.

Somehow, the easter bunny found us all @ Cody and Sarah's too.

We attended LifeChurch with the Chaloner-kiddos, and spent the afternoon @ Griffin's house. We didn't want the new parents to feel pressure of 'hosting', so Aaron & I took to cooking our first 'holiday meal". I have to say it was a lot of fun! Saturday, we shopped and did some pre-cooking. The 'menu' included grilled Asian steaks, oven-baked macaroni and cheese, roasted red potatoes, tunsian carrot salad, & a batch of my homemade bread. Teresa topped us off with her cheesecake with fresh strawberries!

She saved the day after I had to toss out 24 carrot-cake cupcakes the day before. two lessons learned: read the 'reviews' of on-line recipes. {they all said these cupcakes 'suck'.} and do not cook anything from food-network.com, they are not tested recipes and often very poorly reviewed. let's stick to epicurious or cooksillustrated.

...despite one bust, the meal was a big hit!

this little guy barely even knew we were there...he even slept through the drums and electric guitar during praise & worship at church. what a great quality in a newborn.

...just a simple, relaxing afternoon with close family. {& being a baby-hog.}
We missed you, family back in Tennessee!
...oh, and in case you missed it the first time: one more peter cottontail before the holiday's passed.

After a weekend like this, I can't help but be reminded that there is so much to be thankful for.
undeservedly, eternally grateful.

He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
He was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmitie
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
-Isaiah 53:3-5