Easter 2012

Yes, I know I have been quite the slacker when it comes to updating the blog. We had an awesome month of March. The kids went to the Rodeo for the first time and had a great time. That will be another post (hopefully!). Jackson also got his ear plugs so we've been doing a lot of swimming. The kids picked right up where they left off last year swimming like fish. We've just been enjoying life as a family of four :) So on to Easter...
What a wonder Easter weekend we had. We started Easter Sunday off with serving in the Children's Ministry at Church. We were blessed to have 8 kids in our class this Sunday and it was the perfect amount. The kids church service was great and we were able to teach Haley's class while seeing Jackson enjoy the service too. We then came home to find the Easter Bunny had left the kids a basket! They were excited to find new Dr. Seuss books but most of all cool light up bubble guns. Next was our annual street Easter egg hunt at the park followed by Easter Brunch at the neighbor's house. We really live on the BEST street! The kids hit up the pool for a little bit before we packed in the car and headed to Grandma's for another Easter Egg hunt and Easter dinner followed by more swimming.
On the way home from Grandma's the kids were overly tired and getting rowdy in the car so we played a game. I told them whoever could tell me the meaning of Easter would get Mommy to put them to bed.
Haley: "It's about getting gifts from the Easter Bunny"
Me: "No, I said the REAL reason for Easter"
Jackson: "I see an airplane!"
Me: "Well, ok Buddy, but what did we learn in church today"
Haley: "I know! We learned that Jesus died on the cross then 3 days later the stone was rolled away and he had risen."
Matt and I: "YAY! Haley won. That is right...."
Haley: "Ask me again! I want to tell you again the real reason for Easter and about Jesus"

We are so proud of our little girl :)

On to the pictures...

Haley with her Easter Basket

Jackson and Haley checking out their baskets

The Easter Bunny left lots of goodies this year. The Vara kids must have been extra special...

All the kids getting ready to head to the park for the big egg hunt

Lining up by age to go search for eggs. Jackson lead the pack once again

And they are off!!!!

Go Haley Go

Jackson finding his first egg

Haley reaching up high for hers

Oh how I love love love this little girl :)

Not much is better then a kiss from your little man...

Ok, maybe when you get both to smile and laugh with you!

The traditional picture of the kids on the street after the egg hunt. We had a great crowd this year!

The Vara Family Easter 2012

After some yummy food the kids hit up the neighbor's pool. One little boy was happy.

Haley and Avery having fun

Jackson hitching a ride with Connor

Why yes, that is Jackson jumping in the cold pool. He would jump in then swim to the steps. He is quite the swimmer!

After heading to Grandma's and having some dinner with the family it was time to hop in Grandma's pool. Grandma got Haley a princess bubble blower. She loved it.

Of course Jackson got Lightning McQueen. He was too excited.

That's a face of a boy on a mission...

Oh yeah, time to get wet.

1....2.....3..... JUMP!

Let the jumping contest start...

Belly flop #1

Belly flop #2

Love, Lightning McQueen, & Snow!

A long and random post to get caught up on the past few weeks!
Love
95% of the time the kids are best friends. One evening they were hamming it up for the camera so I took a few shots. Oh how I hope they will always remain close.
Haley loves to pick up Jackson despite him weighing close to the same as her

And Jackson loves to give his sissy kisses. He is so cute when he gives you a kiss because he even makes the puckering noise really loud.

Awwwww.... they love each other (most of the time).


Lightning McQueen
Jackson has some big news to share, he finally got a big boy bed! Well, it's a toddler bed for now. We want to eventually get him bunk beds but we don't trust this over rambunctious 2 year old on a bunk yet. So the toddler bed it is. We found this great Lightning McQueen bed and our little boy had to have it. To my surprise, he has done GREAT in his bed. The first night he settled right in reading a book and slept through the night with no issues.

Haley loves the bed too. They were bouncing off the walls when Matt set it up in his room. Next step will be the painting of the room. Maybe this summer...

Jackson loves to help Daddy outside. Grandpa Vara sent him a lawnmower for Valentine's Day and he helped Matt mow the yard. It was getting dark so the picture isn't the best but it was super cute watching him follow Dadddy's every move.


SNOW!!!!!
And now to Vacation!! We just got back from a long weekend in Park City, UT. The kids did pretty good on the plane ride there despite having to wait in our seats for over an hour for the crew to show up. So the 3 hour flight turned into a 4 hour flight ending right at nap time. Luckily they both fell asleep in the car during the short ride to the house.
We joined some friends and stayed in a beautiful house with a killer view. It was REALLY cold while we were there so we didn't get too much opportunity to play outside but when we did we made the most of it.
Haley and Jackson checked out the view from the back of the house. The snow was pretty packed the first day so Haley didn't get to make the snowman she wanted.
They sat just long enough to pose for a picture

Haley checking out the snow

Jackson trying to lick off the snot

My two boys.

The view off the back of the house as a storm moved in

Friday we took the kids to the mountain to watch the skiers and check out the town.

Miss Haley all bundled up in her snow gear

Jackson was ready to go. His poor eyes water up pretty bad in the cold

We joined our neighbor's and their 7 month old.

The three monkeys

We took the kids on a coaster ride. It was AWESOME! Matt took a video of the ride and it was a little "Blair Witch Project" ish but caught a funny moment with Jackson in it.

Jackson rode with Matt

While Haley rode with me

On Saturday we had arranged a sitter to come to the house so the adults could go skiing. Wouldn't you know a terrible storm came through but we braved the elements anyways. Matt and I had a great time skiing with the snow coming down. After leaving the kids all day we wanted to take them to do something special when we got home. So we decided to take them to the tube park down the street. It was VERY VERY cold that evening (in the teens with 30MPH winds) but the kids had a blast.
A very cold Mommy, Jackson and Haley

It was nice to just jump on the conveyor belt to pull you up the hill

We lied and said Jackson was three (despite Haley shouting, "No, he is only 2!!!") in order for him to ride. We would only be half way down and the kids would say, "Again!".
Ready for the ride! Yes, Jackson IS having fun.

The kids had so much fun at the tube park that we took them back on Sunday. Luckily it was a little warmer this day.
Giving some love to my little man

The Vara Family coming down the tube chute

That's all folks...

Daddy Daughter Dance 2012

For Christmas I got Matt tickets to the Daddy Daughter Dance at The Marriott. We weren't sure what to expect but what little girl doesn't like to get dressed up and treated like a Princess for an evening with her Daddy. Haley was treated to an up-do, nails and make up at Sweet and Sassy to get ready for the big evening. She was very quiet during the entire pampering session but told me she had lots of fun once we left.
Getting her hair done.

She got to pick her own hairstyle. Proud she picked the prettiest one!

After her hair was done complete with glitter spray and flowers, it was time for her nails. She picked a blue green color

Next was make up time. I wasn't crazy about her getting make up so I asked that it be a light application. Haley originally picked an electric blue eye shadow straight out of the 80s but we were able to change her mind to purple.

Finally my princess was ready to go to the ball with her prince. the pictures don't do her justice. I actually got teared up seeing my little girl look so beautiful :)

The shot of the back of her hair

Matt was looking sharp too! Haley and Daddy looked so nice!!

Daddy Daughter ready for their big night

Matt and Haley had a great time. Haley was on the younger side so we might wait a few more years before doing it again. Hopefully this is just the first of many dances Haley gets to enjoy over her lifetime!