Elizabeth Meets the Cottontail Tree

I haven't had much of a chance to take Elizabeth on the cottonwood trail because it's a bit of a walk to get there, and I only very recently upgraded to a stroller that will hold all three. One sunny day back in April when Addie was at school, I loaded Elizabeth and Emily up in the double stroller and took them to the Cottonwood Trail. Of course I stopped at my favorite tree to take some pictures.

While Elizabeth wasn't standing on her own yet back in April (it's something she's just very recently started doing), I was able to kind of lean her against the tree to make it look like she was standing....

Big Sis Emily wanted in on the posing... (so funny that Emily is now the big girl at this tree. Two years ago, she was the little one next to Callie, and Addie was wearing the dress Elizabeth is wearing.)

My little strawberry beauty.

Precious pic of Em. The funny thing is, she's pretending to scratch her back on the bark of the tree like Baloo in the Jungle Book.

Oh, and the "cottontail" thing. Emily's nickname for the cottonwood trees is "cottontail trees." She's become pretty fascinated with them in the last month or so because of their flying fluff, and wants me to point them out to her when we're driving around.

So glad I was able to finally take Elizabeth's picture next to one of my favorite trees. Last month I found this pretty little thing on Craigslist...a Joovy Big Caboose. Two seats with a sit n stand for the third. Since then, Elizabeth's seen the cottonwood trail several times, but I haven't had a chance to do a photo shoot with all three by The Tree. It will come.

Three Girls and a Tree

In 2009, we planted a Cleveland Pear tree in our backyard. The trunk was 2" around and it was only about two feet above the deck railing. It was hard to imagine this little spindly thing would ever provide any shade. But the tree (which we named Vincent because it reminds us of the trees in Van Gogh's The Poplars of Saint-Remy) has grown a surprising amount each year, and with its growth each year, the impressiveness of its spring flowers increases.

 This year, Emily and Addison fell in love with the "white flower tree" and we spent a lot of time watching the buds become blooms, and then watching and listening to the bees buzz from flower to flower. The tree helped me teach the girls about pollination, and now whenever Emily sees a bee near a flower, she proudly announces, "That bee is pollinatin' Mom!"

Getting ready to water our tree

Easter with the Nicolls

Easter Sunday began with two excited girls running downstairs to see what the Easter Bunny had brought.

 And then since Dad wasn't ready to get out of bed, the Easter baskets came upstairs for further investigation.

 When Elizabeth woke up, we all headed back downstairs to see what she got in her basket.

Hmmm, what are these things?

These blue ones are kinda cute

Oh, I'm supposed to eat them?

Mmmmm, blue sugar!

Hey, I think I like these!

Yes, Yes, I do like these! Dad! Look at these!

After church and a nap, we headed over to Uncle Bobby's for an Easter celebration with family and an egg hunt for the kids.

Our big beautiful three year olds!

All Three Palte Beauties

Elizabeth with Great Grandma Nicoll

 The cousins were all there, and the girls had tons of fun playing and laughing with their buddies.

 

Callie was in a body cast after her recent surgery, but she didn't let it keep her down

Annalea has officially become "Annie"  - the name she calls  herself.. She's quite a little spitfire and makes me laugh every time I spend time with her

Time for the egg hunt! Emily and Addie were well practiced after our Easter Saturday with the Rices, and when it was time to start, they were off!

Elizabeth got in on the hunt, too. Dad helped her find lots of eggs to fill her basket.

Luca

Bhodi

Back inside after the hunt and some sugar, we're ready to play play play!

What a Sweet Easter!