Gatherings

Well hello friends!  Let's pick up where we left off, shall we?  Somehow in the whirlwind that has been my second semester of college we four sisters found ourselves back at home.  All of us, at the same time.  I will never take that for granted again!  It was such a relief just to be with all of my family members.  I come to learn more and more how priceless the encouragement of family is.

We were home for Easter weekend and I know I enjoyed every minute of it!  We had lunch with our extended family and had our traditional Easter egg hunt, which the younger three sisters still participate in.  After a rousing game of Dirty Easter Bunny (we've just recently started playing the gift-stealing game at our holiday gatherings) we waved our extended family goodbye and dyed eggs with just us 6.

I love the smell of vinegar, I think it's because I love dying Easter eggs so much! 

We combined efforts this year and had a joint carton, which worked a lot better for those of us who are a little more meticulous about our egg art. (yours truly)

We went to our Easter Sunday service and then returned home to open our Easter baskets, which were especially well-stocked this year!  I even got a Starburst jelly bean dispenser, which is the best Easter present I have ever received!!  We looked through our baskets on our stairs, which, other than the front porch, is our traditional spot for some reason.  Don't ask me why. 

We had lunch with my dad's side of the family and then had a photo shoot, 

because it seems like I can never find a good picture of us four.  Here you go, with a special thanks to M and D, our faithful photographers!

Of course we had to get Tucker in one, which is easier said than done.  She was camera-shy that day.  

The time at home for Easter was short and sweet, and was the perfect interruption for a busy semester.

Sarah and I were extra busy this semester because we spent most of it preparing for Variety Show, our school's dancing/acting/singing competition.  We practiced almost every day from February to April and I loved it.  It felt great to get back into the swing of learning choreography and figuring out costumes and characters.  Our sorority's theme was The Lion King and Sarah and I got to be lions.  We had so much fun dancing together, and our hard work paid off when our sorority won!   Dad even came up to watch us which was so wonderful.  Here are some pictures of our crazy costumes, hair, and makeup!

 We did each others' makeup, which looked especially scary mid-application!

 Finished!

Here's a close-up of our lion group during the show!

The morning after the show Sarah, Daddy, Karl, and I drove back home to see Mary Claire perform in Hello, Dolly at our high school.  Anna came, too!  Even now I still have songs stuck in my head from it; it was incredible!  I was SO proud of Mary Claire, she was a beautiful Ms. Irene Malloy.  She acted and sang her part perfectly.  

Only a few more weeks are left of school and I can't believe it.  I'm focusing on finishing strong and then speeding home to spend some summer days with my family!  Here's to more memories and blog posts! :)

-E