Easter Weekend- That's What's Up!

     I really hope everyone had as lovely of a weekend as I did. The office was closed for Good Friday so Chad, Morris and I headed to Myrtle Beach on Thursday evening to spend the weekend with the in-laws, nieces, and nephew. We spent most of Friday running errands, a trip to the mall and hanging out with the little ones. It is so crazy to see how much smarter they get and how intensely their personalities change in between such short visits. I loved hearing Carson yell "Aunt Layne!" all weekend and "I got you!!" he has turned into a total booger, and such a little man! The girls are so sweet and entertaining, for sure! Being around Cameron, the youngest, makes me so anxious for Noah! I love that newborn baby smell and snuggling!
     Saturday Chad and I spent a little under two hours on the beach. It was so beautiful, I always appreciate the first trip of the season! The weather was perfect in the high seventies and the sun was shining...the sun was shining so brightly that now Chad and I are hobbling around the house wincing every time we brush up against anything. We're hot pink, and currently toughing it out waiting patiently for the rose to turn brown. That afternoon we took a trip to Ripley's aquarium and Carol (Chad's mom) tagged along, too.  I can't remember the last time I had been, it was probably 10-15 years ago! It was a very nice trip, we spent about an hour looking at all the marine-life, especially the shark exhibit! I enjoyed touching the stingrays and horseshoe crabs! I made sure to use lots of hand sanitizer afterward, though. I wasn't sure how safe it was for me to being doing that pregnant, but I like to live life on the edge, what can I say?!

I handed Chad the camera to take a pic of me and the horseshoe crab...he just got the crab.

   I found myself having to rein it in at the aquarium, I was in rare form. I had to actively try to act my age. One of the first tanks we came to contained clown fish and blue/black tropical fish. It was Nemo and Dory. So for the next ten minutes I kept catching myself saying "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming"....that was until we got to the Predators of the Sea movie theater and watched the shark movie from that point on it was "duh-dun, duh-dun, duh-dun duh-dun duh-dun" that's when I realized what I was doing and started keeping my mouth shut. Of course, all through the cave- the one with the track like at the airport that rides you through the aquarium with sharks and other dangerous fish swimming all around you and above you, well all through that I had Heart playing in my head....and Heart stayed there until the next morning. I went to bed singing Barracuda. So annoying.

not the greatest picture, but we had such a great time!

       Saturday night the AC unit upstairs at Chad's folks house starting leaking and had to be shut off in order to prevent major damage to their den ceiling... this was a problem for me. 1. I am hot natured. 2. I am pregnant. 3. I am sun burnt. Thankfully we were welcomed with open arms at Chad's oldest sister Nicole's house at 11 o'clock at night with an air conditioned room, some sweet treats, and great conversation. The whole ordeal ended up being such a blessing in disguise because it was really a special treat to watch Taylor and Carson go through their Easter baskets this morning and find all of their goodies! Kids are hilarious, I can only imagine what a trip a child of mine and Chad's will be. We will surely have our hands full.
     With as much fun as this weekend was, we are so glad to be home, and it's nice to have some peace and quiet and time to ponder what this week has really been about. My cup runneth over, and I feel undeserving of the blessings I'm surrounded by all the time. However, I know that my shortcomings will be forgiven, my sins will be erased and that my Redeemer lives. I love my family, and I love my Savior. Layne