Happy Easter 2013

To say we have set Easter traditions would definitely be a stretch since the day has looked different for us each year the past few years - from Kyle working to being out of town - this was the first time in several years we were all together! My dear friend from college Cary and her little boy Joel (2 months older than Maggie) were here for the weekend. Unfortunately they were both a little under the weather so they participated in some but not all of our festivities. 

Kyle took the kids to church at the Erwin Center with the Foshea Fam and 15,000 other folks and I hung with our houseguests. Then I met up with Kyle and the kids at my mom's for a quick lunch and egg hunt. Here is everyone in their Sunday Best.

Maybe Bee should get herself some hot pink and black Toms - clearly she's a fan. :)

Owen on the hunt...Look up there Owen!

Owen's eggs (etc.) were all blue.

Playing with a kid-friendly "yoyo ball" - much easier - big hit.

Left: Rebecca's face looks sad but really she's saying "ahhhh, how cute!" in a voice like you would use to coo at a baby. Right: doing something w/ stickers?

Thanks for the almost smile sweetie!

Maggie was hamming it up this morning. Okay, every morning. She is a big fan of the leg hug these days.

Left: Is this a pink egg for me??? Right: dragging her goody basket around the yard.

Ball!!!

BAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!

Where is the ball? (AKA downward dog)

Here's my smile. Here's my belly.

After a very late naptime we went for ROUND 2 at Nana's house. This time Cary and Joel felt up to joining us. And the Foshea Fam did too! (The Other Mezgers were with Mel's family for the weekend).

What better time to try to get a family photo then when we're all dressed up and Photog Cary is in town?!? Just a few snapshops - but at least we're all happy and looking!

I think this one we're doing the say "ha ha ha" thing to get good smiles. I think the kids were confused.

How we all feel about taking family photos. :)

Nana and her run-away grand-kids. And Nana's AWESOME bunny cake!

Maggie liked to find and eat the died hard-boiled eggs.

Everyone else preferred the cascarones (confetti eggs).

Owen showing me what's in his bucket.

Sweet friends: Boone and Emmy (look at those eyes!)

Sweet friends: Joel and Cary

It was a full day for sure, but what a blessing to be able to spend time with people we love so much on this most-important of holidays. He is Risen. He is Risen, indeed!!!

Obligatory Bluebonnet Pics - FAIL

Part 2 of Cary and I's photo adventures for the weekend included going to the SECRET AWESOME spot for bluebonnets in Austin that Melissa taught us about last year. Well, I guess the secret got out and someone didn't like it because the state land we love to "sorta trespass" on had either been mowed or burned. And after Cary informed us (thanks to the always trustworthy internet) that picking bluebonnets is NOT in fact a crime...

Rebecca picked the last two in the whole place. 

And then Maggie started getting eaten by ants.

And we bailed and went to a park. Ahhhh, much better.

She knew how much I wanted to take pictures - cheese!

Owen spent a good portion of our time there pushing his sisters on the swing - so sweet. Finally he got to sit.

???

Yea!

Ah, those curls.

Love this spunky girl.

 

Yep, failing is okay sometimes.

Perspective

I love my friend Cary for a number of reasons. She is one of those people who truly loves to learn new things. She is the one who got me interested in photography. We love to talk shop and can easily get carried away trying to figure out how photo A turned out so awesome and photos X, Y and Z turned out so awful! So, as a special treat, while she was here we rented a fun lens - an 8mm fish-eye (think: super wide-angle so it distorts what it sees). Then we headed to South Congress, or SoCo as the cool kids call it. 

Trailor Park Eatery - apparently I'm pregnant and Cary is wearing a hoop skirt. Crazy lens.

Probably my fav of the day.

I was literally 2 inches from the brick corner of this building - you can see down both directions. Cary was shooting the tile work. I'm sure people walking by us thought we were super cool.

In a little market.

Cary is an experience "street photographer." According to Wikipedia street photography is: a non-formalized genre of photography that features subjects in candid situations within public places...

In other words - this is the goal:

Cary suggested starting with street performers - they don't think its weird for you to take their picture. Especially if you ask and throw a couple bills in the guitar case. Or in accordion. 

Didn't get any good ones of his face, but I sorta liked this one.

 Again, not a fan of my faces.

 And I think these guys were on to me. Can you say AWKWARD!?!

But seriously - if you sport a hat like that or have dreads like that, aren't you just asking for people to take your picture?

And you can't go to SoCo without photographing some ink. At least I can't.  

Wisper words of wisdom, let it be.

Not exactly the Gospel I believe in. But the tacos are pretty tasty.

Just trying something different.

And dangerous. Okay, not really. You know that iconic shot down Congress? Well, this isn't it. This is me standing in a cross-walk (don't worry, those cars are stopped).

The famous wall at Joe's isn't so great without fun folks in front of it. But, still expresses how I feel about my dear friend. Mushy but true.