Easter 2016

I have been terrible at picture taking lately. The Hubby even got me a new SD card for my phone(16 GB baby) because I was taking so many, but now I hardly take any.  I know it is actually a good thing because I just have been staying away from my phone.  Bad thing is, it also means I didn't snap that many cute pictures for Easter.  (My charger for my fancy camera is STILL missing.  I need to bite the bullet and just buy one.)

 We celebrated Easter on Saturday at my parents house.  The morning was spent split up, getting ready.  The Hubby and I went to town to grab some fun stuff for the kids,(Well, we went for the kids, but Target was having buy one get one 1/2 off of cloths and shoes. oh well) while my mom picked up Bryan's cousins to play and decorate eggs.  My dad took Bryan to a livestock auction with my sister and our cousin(who is visiting for the week).  Sadly, they didn't bring home any baby goats this time. (Said my mom never.)

Because we were the last ones back, we missed the egg decorating, but I was told Bryan had fun.  Part of me wants to do it again this week just for fun.  The other part of me says, "I see no downside."

It was such a nice day out that, while we cooked watched mom cook, all the kids set up blankets and sat in the front yard.  After dinner, there was the Easter egg hunt for the kids, which Bryan actually understood this year.  He still needed Daddy and Papa's help a little bit, but he got what he was supposed to do.

Forever Papa's Boy

All in all it was a good day with family.  We left late that night for home so the Hubby could teach his Sunday school class.  We spent the actual Easter Sunday having an easy day recovering from our trip.  Usually we would try to have our own Easter festivities with just the 3 of us, but I just didn't have it in me to do the "fun stuff."  It still made for a good Easter.  Hubby had a good lesson with his kids, and we enjoyed relaxing time together.  Months ago we bought Bryan kid version of the scriptures, so we were able to read to him about Easter from those.  He paid attention a little more than usual, so I call it a win.
I hope next year I am a little more "with it" but for now, time spent with family is time well spent.

Gender Reveal Scratchers

"What are you having?" is always the question that is asked when you tell people you are pregnant. A friend of mine once joked about the question that follows.  The clarification of a boy or a girl.  What else could it be? "A boy, a girl or a tiger?"

Well this little one is a girl.  If you don't believe the sonogram, then believe my love of chocolate this time around.

Gender reveals can be a big deal.  Last time around, we announced it at Christmas by opening a blue baby gift.  This year, since we are so far from our family, we decided to mail them these cute little scratcher cards.

I found the idea while browsing pintrest.  The tutorial I used can be found here at Burlap and Babies.  She even has a free printable at the end. (for both girl and boy scratchers.)

this apple punch was the only punch I had that was big enough to cover the bow, so I worked with what I had.

My little helper

 The printable only turned out to be one card, so I threw it in my go to editing program and worked it around to this.

My tips for this cute little project.

• Baby soap worked in place of dish soap.(my dish soap is too runny)  That being said:
• TEST TEST TEST. preferably before you paint/cut/and assemble all of your scratchers.
• The tutorial says 2-3 coats of paint for a reason.
• 5-6 coats of paint is too many.
• If you are anxious about it being too transparent, maybe put a piece of colored paper in the corner of your contact paper to check while you add your layers.
• If you pay close attention to those tips, using clear contact paper is a great way to have your scratchers ready to just print and assemble.
• If you don't pay attention to them, don't worry, it also can be peeled right off.

In case you didn't get it from my tips, I used way too many coats of paint on the cards I sent out.  When I tested it with 3 coats, it worked perfectly with just a coin.  My final product? Not so much.  A coin didn't even dent it. Using a key just ripped it up.  Only way to get a good result was to use scissors.  But like I said, most of my loved ones said it peeled right off.

What are some of the ways you have seen, or have done yourself to for a gender reveal?  Any ideas you would love to do in the future?