About a week before heading out of town, we took Mary Grace to mass on Palm Sunday so that she could get her palm branch and hear the reading of The Passion. We normally go to church in the evening because the mass is low-key, but this week we decided to switch it up a little bit. We went to the morning service which ended up being a huge mistake because Mary Grace wanted nothing to do with sitting still and being quiet. I didn't really mind because, in my opinion, no kid should want to sit still and behave for that long anyway. We had to take her outside a few times, but managed to stay for the whole mass which got us in the mood for Easter. Later that day, the three of us watched the Tar Heels win the ACC Tournament over at our friend Matt Sciandra's house.
Home from church and ready to cheer on the Heels.
Fun with Mommy.
Looking pretty in her church dress.
Showing off her new tights.
Last Friday we packed up the car and headed south to Winston-Salem for Easter. We made the grand discovery that leaving after work would no longer be so bad now that there were three of us in the car. We finally qualify for the H.O.V. lanes during rush hour, so we managed to fly by all the Washington DC traffic for a speedy escape into Virginia.
On our first day in Winston, we were invited to Jack Wall's first birthday party. Jack is the son of our good friends Trent and Megan Wall, and one of Mary Grace's very first friends. We had a great time watching all of the kids eat cupcakes and play with each other while we got to catch up with people we had not seen in a while.
Mary Grace quickly took a liking to Trent.
Hanging out with Daddy after the party.
Enjoying her party favors. She loves that smiley face noise-maker thing.
Family picture.
Easter morning was kind of crazy because we decided to go to early church in order to make it to the club in time for brunch. The Easter Bunny visited us in bed that morning, and Mary Grace got all sorts of fun things. She wasn't much better at this service. She was quickly filled with the Spirit and started screaming right after the first hymn. I took her to the back of the church and spent the rest of the service trying to keep her happy.
Brunch was fantastic, and Mary Grace got to see Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and even her Great-Grandfather Thomas. She was also paid a visit by the Easter Bunny, with whom she was immediately comfortable. I was expecting her to be shy or even terrified of the big bunny, but she just let him hold her like he was part of the family.
Modeling her Easter dress...
...and yellow bow.
Mary Grace and Geegee waiting for everyone to get ready.
Trying to figure out what all of the excitement is about.
Family picture before brunch.
Mary Grace and the Easter Bunny.
Another family picture.
Just having a good time.
The rest of the time in Winston was spent visiting with friends and family, eating way too many jelly beans, watching basketball and just relaxing.
Playing with her toys.
Breakfast with Geegee.
Eating her toys.
Sitting with Mommy.
Sleeping.
Mary Grace and her Great-Grandfather Thomas.
Mary Grace and mother-to-be Chelsea. Get ready!!!
Watching the Heels with Daddy and Poppie.
Wearing her favorite bunny bracelet.
We are going to be traveling down to Charleston next weekend to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Iauco, Aunt Johanna and bunch of other Aunts and Uncles. We are excited to see everyone and finally get down to the beach again. It will also be Mary Grace's first time on an airplane, so we are a little nervous about that.
