Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone!!!

I just wanted to share a couple of other pictures of our Easter Day. It was beautiful and sunny (if a bit cool) here so we got some nice pictures. We also got a "family" picture at the church that didn't come out half bad. Erin LOVED her dress, and she picked it out all on her own. Jeffrey wasn't so keen when I first started getting him dressed. He started bolting to his room looking for "his pants". Erin thought she was helping at one point and told him he'd look just like a prince. That only made him run screaming for daddy - "I don't wanna be a prince." But once he got downstairs and saw his Easter basket he completely forgot about his clothes.


Anyway here's a handful of pictures from our Easter Day.

Checking out the goodies in her basket.

Showing off an egg with her daddy.....sadly with closed eyes.

Sitting together on the stairs.

Just lounging around...

Eggs...Eggs...Eggs...

Well Easter has become less about Jesus and more about Eggs. I try not to make it that way, but with 4 egg hunts in one week it's bound to become more about the eggs and candy. We did make it to church on Sunday morning (where they had one more egg hunt) and read an Easter story at Erin's school (where they had another egg hunt).


This was the first year we decided to color our own eggs. Previously we've always just hidden little plastic eggs with jelly beans or other small candies in there. The kids had a blast coloring them. Erin thought it was really fun to scribble on her eggs with the wax crayon before dipping them. Her favorite colors were the teal one and the pinky/purple color. Jeffrey was all about the red. Each of his eggs went into the red dye. When they were dry on Saturday we took and put little "tattoos" on the eggs. Then Sunday morning when we got back from church the "Easter bunny" took and hid them around the deck.



But the egg hunts were the hit of the week. We had our first one last Saturday (see previous post). Then on Thursday the library set up an egg hunt after story time. Both the kiddos were cranky on Thursday and they were only allowed to find 5 eggs each (so everyone would get some). Needless to say there were some tears shed at the library egg hunt.




On Friday Erin's school held an Easter party and egg hunt. I prepared 12 eggs for both Erin and Jeffrey by putting their names on them ( and puppy stickers for Jeffrey's). When we got there all the eggs were spread around the lawn. Inside the kids were singing some Easter songs and even got the meet the Easter Bunny. When they got outside the kids were supposed to find the eggs with their names on them. Erin had the most fun finding Jeffrey's eggs for him. Then she went on to find her own.




We skipped Saturday's massive egg hunt at the high school. It was supposed to rain. But in all honesty mommy was just egg hunted out and daddy was busy brewing. But when we got back from church on Sunday we had one last hunt here at the house. The eggs we had dyed and a few plastic ones were all around outside - especially hiding in cool corners of the new deck. Although it was chilly it was finally sunny for an Easter. The kids had a blast running around and looking for all their special eggs that they had made.






Our last egg activity was taking 6 of our colored eggs and making Deviled Eggs. Erin helped mommy to peel the shells all on her own. Then she mashed the yolks and helped stir in the seasonings/dressing. It was her favorite part of Easter dinner and she ate 3 all on her own.


So although Easter is about so much more than eggs and candy, it seems we somehow made those eggs and candy pretty special. It's pretty easy when you involve your family.

Jeffrey's 10 Favorite Things to Do

I can't believe my little guy is going to be 3 in 2 months. He seems so much older yet still my little "baby" too. Active is certainly the word used to describe his daily activities. If he's awake he's moving.

So here are some of his favorite things to do.

10...Drive his Matchbox cars on his road "carpet", inevitably crashing them into each other.

9...Read stories in his glider in his room.

8...Climb into bed with mommy about 7 AM every weekday. Snuggle for a few minutes and then ask to watch "heroes" (Higglytown Heroes).

7...Sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Row Row Row Your Boat, especially with silly words like Row, Row, Row, Your Boat Gently Down the Stream. Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily. Life is Like a Bowl of Spaghetti.

6...Play Mouse Trap.

5...Work puzzles. He's mastered all of our 24-piece ones and is working on the 48-piece ones on his own too, but still needs a little help with those.

4...Get his own sticker from the drawer after going poop in the potty. That's right we're mostly potty trained here - WOOOOO.

3...Go to Bodo's Bagels with mommy after his gymnastics classes.

2...Play on Erin's computer.

1...Go to mommy's gym. This is generally the high-point of his day. He LOVES mommy's gym because he gets to play with kids his own age and mommy loves it because she gets a little break each day.

Out of the Mouth.....

Sometimes 4 year olds just say the funniest things....

At dinner our friend, Jacob, had stopped by. Erin, Jeffrey and I were finishing our meal. Jeffrey was being rather belligerent about eating. I made him eat a bite of mashed potatoes (how horrible of me, I know). He decided he was just going to start throwing a fit. The following scene ensued.

Jeffrey screaming.

Erin: "He doesn't like them mom!"

Mom: "Yes I know honey, but he needs to eat 1 bite AND I'm the mom."

Jeffrey: Screaming louder. "I'm Cold" (This is his current phrase when he's mad or grumpy or tired. I'm cold.)

Mr. Jacob: starts giggling at this phrase from Jeffrey. Mommy joins him.

Erin: Completely straight faced. "It's not funny Jacob."

Mommy and Jacob: Nearly fall out of their chairs with uncontrollable laughter.

Mr. Jacob: You're right Erin. It's not.


It may have been one of the most hilarious and precious moments ever. She so calmly and clearly told Mr. Jacob - a daddy in his own right - that Jeffrey's being cold was simply not funny. I'm still laughing about it. And I'm sure I'll still be laughing tomorrow.

Egg Hunt

Our county recreation department held their annual egg hunt this weekend. It's over at the park around the corner from the house so we made a point to go. This year they spread all the eggs over 2 full sized soccer fields. Erin and Jeffrey both had a great time wandering around a picking up their eggs. Both ended up with overflowing baskets. We also had a little time to play at the playground before the egg hunt got started. So here are a few pictures I wanted to share. The photographer from the local paper was taking pictures and asked if she could use one of Erin. So I'll need to make it a point to grab a copy of the paper this week and see if she made it in.

Erin's 10 Favorite things to do

Just thought it might be fun to post some of the more "mundane" or everyday things the kids have been up to recently. So here we have....Erin's 10 Favorite Things to Do.

10...Play on her V-Smile TV game. Right now Nemo and Ratatouille are her favorites.

9...Dress and un-dress her dolls which she has named Hailey and June.

8...Read books while she's supposed to be resting.

7...Go to school. I'm so glad she still loves it. And most important she's learning so much it's amazing.

6...Make up silly imagination games. Sometimes she's a dog, sometimes a pirate, sometimes an Incredible (mostly Violet).

5...Make bread with daddy. They've been making lots and lots of fresh bread recently. Erin likes to measure and knead.

4...Play on her computer daddy got her for Christmas.

3...Sing "Dumb Dog" from Annie. We must sing that close to 10 times a day at least. Erin knows all the words and which parts are "her parts" and which ones Annie sings. Generally mommy is Annie and Erin is everyone else.

2...Go to jumping class at mommy's gym. She gets to jump in a big moon-bounce type thing.

1....Wii bowling. She love it. Asks to bowl every day. And the scary thing...she's good. Almost reached Pro status already.

Grandparent's Day at School

Erin's school had a Grandparents Day at school yesterday. Each child was able to invited their grandparents to come to school with them. Since Grandma and Grandpa W. live too far away they weren't able to be there. Erin's Noni was able to take the morning off work and drive down though. Mommy kept it a big secret from Erin so that when Noni arrived at her school she would be surprised. I wasn't there to see it, but I hear there was quite a bit of excitement.

The kids put on a little program for their grandparents. They all gathered in the sanctuary of the church where the preschool is. The kids sang a bunch of songs including, "You are My Sunshine," "Little Bunny Foo Foo," and "Skinamarink." They also recited the Pledge of Allegiance (something I didn't know they were even working on). Then they had a little "tea" for their grandmas and grandpas. There was fruit and cheese and crackers and lemonade for the kids with coffee for Noni.

After the program was over several kids left with the grandparents. Erin wanted to stay and show Noni all around. They sat together for story time (Green Eggs and Ham) and Noni got to meet some of Erin's friends. Erin even showed Noni how she plays and runs around the playground.

When school was over Jeffrey and I met Noni and Erin for lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. It was so special to Erin that Noni was able to come down and visit her school. Maybe next time we'll have enough notice and Grandma W. will be able to schedule a trip for next year's Grandparent's Day at school.