Easter

 

 I don't know what happened but I kind of dropped the ball on the whole Easter bunny bit this year.  I asked Eric a few days ago what our plan is for Easter and what the bunny does or gives and when.  We never really finished our conversation so I just didn't do anything.  Lame.  I had bought a little snickers egg candy for each of them but that was all I had. 

 

On our way home from church Blake was asking a bajillion questions about the Easter bunny and if he had come.  He kept saying how he wanted to check the front porch to see if something was left there.  I told him that the bunny doesn't leave stuff on the door step.  Then he said that he was going to look around the whole house to see if there was something.  I heard later that everyone in Primary was talking about what the Easter bunny had brought them that morning.  So now I feel kind of bad but I guess I just wasn't feeling it this year.  Which is weird because I love celebrating all holidays and birthdays and making big deals.  What happened to me?!

 

Blake found his snickers on his pillow before bed.  He kept asking me if I had put it there.  I can't lie to my kid so I kept asking him questions back like "Why would I put a candy on your pillow?"  He was getting mad and said that he needed to know if I did because if I didn't he would know the bunny did.  Anyways the bottom line is that I don't think I love these fake characters that I feel like I am lying to my kids about.  And I need to have a game plan so I know what our traditions will be. 

 

We had a couple families over tonight for dinner and games.  I even pulled out our china that we got from our wedding and have hardly used.  I decided we are going to start using it more for special occasions.

But here is an Easter craft I made!  My friend Kristen loves to craft so we both made one of these egg flowers. 

Egg Hunt

Our friends the Chappuis invited us over on Saturday for a potluck and easter egg hunt.  It was so fun.  They have a "forest" in their backyard and the dads went and hid a ton of eggs.  Janie was a little overwhelmed at first when kids started running for them.  She started to cry but I helped her get started and she loved it.  Blake was a man on a mission to find those eggs. 

Later I asked Janie what her favorite part of the day was and she said "jelly beans."

 

Ty's first experience with grass.  He kept making funny faces and lifting his hands up to look at them.  The grass was a little spikey.  Understandable.

 

 And he loved the swing.  Also a first.  I don't know if I've ever seen him smile and laugh so much.  This summer is going to be awesome. 

 

The weather was about 55 degrees.  We just sat around after the hunt not wanting to leave because we were actually getting to be outside and enjoying some sun.  Sad that we are supposed to get snow this week.

Blake opened his eggs and here is what he found:  Starvers (Starbursts).  Twigs (Twix).  Tic Tactoos (pretend tattoos).

Kids

 Hooray for 3 year olds picking out their own outfits.  Some Janie quotes (in a whiny voice):  "I just want to eat all day!"  and "It is not fun doing things that are boring!"

 

 

Time Our For Women

 This past weekend I attended Time Out For Women in Indianapolis with a group of girls from church.  It was so fun to get away for 2 days and be uplifted with friends.  And my old roomie Brie was there from Virginia.  It is so great to have a friend where it is easy to jump right in and catch up.   

Wake up Natalie.  I think she got 3 hours of sleep at the hotel.  We were all so tired by the time we got home and are still recovering.  

Cousin Visit

Eric's sister, Keri, and her family are moving to the Chicago area.  We couldn't be more excited!  They had spring break this week so came for a few days while Nathan checked out Chicago areas.  I really love these people.  I didn't get any pictures of Jonathan who is the oldest.  Blake only wanted to eat what he ate at each meal.  My nieces and nephews played with my kids the whole time.  I even caught Jonathan (who is 14) in Janie's room with all her of dollhouse toys lined up on her bed.  These are such good kids and I felt so grateful to have their good examples in my home.  More good times ahead when they live only a couple hours away.

 

Blake and Brian got dressed Monday morning only to find that they were twins!  Even down to the matching socks.  Makes them look even more alike.  Brian taught Blake how to play rock, scissors, paper.  I also overheard him teaching Blake about the earth, lava, plates, earthquakes, and tsunamis.  Cute.

Watching Mickey Mouse Club House.

Gotta dance to the theme song.  Here is Janie doing the Minnie.  She gets into it but is pretty serious about it.

Jonathan and Sarah got sick Monday night so we didn't really go anywhere while they were here.  But we did every craft in my closet.  Here they are playing with homemade Koolaid playdough.  Smells good.

 

 

 Sarah and Abbie came to watch Janie at gymnastics.  She is wearing the leotard I wore when I was little.  It is pretty fun to watch her participate.  She is a good listener and tries her best.

Janie wanted to show me something in her room.  I was gone two seconds and when I went back to the family room Ty was gone.  I quickly checked the closet and couldn't find him.  I was really only gone two seconds.  But I found him--don't worry.  I don't know how he fit behind the couch but he was content playing with a lost toy.  He kept inching his way forward happy as could be.  When I pulled the couch away from him he turned and held his toy up to me like saying 'look what I found back here.'

 

Cousins left today and my kids were sad.  They cried on and off throughout the day.  I was glad Blake had preschool to distract him.  He was so tired too because of the time change and from staying up late each night.  He was emotional at dinner but I could tell he was trying to pull it together.  I could see a change in him because normally when he is sad like this he is more of a mess.  After we said our prayer for dinner Blake ran out of the room.  He came back to the table and told me that he had gone to his room because it was quiet in there and said a prayer to Heavenly Father asking him to help him not be sad when he thought of his cousins.  So sweet!  

 

I feel like my Blake has really been growing up these past few months.  We don't have as many "issues" as we used to.  He is very helpful and even thinks of things to help me without me even asking him.  (Like he will run to grab me a tissue if Ty gets snot on me.)  He is obedient and wants to please. 

 

About ten minutes later he was fighting back tears at the table and and trying to smile and said that he wasn't crying about his cousins but remembering the fun things they had done, like jumping on the trampoline.  I am so proud of Blake.

Watching Blake

 

Busy Busy

 Ty is starting to wave.  We do it a lot so maybe he thinks its a game.  But I'm not sure that he understands what it means.  I think its more of a reflex.  Still fun!

 

He is fast.  I keep a good eye on him.  But I turned for a second and he was in the bathroom starting to pull up to the toilet.  Sick.  I washed his hands.