Happy Easter 2013

Last night we set up all the treats. 

A bag of goodies from Aunt Kim, Uncle Brian, and Gran.

 

These were BIG hits!

Candy from us.

I hide eggs for each kid in a different room.  Caroline's eggs were in the living room. 

Jack's were in the den. 

 

Sarah's were in the computer room, as we call it.

I think this cuts down on arguing and racing for eggs.

Then we took our annual family pic.  You know I like to include most, if not all, of the family pics because I think it tells a story.

Sarah and Caroline were on the stairs so Jason could fix the tripod and line everything up.

I like to watch Caroline in these shots. 

 

  

 

Then we all get in to try to figure out where everyone is going to stand. I tell the kids to "save their smiles" because these pics don't matter.  You can do whatever you want... like fix your hair.

 

 

Then "for real" shot #1.

 

 

Um, it's ok.  But Caroline, we need you to move more to the middle.

 

 

Good enough!  Now kid shots.

 

 

Let's try it in birth order on the stairs.

 

Wow! I really can't believe they're being cooperative for THIS many pics.

 



 

Surely Caroline will get bored soon.

 

 

Yep.  She's done.

 

 

After church we ate lunch at Mom and Dad's.

Kids' table.

 

 

 

And we had an egg hunt.

 

 

No pics of Sarah.  She was in the back yard.

 

 

 

We've had a great day! I hope your family has had a good Easter too!

 

Long weekends and warm weather = I'm soooo ready for summer.

Easter Egg Hunt

This morning we had an Easter egg hunt at church.  "Hunt" is the wrong word.  More like a "scramble" or "pick-up". 

We got there right on time, and I'm sure glad we did!  Caroline's group (3's, 4's, and Pre K) were the first to pick up eggs.

Here she is ready to go.  A fierce competitor.

She seemed to be picky at first, running past certain eggs and picking up others.  Then her greed kicked in, and she picked up whatever she could find.

Caroline with Morgan and Keegan. We'll see them later today.  It's Morgan's 3rd birthday. :)

Then it was the Kindergarten - 2nd graders turn.  Jack VS Sarah.
 

GO!

Checking out their loot.

The cousins were there too.  It's so hard-- read "impossible"-- to get them all to look at the camera at the same time.  But you get the idea.

We'll get together with them tomorrow at Mom and Dad's for lunch and a true HUNT.  When Dad hides eggs, it's no joke!

BTW, did you know they make plastic eggs called "Hard to Find" eggs?  They're gray and shaped like rocks.  Or brown and shaped like sticks.  Or green with blades of grass drawn on them. 

Somewhere there are diabolical people in Easter Egg Factory boardrooms thinking of ways to frustrate kids.  They're probably the same people who thought of trick birthday candles and pinatas that are impossible to break.

Mary Poppins

Last night we went to the theat-uh  (That's "theater" written in a British accent.) to see "Mary Poppins". (I don't know how to type it the way Bert says it, but that's the way I'm saying it in my mind.)

I spoke in a British accent a lot yesterday. (It's hahd to stop a British ahccent once you've stahted.) I think my kids grew a little sick of it... especially because my accent sounds a whole lot like Eliza Doolittle before Professor Higgins helps her.

We all went to eat at the food court in our mall before our night out.

Then everyone in this picture (+) my mom (minus) the men (minus) Kate went to see the show.

More easily said-- Sarah, Jack, Caroline, Mom, Hilary, Rachel, Alex, and I went to see the show.  Hmm.  Maybe that wasn't more easily said. 

The kids loved it! I think if they had one word to describe it, it would HAVE TO be... supercalifragilisticexpealidocious.

The dancing was fun!  The actors were so talented.  Even watching the sets change was spellbinding.  But I'm pretty sure their minds were blown when Mary Poppins flew with her umbrella and when Bert walked on the wall and on the ceiling.  I, of course, saw the cables, but Sarah was convinced that he had on suction cup shoes.

It was a late night, and Caroline ended up sleeping through most of the second act.  But Sarah was still talking about it this morning.

Jolly good show, ol' chaps!

(That's British, right?) 

Ok, I'm done with the accent.

Egg-stravaganza Playdate

We headed across the street today to dye eggs with all of our neighbors.  There were 3 tables set up outside and-- I would guess-- between 15 and 20 kids.

Nancy had snacks set up in the kitchen. The party was from 10 - 11:30 so she did a good job of having brunch-y snacks.  Deviled eggs, a vegetable tray, croissants, chips and guacamole for the adults (and any kids who wanted them).  Cupcakes, jelly beans, and M&Ms for the kids.

Then she had markers and stickers IN HER LIVING ROOM for the kids to make Easter cards. She is WAY more laid back than me!!

Yep.  That's Caroline.  Making a card. With stickers and a marker.  On someone else's coffee table.  EEK!! I watched her like a hawk. 

She kept the coffee table clean but somehow managed to get purple marker on her face. :/

Nancy says she's going to do this again.... And she's gonna put tarps out on her front lawn in October and have a Pumpkin Carving party for the neighborhood kids.  Sounds like fun! (And a little dangerous but we'll see.)

God bless the people with the gift of hospitality.  I am a terrible host.  But I'm a great party goer. :) 

I can't wait til her next get together!

Throwback Thursday

A look at Easters Past...


Sarah's first Easter 2006... I was pregnant with Jack.

Sarah and Jack 2007.. Jack's first Easter.

I'm missing 2008.  ?? If I find it, I'll add it.  Maybe we didn't take an '08 pic.

Easter 2009... I was pregnant with Caroline.  These are some of my favorite pics of Sarah and Jack!

Easter 2010.... Caroline's first Easter.

Silly posers.



Gosh, Julie, cut your hair!!

Easter 2011.

Easter 2012.