Happy Easter

Although we didn't have many plans for Easter, it is always a fun time of year for our family.

Last weekend we went to an Easter Celebration at Rainbow Day Care (where the kids used to go). They continue to invite us even though the kids don't go there anymore. They really are an extended part of our family and we have even gained a great babysitter out of the bunch.

Their celebration had 2 big egg hunts (one for Matthew's age group which was inside the gym and then one on the large play area for the big kids). There were probably over 150 eggs for Matthew's age (mind you there were 10ish kids) and Matthew just loved it. Most of the kids had more fun filling their baskets and then dumping the eggs out. Matthew enjoyed climbing on the table to find the eggs way in the back.

The girls were then ready to have their hunt. It was a mad dash to collect the probably over 200 eggs. There were tons. In fact, you couldn't walk 2 feet without finding an egg. And since they were all filled with candy this mama was in heaven :)

Rainbow also had the Easter Bunny (of course!), hot dogs, popcorn, juice and dessert for the families. Throw in some crafts and it was a great time. There is a new manager there, Amy (who is the old director's , Jaime's, identical twin sister). I had met Amy once before and love her just as much as Jaime...it is funny though as they are seriously identical :)

As you can see, no pics from this fun outing. Of course I didn't have my camera because all of the kids had fun and even hugged the bunny. If I would have had my camera there would have been screaming and lots of tears, right?

On Friday, Jen had to work but the daycare was closed so we were happy to get Carly off the bus. The first thing the girls wanted to do? Color Easter eggs. Luckily I thought ahead (for once!!) and had the eggs already to go.

Here is our new playset for the Cincinnati home.
I put a message on Facebook asking anybody for a small plastic house that the kids could play in outside. My friend, Misty, said she didn't have that but she had the above picture. So we picked it up on Saturday. It will fit great in the side yard or patio in Cincinnati.

On Friday, I was telling Jackie how much I wanted to have a huge Easter egg hunt in our backyard when the kids woke up. I had a vision of the kids waking up, opening the kitchen drapes and seeing eggs everywhere. Jackie was all in. Well I filled probably 10 dozen eggs with candy, money or air the night before and set my alarm for 6:30 am. I woke up Easter morning and it was pouring (what's new lately, right?). Oh well! Plan B was the basement. The basement was filled to the brim and you can see in the video how excited the girls were to see such a surprise.

But before the Easter celebration we made Easter pancakes.
I put pink food coloring in and had fun trying to find which foods would make the perfect Easter Bunny (in one variation of the bunny Ella said, "mom, that looks nothing like a bunny"). Gotta love the honestly of a 6 year old.





We went to church Saturday night rather than Sunday morning.
I like to go Sunday mornings but our church is so big and Easter Sunday is even crazier than normal. We were able to see all of our normal Sunday crew so we got to share in the celebration with those we usually celebrate with at church.

I had such a fun time filling their baskets (I mean, the Easter Bunny did)
Matthew: a "Matthew" bottle so he doesn't need to carry around the pink princess one anymore, a Toy Story ball, a wind up toy for the bath and a car
Laney: Coloring book, silly rings, light up bracelet, princess stickers, Easter stamps, jump rope, cookie, bunny and Peeps
Ella: Coloring book, silly rings, a chicken that lays jelly beans when you wind it up, jump rope, cookie, bunny and Peeps

By popular demand

So my readers have a request and given the fact I only have um, 4ish consistent readers, I feel they can demand most anything they want from this blog and I will try to deliver (hope that made you all laugh).

These pics are for Jessica and Kelly who both wanted to see our rearranged master bedroom. Is a picture enough of a bribe for you ladies to keep reading my blog?

Before (we always loved the extra room we had by putting the bed in front of the window but felt we needed a change and thought potential buyers might want a different option).

So we gave them a different option. And wouldn't you know it? We love it! Our bed has been in front of the window for 6-7 years and who would have thought we would have loved the "new" way this whole time. The pictures don't do it justice as it such a long room it is tough to get a good angle but you get the jist :)

The new room



A quick move of the pictures and it looks like a complete room



And I have a reading nook

In the words of Captain Destrocto

Dear Mom & Dad,

I sometimes don't understand your rules. I don't understand why you have issues with me throwing my food. I don't understand why I can't use my broom to bang the kitchen cabinets. I also don't understand this women's locker room thing (I am a BOY!). And while we are the subject about the locker room, what was the big issue of me running out of the locker room (while mom was changing) and running towards the pool. I just wanted to splash around! I know, I know Mom had no clothes on and didn't know what to do but a boy just wants to run. Good thing dad (and strangers) were there to stop me from jumping in the pool but it looked like so much fun!

I also just don't understand why I can't pull the girls' hair. I mean, it is fun. Other fun? Doing somersaults, playing with my poop, being naked, jumping off of furniture, pulling down lamps....see, now that is fun!

Mom and Dad, I don't understand why you tell me "no" so much but I know you love me :)

Love,

Your Little Man

(and for the record mom really is sorry for the picture below but you have two older sisters who you really love to play with--and you screamed if I didn't put this in your hair).

Tennessee 2011

Over Spring Break we decided to head to my parents' condo in Tennessee.
We always look forward to a relaxing time and enjoyed Sunday-Thursday there.
Fairfield Glade is very low key. That's why we like it. You relax, take walks, play at the park, go swimming, etc. There are no main attractions (unless you call Lefty's BBQ an attraction) but just good ol' vacationing.



We baked brownies
For the record we meant to leave some for Nana and Grandpa but alas, we ate them all :)



The craft center at the resort was opened 10-2 daily.
And yes, we went every day.
Laney painted a dog and a ballerina.



Ella painted a dog and a little seat which holds a flower pot.
We also painted a bird house for Nana & Grandpa's house

I know it looks like Ella is drowning but it was tough to get a picture of her.
She was swimming all around the pool.
Such a confident little lady.

At first Matthew was unsure about the pool but then loved splashing around

Laney has always been a little fish.
She loves kicking around in her raft and floaties.

Ella's latest obsession is handstands.

I found this dollhouse on clearance for $5 at Target.
Laney loved, loved, loved it. She is quite a hoarder and carrier of little items (in bags or purses) so I think she really liked carrying the furniture around in a bag with her.

Mmmmm
I am sure the glass table works well for adults but for those of us with kids, it is impossible to keep clean. There honestly was a mound of yogurt on it that we had to scrub off once we left :)

Each year we have made a collage for my parents of our visit to TN.
I saw this one on the table. How different our life was with the 2 little ladies :)



Playing peek a boo under the table

When we were getting groceries Ella saw this balloon blow up thing she wanted.
She used her own money ($1) for it.
Then when she used all of the balloons, she used another dollar to get another one.
It was money well spent as she was flying balloons all over the condo.

How can my baby be able to stack dominos already (pink Dora dominos, but still dominos) :)

Doing the Willett Drop
This is an advanced maneuver requiring help from Dad (and it is too hard to explain but the girls love it).

Matthew was so over pictures on this day

Every night ended with a plethora of books.



And one of my favorite parts of having a kindergartner?
Now that she can read simple books, she can read to MJ.
Too cute!

The girls have said multiple times that this is the best vacation.
I think they like the lack of schedules as well :)
They said the only thing that was missing was Nana and Grandpa!

Ella's 6th Birthday Party

This was our first year for a low key birthday party for Ella. She was allowed to pick two friends for her big day, and she picked Carly and Amanda. We had no idea what we were going to do until literally the day before. Ella had so much fun painting pottery down in Tennessee (that post to come soon) that she wanted to go to Creative Escapes and paint with the girls. I thought this was a great idea!

Ella chose a horse.
It took a few minutes to find the perfect brown but we did it!

Amanda chose a purse

Carly chose an Easter Egg box

Their creations.
Ella names everything "Bella" these days...wonder why?

Ella loved the nail polish and mermaid Barbie from Amanda

She loved The Littlest Pet Shop pets from Carly

I had such high hopes of making a cake but then when it came down to it, we just had too much on our plate this weekend to make a cake. Ella didn't mind though. She was glad there were princess rings on the cupcakes :)

As a sidenote, my Grandma Jean gave us the Happy Birthday plate above. We just love it and use it for all birthdays. Ella took the plate to Logan's Steakhouse for her birthday celebration and had them serve her dinner and dessert on it.



Ella was the hit at Logan's Steakhouse.
She got up on the table and just froze.
She gave her nervous smile while they gave her a hee haw.
After she got off the "stage" she said that was fun. Too funny because her face while she was up there looked like this:



She got this crown at school (along with a pencil) and was proud to wear it all day long.

Happy Birthday, Ella!