Easter

On Saturday, the day before Easter, I took Tyler and Grace down to Draper Park for their annual Easter egg hunt. They chalk off huge circles on the ball fields and scatter eggs and treats inside the circles. Kids gather around the edges of the circles according to age groups and at 9:00 a.m. they blow the fire truck horn and all the kids go running. The eggs are gone in a matter of minutes. Tyler and Grace were in the same age group, the 3-5-year-olds. Tyler did really well. Afterward they have a bunch of activities for the kids. A bounce house, clowns and balloon animals, visiting with the Easter Bunny. It was a lot of fun. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Anderson who watched Elsie for me. It was fun to have them here with us.

Quick recap on the last month

Oops, I haven't updated in a while. Here are a few pictures from this last month.


Elsie's first rice cereal. She has been so interested in everything we eat and grabs at it trying to get it, so I decided it might be time to start her on rice cereal. Her first bite was a bit of a shock to her mouth, but she quickly caught on to this addition to her diet.


Grace on St. Patty's Day



Oh! To be a kid again. Grace loves to dress up, and her unique designs in wardrobe are something all her own.




Elsie



After a recent snowfall, which have been rather frequent lately, and quite unwanted being April, my kids came in frozen and in their minds in much need of Hot Chocolate and popcorn. This has been one of their favorite things to do, have what they call a movie theatre in the basebent. Aren't they so cozy with their cocoa and popcorn?






Tyler's preschool class recently took a field trip to the dinosaur museum. The kids had a great time.

No More Curls!

I can't believe I did it. What was I thinking? I chopped off all of Grace's beautiful curls. She's needed to cut her hair for a long while now. I've just been getting little trims here and there, trying to prolong the inevitable. I knew she was losing her curls, so I haven't cut her hair. But, her hair just got to be too much to handle, so yesterday I took Grace down to Cookie Cutters. They gave me a lock of curl in a little bag to bring home. My heart is broken that her curls are no more. However, Grace LOVES her new do, and she did appreciate how easy it was to wash and comb this morning.




I didn't tell Brian that I was going to get her hair cut, it was kind of an impulse thing I decided while trying to comb through it yesterday morning. So we snapped a picture with the camera phone and sent it to his phone with a message that said, "Look what mommy did to me." Needless to say, I got a call within minutes.

My Kiddos

Tyler LOVES holding Elsie, kissing Elsie, hugging Elsie...he just loves his little sister. I love to see them all together. My favorite moments are when Tyler and Grace play together without fighting. It is the sweetest thing.

Beware the Pirate and Fearsome Warrior!

Tyler's 5th Birthday Party

Tyler wanted a dinosaur birthday party at Backyard Adventures. It was a lot of fun, and I loved just showing up with pizza and a cake and not having any other work to do for the party. It was great - except for my dino cake disaster. I got the cake done and then the head crumbled off. After all the time spent on the cake I didn't want to make more cake and try another head, so I told Brian I was just going to buy a cake. He told me I couldn't let my son down, and that Tyler really wanted a dinosaur cake. So I bought a loaf of angel food cake at the bakery and Brian cut it so it wouldn't fall again. Tyler got his dino cake.

To settle it once and for all, NO, Elsie is NOT a cow name!!!

SISTERS!

I was so excited when we found out that we were having a little girl, our Elsie. The pressure of getting Grace a sister was off. Having 4 sisters, I've maintained that every girl needs a sister, although Brian argues the opposite. Having 5 brothers, he insists that every boy needs a brother, more than a girl needing a sister. Oh, not so, my love. If Tyler gets a brother, I'll be happy, but I'd probably have to keep having kids until I got my girl a sister. They'll have the years of fighting over each other's clothes (hopefully never over boys, which did happen at my house growing up), but eventually, I hope they will end up being the best of friends. What a joy it is to have a sister.

And so, my ode to my sisters:

A Bag Full of M&M's:

My best of friends whenever I'm in need

Always there for my aching heart to feed.

Or just a laugh to give me a little smile

Even if we're separated by way too many a mile.

We've mastered two-way calling and learned five-way is the best

'Cuz when it's just a few of us we always miss the rest.

Sharing our daily adventures, not always full of cheer

Whatever is the story, I've got an attentive ear.

Mandy is my neighbor, shopping buddy and babysitter too

My adult conversation on our outings to the zoo.

A perfect example of selfless living true

Without my oldest sister I'd not know what to do.

Megan is my daily wake-up call on the telephone

My teacher of canning and quilting, before to me unknown.

Never an idle moment, always a busy little bee

Learning to do new things, she's ever inspired me.

Melanie's a beauty, filled with style, poise and grace

Helping me with fashion and how to put makeup on my face.

One who's ever faithful, her standards she'll never compromise

Showing me how to continue growing, although I'll never reach her size.

Mallorie, or Mookie, as she is so well known

A favorite aunt to my kids, a smile she's always shown.

She teaches me to love without judging, each and everyone

And she's always ready to take the lead in having fun!

My sisters are amazing, the best they truly are

I love them each so dearly, no matter near or far.

Thank you for teaching me - and for being my friend

Sealed for all eternity, we'll be together to the end!

Grace and Elsie, I hope you learn to love and appreciate each other. Sisters are the best, and you are so blessed to have each other.

Mandy, Megan, Misty, Mallorie, Melanie

The Real American Idol

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL???

Try it without looking at answers – don’t cheat!

1) Pick your Favorite number between 1-9

2) Multiply by 3 then

3) Add 3, then Multiply again by 3 (I'll wait while you get thecalculator....)

4) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number..

5) Add the digits togetherNow Scroll down ...............









Now with that number see who your ROLE MODEL is from the list below:

1. Einstein

2. Nelson Mandela

3. Jacob Zuma

4. Tom Cruise

5. Bill Gates

6. Gandhi

7. Brad Pitt

8. Mickey Mouse

9. Misty Anderson

10. Barack Obama

I know....I just have that effect on people....one day you too can belike me.... :-) Believe it!

P.S. Stop picking different numbers. I am your idol, just deal with it!!!!