Great Easter Weekend - Part 3

Part 3 = Sunday, Easter Day

Eli was thrilled when he woke up Sunday morning to see that the Easter bunny filled his basket with goodies, hid his eggs and even left a basket for Baby Cole. We had fun searching for eggs (making sure to find all the real ones!) that Daddy Easter bunny hid from us. After a great breakfast and more outside time, Tim & I went to Barnes & Noble for some kid-free quiet time. We used to go to B&N all the time and hang out, browsing books and adding to our "to read" lists. We got back home around lunch time and Grandma & Grandpa N took off back home. The weekend with them was so great and we're very thankful for their help with the boys and help with the yard. After naps, we hung around the house, went on a long walk with the boys and then got ready for the week ahead. Sunday nights are always tough because there is so much to do.

I remember Easter as a kid and how Easter bunny would leave us goodies, we'd get all dressed up and go to church and then head to a Grandparent's house to have lunch and egg hunts. There was always a special egg with money inside, I always wanted that one!! I've been thinking about the traditions that I want to create for the boys. Their holidays will not be like the ones I had growing up, they will be their own.......once I figure out what I want to do! So many decisions being a parent. I think most of all, I want them to remember every single holiday as a family affair with lots of love and fun and, of course, good food. =)

Easter bunny has been here

Nice choice bunny - Matchbox cars

Cole was happy with his goodies

Finding eggs

See Baby Cole what I found!

This picture cracks me up. Eli got binoculars in his basket. Notice how you can see his eyes in the picture.

Fun with every single part of the basket, especially the grass

Silly Rabbit - such a funny face

Eli got his first chocolate bunny. In true Eli fashion, he sucker punched bunny and ate his chocolate belly.

Then he moved on to the ears.

See Mom - I bit his ears

All the boys

I absolutely love this picture. I think it's the best picture I have of the boys with Grandma & Grandpa N.

Great Easter Weekend - Part 2

Part 2 = Saturday

The day started off with some outside time with Grandpa. I went to the Y for a very early spin class (like before anyone got out of bed!) and Eli soaked up all the Grandpa time he could. When I got home, he was outside pushing his lawn mower - with his ear muffs - alongside Grandpa pushing the regular mower. It was so cute. Eli did really well staying a safe distance from Grandpa and his work.

The big plan of our morning was Matthew's 3rd birthday party at Monkey Joe's. Eli was so excited and talked about the party all week, asking me multiple times if it was Matthew's party day. Eli had so much fun running around and bouncing with his friends. Matthew is a sweet little boy that gets to school about the same time Eli does in the morning. They were in class together for a while and liked to run like crazy boys when getting to school. Now, Matthew is potty trained (and if you recall, Eli is being stubborn about that) so he is in the next class. The boys still love playing together when they can so the party was a great time. Eli did great being a little social butterfly - he'd run around with one friend for a while and then go find another wingman. The kids all enjoyed pizza, cake - an awesome animated dinosaur cake and then more play time. It was so different than the first time we took Eli. He was climbing up all the structures on his own and loved sliding down fast, both feet first and head first.

After nap, we had more outside time at home. We played in the backyard with both boys while Grandpa & Grandma did some yard projects. It felt kinda weird that we were playing while they were working but I think they had fun. Our yard looks so much better now, like someone actually lives here.

Saturday night we had fun dyeing Easter eggs. Eli, Grandma & I worked to create some eggs for the Easter bunny. It was my first time boiling and dyeing eggs on my own. I haven't had real Easter eggs since I left home! Eli had fun drawing on them with a wax crayon and then dipping them in the color. He made eggs that said "Eli", "Cole", "Mom" and "Dad" plus a few with shapes on them.

We had such a wonderfully busy day. Thank you Grandma & Grandpa for all your hard work!

Mowing with Grandpa - isn't Eli cute with his ear muffs?

Eli & Birthday Boy Matthew

Eli, Matthew and Ryan - look how big Eli is compared to them!

Climbing all on their own - such big boys

Eli had so much fun sliding down

He even went on the biggest one all by himself

Party time boy style - a little wrestling

The cool dinosaur cake - it was motion activated and roared when you walked past

My little jumping bean

Jumping high

Matthew in the birthday boy chair

Loving me some Eli

Sweet baby Cole - happy to be outside

Cole & Daddy acting all serious

Taking a break from all the mowing - just wait Eli, one day you'll have to do it for real!

I'm such a sucker for a cute face - wearing Grandpa's hat

Dyeing Easter eggs with Grandma

Silly rabbits

Our finished eggs

Great Easter Weekend - Part 1

Such a great Easter weekend. Posting in Parts. Part 1 = Friday.

Friday morning I took the boys to the Y and got in a workout before we got our day in high gear. Then it was off to REI to purchase a new bike trailer (no we really don't have enough rolling stuff in our garage). Thanks to our REI dividend we snagged a 2 child Burley bike trailer for nothing. Yes, that's right - we got it free! We had lunch at Chick-Fil-A (chick-a-lay as Eli calls it) and headed home to see Grandma & Grandpa N. They were waiting for us when we got there.

Eli was so excited to see them. It was our first visit with them since they came back to NC from their winter in Florida. The boys had a great afternoon with them and as such, were not too interested in naps. Eli wanted to hang outside with Grandpa, roaming around and "mowing" the grass with his bubble mower. I even stole away to run some errands and do some shopping - by myself!! After dinner, Eli & Cole received their Easter bags from the Grandparents. Eli wasn't too interested in the clothes but he had a blast playing with the punch balls. We had a great night hanging out and catching up.

Happy with Grandma N

he he he - got me an Easter surprise

Cole was happy to open his bag as well

This cracked me up. Grandpa blew up the white punch ball but didn't tie it and then asked Eli to bring it to me. The punch ball released air and made Eli jump. He was startled but just laughed.

Cole got in on the punch ball action too

So much fun - he punched and threw the ball all around the house

Can never resist cute tub shots

Eli's 1st job

This weekend Eli had his first job - he was petsitting two cats and a gecko. He started Friday evening and finished Monday morning. He helped feed the cats, give them water, feed the gecko (I actually picked up the crickets but he made sure I did it correctly) and turn the heat lamp on and off. He did so great. Every time I announced to him that it was time to go do his "job", he dropped whatever he was doing and went to our neighbor's house with me. I am so proud of him and he is so proud of himself. If you ask him what his job was, he'll tell you that it was "to take care of the cats and gecko." His payment, a big Monster truck - surprised huh? Guess Eli's pet sitting service is in business! Maybe he can earn some money and help pay his daycare bill.

By the end of the weekend, he could put the key in the door and turn it.

Feeding the cats

Checking on Eddie, the gecko

9 months old

Happy 9 month birthday Baby Cole!! We are 3/4 of the way to your first birthday - WOW! Let's see what we have to report for the past month:

• It has been a tough month. You were sick and we couldn't figure out what was wrong. We thought ear infection, tried drops. Then something else seemed to be going on. We did find out, in the process, that you're allergic to penicillin drugs. Ugh! It was not a fun way to discover.
• Sleeping - as much as I raved about your sleeping last month, you have not been cooperative in this area this month. You've been up every night and have cried and screamed a lot. Daddy & I are tired but surviving. We are hoping that one day you'll figure it out again. (fingers and toes crossed! Mommy's getting pretty cranky.)
• Looking at last month, I'm not sure you've really gained any weight. You have been difficult in eating. You don't want pureed foods any more, you want to feed yourself. And things you LOVED, you now want nothing to do with. I swear, without yogurt, pinto beans, graham crackers and oatmeal, you'd starve.
• You're working on your standing really hard. You still have no interest in crawling or rolling over but you do want to jump ahead and start walking so you can run after Eli.
• Speaking of, you guys are cuter and cuter together all the time. I love when you both start belly laughing and there is just so much happy in the house.
• You're getting more and more vocal. You babble, blow bubbles and just jabber a lot. You seem so happy doing it.
• You've got 4 teeth and we wonder if you're getting more. Disrupted sleep, changes in eating patterns and gallons of drool, it's a distinct possibility.
• As hard as the past month seems to have been (I'm sure in my sleep deprived state, my memory is worse than reality), you get sweeter and cuter every day. You light up when you see one of us and show me that, even in all my frustrations and stress, you love your Mommy like no other.
• We're so lucky that you're here to complete our perfect family. Perfect is relative and different for every person but my two sweet boys and wonderful Daddy = perfect for me!

Class Easter parties and egg hunt

Today the boys had their class Spring parties and Easter egg hunt. Ok, so Cole's class just enjoyed the beautiful weather outside but Eli's class was full of excitement to run outside and find Easter eggs filled with surprises. I stole out of work early to be part of the fun. I have to admit that that is one of the hardest things about working for me - worrying that I'll miss something fun in their lives. I try really hard to make all the parties, events, whatever that the boys have going on. I'm very lucky and thankful to have a job that affords me that flexibility.

When I got to school, Cole's class was outside playing away and having fun. He recognized me from quite far off through the fence. He got all happy and smiley for me. I went to Eli's class for the egg hunt and then grabbed Cole so he could enjoy the actual party. The kids were so excited about the egg hunt and they were buzzing around the room ready to take off. Eli ran out the door and was picking up every egg he could find. He even, like last year, opened a few to see what was inside before deciding to put in his basket. It was pretty warm this year so when the kids decided the playground was free of Easter eggs, they headed back to the door to go inside for some sweet treats. Eli was so happy that Cole came to his party and shared his cheese puffs with him. We got a nice surprise during the party when the door opened and Daddy walked in! We didn't know if he was going to make it from work but were thrilled to see him. Lots and lots of sugar later, we scooped both boys up and started our weekend early. SO MUCH FUN!!

Cole and his "peeps" enjoying being outside

Have basket, will hunt eggs

Release the children!

Who knew dinosaurs grew eggs?

I swear I blinked and he got so big!

Eli and some of his "peeps"

Yum juice box, a very rare treat

Loving a cheese puff

Definitely brothers!

One sweet cheesy boy

Two sweet boys - ahhh, my heart