Spring?

It finally felt a little more like spring this morning.  It was in the high 40's, very little wind, and a bit of sunshine.  My walk was gorgeous this morning.

Sunshine

Although there is lots of sunshine this morning, it is only 22 degrees outside-----but feels like 13.  That is just a bit too chilly to go on a walk.  I'll wait to see if it warms up any!  (At least above freezing!)

BTW  (By The Way)--it's 71 degrees at my sister's place in Pennsylvania    :P

Not Waiting for Spring

I keep waiting for warmer weather to go on walks with Benjamin. 

 Not leisure walks--but walks for exercising.  And I like to exercise in the morning--after the kids go to school.

So I decided not to wait for spring and go on my walk.  I got 10 steps from the house and turned around to get a blanket, a hat, gloves and ear muffs (for me).  And I'm glad I did!  It was a chilly morning walk.  But it felt good to be walking again.  

Easter Morning

Easter Morning--early, early morning!

 Ethan told me that the Easter Bunny skipped his apartment, but that's only because he left his basket at our house!  (and he filled it up here!)

 Benjamin was thrilled to find candy so early in the morning!

 He wasted no time eating a piece (or 2 or 3!)

 Emmalee found a Barbie Fairytopia movie in her basket.

 Brienna was still waking up.

 Bubbles!

 Finding the 100 (yes--100) eggs the Easter bunny hid for us.

I had to leave for an early-morning meeting before #99 & 100 were found, but they found them all!  (and no--we did not hid "real" eggs.  never have & never will!)

Easter--part 3 (Coloring Eggs)

Every year we have been coloring Easter eggs.  

 Rusty & I first colored eggs together for Easter of 1990 (with my roommates) & we haven't missed a year.

 Aunt Pamela taking pictures

 But of the 21 years we have been coloring eggs, this is the first year we attempted to color fresh (brown) eggs.  (Rusty's dad raises chickens & since he lives behind us, we have a steady supply of fresh eggs)

 We boiled 3 dozen eggs (I tried to pick the lightest colored ones) & went to putting them in the dye.

 Emmalee did it by herself.

 Hey--there I am helping out (rarely am I in the pictures since I am usually the one taking them!)

 Ben trying to be as independent as possible!

 Ta-da!!!  His cowboy egg.  He dropped it at least 3 times while I tried to get a picture.  Then the last drop required removal of the shell--& he ate it.

 Here are the results of our egg-dying.  We all loved the unique colors!

Happy Easter!

Easter--part 2 (Community Egg Hunt)

Emmalee & Benjamin anticipating the Easter Egg hunt this morning.

 The Lions Club puts this together for us each year.  And we were VERY grateful it wasn't snowing!!!  

 Benjamin was very excited.  

 At first they had toddler, pre-school & kindergartners all in the same area.  Then they moved the 5-year olds over to the 1st & 2nd grader area.

 Callum was in the 3rd/4th grade section.  

 And go!  Emmalee was quick!

 And is happy with the eggs she found.

Mom--look at what I found! 

The eggs with numbers or stickers were worth 50 cents each.  Emmalee & Ben both had 3, and Callum had one.  (They had other eggs with candy in them)

 Brienna took this picture of Callum & the eggs he found (but he was swinging his bucket around).

what a cutie!

 Because it was a sunny day, I decided to walk.  Benjamin liked wearing his bucket.

But on the way home, the tire (outer part) came off the rim.  Thankfully Rusty had drove (because he had been out at the land with Zeb.  But Zeb didn't want to come home, so Rusty had to wait for Zeb to get back to the truck.  Therefore, he was running "late" & needed to drive so he didn't miss the hunt).  He put the stroller in the truck & we walked the rest of the way home.

And he fixed the wheel so now I'm going to take Ben on a walk--since the sun is still shining.  (Although it is still chilly & definitely "jacket" weather!).

Easter--part 1

Brienna wanted to put our Easter decorations up almost a month ago, and I told her we needed to wait.

So last weekend we (she=Brienna) decided we had better get them up!

 The kids had fun hiding Easter eggs the past week.  The person hiding the eggs wore the bunny ears. 

 Ben's turn

 He's so adorable!  

Emmalee--minus the ears.

Ahhh--there she is.  What cute bunnies we have!  

Family

Zane & Emmalee playing Monster Trucks on the Wii.

 Good thing someone (Emmalee) is watching the "road".  

And now it's Zane's turn to watch the road.  (It's nice to see them getting along)

Pat & Veronica (Rusty's brother & sister-in-law) came over to visit us.  They brought their dog, Scruffy, too.

They drive truck so are on the road most of the time.

 Benjamin likes their dog (a little too much!).  Scruffy ended up hiding from him.

Aunt Veronica, Scruffy, Emmalee & Benjamin.

Benjamin--Wilbur & "Swimming"

We sat down to watch "Charlotte's Web" & see if Wilbur in the movie is anything like Callum's Wilbur.

 Benjamin was fascinated with the movie & watched almost all of it.  

 And laughed a lot!  He thought the pig was quite funny--and just like our Wilbur.

And then the next day we were watching a movie with the family & I realized Benjamin was no longer in the room with us.

And it was awfully quiet in the house (except for the movie).  

So just as I got up to find him, he came walking into the living room.

 He had gotten into the swim drawers (where we keep all the swim suits, swim diapers, goggles, arm floaties, and inflatables).

 He undressed himself, took off his diaper (thankfully it wasn't messy!!!), and got ready to go swimming.

 He didn't want any help getting the goggles on.

 Please, Mom!!!  Can't we go swimming????  I'm all ready!!!! 

So while we watched more of the movie, he had fun "swimming" without water.