Getting Ready for a Great Easter

I'm just gonna admit it right up front; every year I have to look up in a cookbook/Internet how to hard boil eggs when the Saturday before Easter rolls around.  I hate eggs.  In fact, except in baked goods like cookies and cakes, I try to avoid eggs at all times.  No deviled eggs around here.

However, I know that part of our Easter tradition includes dying hard boiled eggs and just because I'm not an egg fan doesn't mean the kids can't enjoy a little creativity.  The sisters got into all the glitter, the tie dye look, and even attempted a little rubber banding to block the colors.  Big Brother even got in to the action for a minute and made a dinosaur egg. 

I'm thinking the jello jigglers we made were more my speed.  At least I'm willing to eat something made of pure sugar!  What says "Jesus Christ is Risen Today!" more than a yellow jello bunny?

Spring Break Take Two: I'm Gonna Need a Vacation Afterwards

It's spring break for the girls this week and let me tell you they were convinced that we needed to plan some "fun."  Miss M and Miss A put together a "Spring Break To Do List" of all the activities they hoped to accomplish in five short days.  I have no idea where they get this list making gene! Wink Wink.

On the list were plans for shopping trips, movie dates, pottery making, donut buying, zoo walking, and a few at home activities with crafts, AG dolls and the like. The consistent theme was that the mother would act as Cruise Director and take them to and from events and of course buy said tickets, items, and admissions.

I might need a part time job this summer if this week's escapade are any indication of the summer of fun they have planned.  I'm thinking we might move out to the lake for the summer.  It is further away from "distractions" like Hobby Lobby and the Mall/Movie Theater.

We've been having a great time and I'm pleased to say with two weekdays left, we have accomplished about half of the list.  My laundry and 40 Bags however have suffered. I'll be back on the chore wagon next week.  At least that's what I keep telling myself. These days of wanting to hang with mom and take in the sights as a crew of three are short while the laundry will always be there. 

A very successful week started with new hair do's for spring.  This was quickly followed by a trip to the Mall where we picked up flip flops and spring tops.  We've also gone to see the Lorax Movie and pretended to be "girls in the hood" cause we sported hoodies to protect our hair from whatever lurks in the movie theater seats.  Yesterday, we went to the Pottery Place to create works of art to display in our home and Nana even got to come along.  I opted to knit while they painted because paint and I are not friends.  The girls, however, got the artist gene and I love to watch them create! 

Today, it's cookie baking with Nana, visit to the Park, and then maybe a trip to Walmart (OK, that is for me, but I really need a few things).  We call this the low key day! Tomorrow, it is the Zoo!  Who says you have to leave town to have fun.  Spring Break "staycation" rocks.

Final Days of Girls Only: We Add Dad!

With only two days left before Mr C returned and the days of just being the girls went away, we decided we needed to pack in all the fun we could.  Thankfully, Dad was able to join us for the final day of fun though, as he likes to point out, he is not a girl.

Friday, the girls and I got our hair cut which, for Miss M, meant cutting 4 inches off the bottom and for Miss A it means, for the first time in a very long time, she's sporting bangs.  A few months ago, we switched our hairstylist and we now go to a good friend from Dance who cuts hair in her home.  What a fun way to support a mom who wants to stay at home with the kids.  Both girls are loving their new cuts and they look adorable.

The weather was perfect for a trip to the Zoo so we packed a picnic basket and took in a few of the highlights of the zoo.  The joy of Zoo membership is you can come and go for a short time and not feel bad if you spend more time on the Carousel and feeding the fish than actually looking at the animals.  Just saying.

Saturday, after Miss M's softball game, we decided to capitalize on the perfect weather to go to an outdoor art festival.  While we aren't really in the market for Art, we love to wander about looking for deals and will take any opportunity to have some fun.  That's just what we did.  Have some fun. We made our own "art," enjoyed a snow cone, and, of course, did our favorite thing; people watch.  The most unique part of the whole show had to be the Quick Artist who made a "masterpiece" in five minutes time. 

Now that's talent.

All in all, we had a great time just us girls and dad, but we were thrilled to welcome Mr. C back home on Saturday night.

Trophy Time! Watch Out World.

Look out library books everywhere! This girl now has her sight word trophy!!

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Miss A was beaming Friday afternoon when I picked her up at school. Clutched in her tight little mitten clad hands was the amazing 75 Sight Words Trophy. Finally, she'd mastered the difference between "saw" and "was" and had achieved her goal.

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Of course, it was Sonic Time. Mom even splurged for chicken tenders when she heard how little Miss A had eaten at lunch. You see, Miss A was convinced that the soft shell taco would come with just cheese and after much discussion I decided to let her learn that, "mom knows best." Poor Miss A had only eaten a taco shell, jello and milk.

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Poor girl was starving. I'm not sure how she had survived the Sight Word test. She must be able to overcome rumbling tummies for a trophy.

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If you are wondering why it looks like Miss A is up for Miss America pageant in the photos, it because Saturday morning was "dress up day" and Miss M did a messy bun for her sister along with a little makeup. Miss A, of course, wanted it to look like she was a Rock Star accepting the award!!

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A post for a later date will explain how I even ended up in Goodwill Saturday afternoon looking at more dress up dresses. An experience that I'm not sure I've survived yet! Miss M is however anxious to go back!

Fun in the Sun: At least When It's Not Raining

Miss A is already good at "building" with Keva Blocks, I'm sure Ark Building is in her future

We've talked about building an Family Ark this week. It's rained that much over the past few days and weeks that we are starting to look for Gopher Wood Sales. Not sure we are being called by God to do this, but the weatherman sure is making us think it's a good idea.
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Needless to say, we never have any set plans of late. Every plan we have gets called off, delayed, or ruined by rain. Today, according to my children, we never get to do anything fun!!



Over the past few days here are a few of the planned "Fun Things" that did not happen.

• Boys at the College World Series Game on Father's Day: Rain Delayed till today/No Go for Boys
• Girls at the Children's Museum while the boys are at the game: Delayed due to no game. Closed on Mondays.
• Ballgames, Swim Parties, Pool Time and Golf Tee Times all cancelled due to storms, threat of storms, and that dastardly lighting that ruins all water activities and those involving metal bats and clubs.

Rightfully we are feed up with this summer's weather. Wasn't the snow this winter enough moisture? Seriously, we need a few days of sunshine to get back into our garden and pull the weeds and check the growth of our produce.

Great Playground, tons of ropes, swinging objects and fun.

All has not been lost however. We have managed to have some "fun" this past weekend.

Miss A is a little short for some of the obstacles so she gets a 10 second lead and skips over the hard parts.

Friday afternoon, between storms, we headed to the community center and had fun playing ping pong, Foosball and obstacle course races on the playground with a friend of C's. We even made it to "Happy Hour" at our favorite place for refreshments.



Can anything be better than Sonic Slushies?
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That evening the kids played Domino's for cold hard cash with Nana and Papa while I enjoyed a date with my hubby. Rumor has it Mr. C won every round, but Miss A thinks that is up for dispute.


Saturday, we did manage to have a few ballgames between a trip to the pool and hamburgers grilled to perfection on the deck.
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Sunday was a little bit of a disappointment, however, as all of our "plans" were washed away in the inches of rain that fell all day long. We rectified the situation with a Pizza Picnic in the Family Room and a funny movie on the DVD. We've finally tried the new pizza place in the neighborhood and everyone gave it a thumbs up. The Spy Next Door received five thumbs up too!





Finally the girls decided to have a sleepover in Miss A's room this time complete with Miss A sleeping in her pink tent and Miss M sleeping in Miss A's bed.
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Normally the girls sleep over in M's room, on trundle beds, this was a fun new way to sleep and Miss A was in heaven having the sleepover in her room!
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Before I tucked them in and kissed them goodnight, Miss A smiled huge at me and said; "this is just like sleeping in nature, without the outdoors!" Yep, she's just like her mother.

Girls Week

We've had an exhausting week, but like the song says "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" so we've had lots of fun, too.

With Mr. C gone to camp and VBS every morning, the girls and I have tried to have a little bit of fun each afternoon/ evening.

There have been dress up contests.

Softball games and trips to the snack shack.

Afternoon Movies with popcorn and pop.

Pool time.

Homemade Pizza night including eating "picnic" style in the family room. (guess who requested this meal) Sweet and Sour Chicken Night including fortune cookies and rice. (guess who requested this dinner and the sister who wanted only white rice)

A trip to the new Ice Cream Shop in the neighborhood for Frozen Custard with gummy bears and m&m's. Yummy! Please don't tell Mr. C about this little jaunt, he thinks we are waiting for him to get home to break in it.


Lunch out at Mimi's Cafe with Nana and Papa to celebrate the end of VBS and of course to plan our summer fun. Can't wait for Mr. C to get back in town so we can really start our summer plans.

Last, but not least, one early morning session in mom and dad's bed due to some nasty weather outside. Between praying for Mr. C's safety at camp and finding room to fit on the bed, it was an interesting hour. Finally, M and A went to Miss A's bed to sleep together until "someone" got a little greedy with the covers and pushing their sister out of the room!!

Not too worry as two nights later they requested a sleepover in M's room and have been sharing space ever since!

It's fun to watch sisters playing together, but I think we are all ready for brother to come home!!