Easter

Our Easter party was a big success, as always. You can't go wrong with a house full of excited kids. The pancakes were yellow (bananas foster), blue (blueberry) and my favorite, pink (chocolate raspberry). This year we didn't have a single pancake left by the time we were ready to find those eggs. Lot's of happy full bellies after Mike's pancakes and all the yummy breakfast foods family brought. The Easter bunny had four dozen hard boiled and 173 plastic eggs to hide so it's a good thing Roo left him a snack. I let the kids out into the yard in 3 waves: babies/toddlers, preschoolers and then big kids. In years past I had big kids wait on the patio, but this time I kept them inside the house until Mike signaled me to send the next group. We get a little bit better at this party every year.

Happy Easter!!

Hippity Hoppity Easter on it's Way

Spring has sprung and Easter preparations are underway. I'm always excited for our annual gathering which has grown from four kiddos to somewhere in the neighborhood of fifteen. This party was one of the reasons we chose our house with its amazing backyard. I live for excuses to fill my house and yard with happy children. Every year we invite friends and family over for Easter egg pancakes and egg hunting.

Miss Roo filling eggs for her classmates.

The eggs we dyed and decorated

Treats and favors

Easter Bunny Visit 2013

I told the kids we didn't have to go this year. My big motivation for Easter Bunny pictures is to make sure we (the grandparents and I) get a picture of the kids every spring. This year we'd gone to a theme park in February and purchased pictures of the kids with Big Bird. They gave me wallet sized copies and gave them to the grandparents. I just wasn't sure if it was worth it to the kids and I could have easily passed. I was stunned when they both insisted we go. It is tradition, after all.

We donned our spring-y attire (bunny ears and bunny purse included) and invited Grandma. Last year, Riley flat out refused to sit next to the bunny without Mommy. I really wasn't sure what to expect. It wasn't an issue of fear this time. Riley's going through this unpleasant phase where she'll smile and say cheese all you want, but she will NOT look at the camera! Grrr...Remarkably the people the mall hired (two awkward teenage boys) got the best shot. I got two packages worth of pictures for the price of one and a digital copy! I was pleased.

It has also become tradition to get a pretzel when we visit the Easter Bunny. I had a coupon for buy two pretzels get one free and my stamp card. The kids split a cinnamon pretzel and a lemonade. It was very special stuff, a mall picnic.

Last stop, those stupid 50 cents a ride rides. I forgot my change purse (I know I'm 80yrs old) so we let her sit on them and made sound effects. The kids were very pleased with the trip.

Happy Easter!!