Easter 2016

I finally feel like we're getting a hold of the traditions we want to do with our kids.  The first is decorating eggs.  We went really simple this year- just dyed 11 eggs (they were brown as that's what our farmer has- the colors were so pretty!!).  We've decided this is a good Easter Saturday activity.

We quickly realized having the eggs set up like above for stickering was NOT conducive to a 2-year-old who doesn't understand the effects of gravity and delicacy of egg shells.

when she was done she spent a good 30 minutes "dying" our plastic eggs.

Goof!

We've officially nixed anything edible!  We spend a lot on the Busy Bible but it was worth it!  We'll be getting the girls a new Shining Light doll every year, outdoor activities and whatever else I can find on clearance at Shopko :)

We introduced Samantha to St. Therese after I heard about her mother's journaling of St Therese when she was young.  It sounds much like our struggles with Samantha.  So we got her a little statue and a few books that focus on the young St. Therese.  She''s been so delighted!

This one just enjoyed filling and unfilling her Easter basket. I found a ballerina doll for $2- SO perfect for her right now!

Busy Bible was a huge hit too

After Mass we headed over to my parents' for lunch, egg hunt, naps and then dinner.

The Cousins were able to come over for lunch and the hunt!

These two get a long so well!

The adults "helping"

Everyone had to hunt for eggs of a specific color.  Sam's, of course, was blue (Elsa's color...when will this obsession end??)

WOAH!  A smile- and on CAMERA!?!?

Genevieve will have a playmate her age too- coming in October!

Easter "baskets" this year were t-shirts made into bags.  So easy and so cute.

Yes, please encourage make-up...

Poor Tess...

Happy Easter!!!

Happy Easter

He is Risen!  

More non-posed pictures to come...

First Haircut

Oh, my children and their hats.  We have so.many.  And they wear them ALL.

She took it off for a second for me.

front view

This one was so much help.  Charlotte will do ANYthing after seeing Sam do it.  So Sam got a trim first.

Back-tail...soon to be gone!

Her new thing...walking on her heels.  She's gotten pretty fast too!

After!

Got their haircuts and the hats went back on immediately.  

5 am Wake-up Call

Oh, Day Light Savings Time, how I loathe you.  Poor Charlotte has suffered the most this time.  I'm having to wake her up and she's a zombie when I drop her off at the babysitter's.  She's our rock-star sleeper, but she woke up last night screaming about a pepper biting her toe.

Yep.  A pepper.  Not sure what type...didn't even know she knew what a pepper was.  In consoling her she kept telling herself, "It's ok, it was a dream...just like the butterflies aren't going to get me." (The last nightmare she had- a BIG butterfly flew into her her ear...Daddy saved her and she only wanted him when she woke up screaming).

It was the talk of the day and every time I'd ask her about it she'd get very serious and retell the whole thing, pointing to a very specific toe.  I still don't know which it was as I was usually turning my head hiding my laughs at this point in the story.

So, just to review...Charlotte's nightmares:

Also, today, Sam walked in the door, "*sniiiiiff" It smells like bacon! Daddy? Are you home?"

A Fort

Charlotte and I had a day home together and I built her a fort.  

At one point I heard screaming for help and I came in to find this.  She was quite embarrassed and was yelling at me "NO TAKE-A PICTURE!"

Sorry kiddo.  

Day-time Play

After playing with Playdough Samantha always wants to take orders and serve us imaginary things.  After this session I ordered "I want coffee, but I don't want it burnt, granola bar and cheese cake."  I cracked up when I read her notes.

That's "coffee, no burn"

Quilts

Our house is bursting with two things- Books and Quilts.  Neither of which I can ever part with.  Charlotte got a new one from Yai Yai and Aunt Jackie recently and Charlotte immediately went to sleep with it!!  

Talking to Baby

I told Sam that Genevieve can hear them now and she immediately wanted to sing.  

Note the leotard.  This is her second option.

Charlotte immediately wanted to sing to her too.  Genevieve is bound to know her ABC's by the time she's born (minus T-W...Charlotte kinda skips those).

My all time favorite memory is the next morning after these pictures.  I was eating breakfast at the table and Charlotte asked if she could sing to Baby Genevieve.  Not being at the right height, she decided to get a stool and stand at my feet so she could reach my belly.  As I stood there twisting to lean over the counter to eat my breakfast Charlotte very sweetly sang to my belly until I was done.  *melt*

Ballerina

During a huge snow-storm Charlotte discovered the allure of being a Ballerina.  It didn't matter to her that it was below freezing, she wanted to wear her leotard and tutu.   

I showed her a few ballerina clips on youtube and she was in AWE.

Every day she wakes up now and discusses with us as to WHEN she can be a ballerina.  With the potty training, weather and the fact that we only have two acceptable "ballerinas" for her, we've had to limit it to just when she's home.

So evenings, all-day Saturday and after mass on Sunday, she's in a tutu and leotard!