Hoppy Easter!

April 2015

Well, I've managed to fall a whole year behind in my blogging. Easter 2016 was last weekend, but it isn't April yet, so I'm not quite a year behind - I'll just keep telling myself that...

Once again, we had a fun-filled Easter. I don't remember Easter being quite such a celebration when I was little, but the kids definitely have fun! First up was the Pearson Farms egg hunt. It rained pretty much every weekend that Spring, but we somehow managed to find a sunny afternoon, right after a rainy Saturday (notice the rain boots). The egg hunt was divided by ages, so I took Livi to hunt in front of the neighborhood pool, and Tommy was with Jack on the playground behind the pool. Livi spent lots of time splashing in the puddles in her new boots, but she did stop long enough to get lots of eggs!

I think they underestimated the number of 4 and 5 year-olds - their eggs were gone in seconds. Luckily, Jack managed to grab a few before they were gone:

I got them both to (grudgingly) stand in front of the sign so I could take a picture:

The Kids R Kids egg hunt happens ever year on Good Friday afternoon. Mom managed to leave work for a little early to come watch. Livi was first:

Livi and her buddy Ryan:

BFF Samantha:

And her friend Alyssa:

Look, Mommy was there!

Everyone needed snacks to refuel after an exciting hunt:

Jack's class was next. His friend Ariana really likes to be in pictures:

My cute boy!

He ran so fast that this is the only picture I could get of him actually hunting for eggs:

I did manage to get a pic of Jack and his best bud, Cooper:

Jack, Cooper and Emilina check out their loot:

Lined up and ready to head inside for snacks!

On Saturday, after a morning baseball game, we headed to Nana and Papa's house for fun with the McCarthy cousins. It is practically impossible to get a good picture of 5 kids under the age of 6 - this was the best we got:

Two is a little easier, but still challenging:

Look, everyone is smiling!!

Of course, there were eggs to be found in the backyard. Each cousin had a color: Lincoln's were green, Jack's were red, Livi had pink, Charlie's were blue and Lucy had yellow. Even the adults had eggs - purple ones.

Checking out our goodies - Lucy is loving her first Easter!

I love this shot!

Funny bunny glasses:

For Papa and Daddy, too!

Of course, Easter wouldn't be complete without dying a few eggs:

The finished products, Hello Kitty  eggs, wearing dresses and Star Wars eggs, complete with light sabers:

On Easter morning, along with the eggs hidden in the gameroom, the Easter bunny left a few treats:

And Daddy made some yummy chick-in-egg pancakes and eggs for breakfast:

And that's a wrap on another fabulous Easter!

Jack's Sporty Spring

Spring 2015

Jack would start kindergarten in August and paranoid Mommy wanted to be sure that Jack knew as many friends as possible heading into kindergarten. That is how we ended up playing both soccer and t-ball. We had some busy Saturdays, but Jack met so many boys playing t-ball that have become some of his best friends in kindergarten, so it was definitely worth it.

Tommy was excited  for Jack to play a sport that he had played. It was so cute watching them practice together:

Grandpa even got to throw a few balls with him before a game when he was in town one weekend:

Here's our adorable Pirate and Daddy before his first game. I think that tiny baseball uniforms are quite possible the cutest thing ever!

Quite the wind-up in warm ups. Dad taught him to point his glove hand in the direction he wants the ball to go.

Cute guy in the dugout before the game:

By the end of the season, he could hit it the ball regularly off the tee - sometimes it didn't go very far, but he usually made contact. Coach Jason was so calm and patient with all of them - a great coach to have for his first year!

Off to first base!

As far as fielding, Jack could pay attention for most of the inning if he was in the infield, less if he was in the outfield. Ha! Each game was played for an hour, regardless of how many innings - usually it was 2 or 3. The coaches rotated the boys so that each one got to play in the infield for at least one inning each game. By the end of the season, they had played each position at least once. Here is Jack's turn at first base:

Short stop:

My cute little catcher!

A few more "action" shots:

Good game, Pirates!

Dad and his boy:

(Isn't the bucket cute?! We have some very creative moms!)

Professional pics. Love them!

Team pic. Some of these boys have become Jack's very best friends in kindergarten this year - and I can't remember the names of a few of the others. Bad mom!

Despite saying that he liked baseball better because you didn't have to run as much, he continued to enjoy soccer and had a really great season. It is fun to watch these boys who have played together for several seasons learn to pass and play positions and become a real team. Jack is definitely more offensive minded and was a pretty good goal scorer this season. Sadly, with mom coaching, we don't have as many pics of this season. Luckily, Grandpa was able to make it to a game and take a few pictures:

Professional pics:

Missing Aiden and one other boy, but here is the team (with Coach Lynsey and Coach Audra). Cole is on the top row. Bottom row - Hudon, Cade, Prahlad, Hayden, Jack, Carver.

The Pacifier Fairy

March 2015

Livi was almost three-years-old when we finally took her to her first dentist appointment (I know - parents of the year award). She wasn't scared at all and did a really great job!

Just like Jack at his first appointment, Livi was part of the "no cavity club" and got to get her picture taken with the giant toothbrush for the no cavity wall!

Unfortunately, also like her brother, her second appointment was not nearly as good. Mom and Dad got to learn all about what "hypoplastic" teeth are and the how you go about putting 2 crowns on the back teeth of a three-year-old. No fun, but that appointment won't happen for nearly nine months, so we'll focus on the positive here! :)

At this age, Livi had given up her pacifier during the day, but still used one at night. Dr. Davis did say that, while the pacifiers hadn't yet done any permanent damage to her bite, it wouldn't be long before they did. She had a few recommendation to end the pacifier habit, so that night, we sat down and wrote a note to the pacifier fairy:

Livi was really excited to be such a big girl - and to send her pacifiers to the babies who needed them more than she did!

In the morning, the paci fairy left a note and special gift for Livi, "Thank you for the pacis - the babies will be so happy! Enjoy these big girl lipsticks! Love, the Paci Fairy."

Our big girl never asked for a pacifier again. Yay for the pacifier fairy!!