Easter weekend

Adam had Good Friday off so we headed to Albia for a few days. The weather was pretty nice that Friday and Saturday, so we spent a lot of time outside. The kids played on the swing set and with the dogs. They even got to feed the goats with Nana.

Nana got a new toy, so her and Fletcher went for a drive in her new mini cooper convertible. While they were gone, Brynlee and I walked next door to my grandparents' house friday to hang with her greats. 

Later that evening, my Uncle Mike came over to get Fletcher and me, to head out to see his new baby calves. There was one particular calf that he was feeding off of a cow that lost her baby. Fletcher got a first hand experience, as my (our) uncle let him lead the calf to where he needed to be. Fletcher thought he was pretty big stuff doing that.  

Saturday afternoon, we left Pops and Nana's right around lunchtime and headed next door for lunch with the greats and Uncle Mike. My grandparents enjoy the kids so much and the kids enjoy them as well. He visited over our meal and then headed for Des Moines since it was past nap time and I had a little girl who was getting very crabby.

It was a fun few days hanging out with the family that we wouldn't be spending time with on Easter. 

Eggs with friends and the Easter Bunny

For the past three years, my friend Angie and I have gotten together to dye eggs with the kids. Its a chance for us to catch up on the latest happenings and the kids seem to enjoy playing together.

As the kids get older, the mess seems to get smaller and the job of dying gets quicker. They really have no patience to wait for the eggs to get bright and pretty. 

We had a good time and enjoyed ourselves. Thanks for having us over Angie and Payton. 

Since I hadn't taken the kids to see the Easter Bunny, I wanted to leave with enough time that I would be able to get to Bass Pro so we could stand in line for a few minutes for our free picture. We made it, but the line was much longer than I was expecting at 7:30 on the Thursday before Easter. We waited and I was talking up the whole experience because I didn't want to be "that mom". I was really just hoping for a quick picture with two smiling kids and no tears. I got one smiling kid and no tears so I was okay with it. However, Brynlee looks a bit unsure, but comforted by her brother.

and the final easter post

when we returned home from our easter weekend away, the kids came in to yet another surprise. not only did the easter bunny come to pops and nana's house, but he stopped by our house too.

the rest of easter weekend

the friday before easter, we had stayed with my parents since we wouldn't be seeing them on easter. they had baskets for the kids and had plans to do a little easter egg hunt but the weather was rainy and cold so my mom scratched that idea. once it had stopped raining, i figured we could do a little one along the sidewalk, so i headed out and placed the eggs for fletcher to find them.

 we've got a peeker

adam and my parents came out with the kids and fletcher knew exactly what to do. brynlee looked cute holding her basket while her brother put the pink and purple eggs in for her. she attempted to get a couple eggs, but she ended up falling over. 

 and they're off

 what a good brother

 he found another egg

\

trying out the egg hunt thing

after fletcher checked out the loot, we loaded up and headed out.

sunday morning, i took my grandparents to church at 8am and adam stayed with the kids. when i arrived back to the house, i asked fletcher if the easter bunny had come. he wasn't quite sure, so i had to coax him into the kitchen to prove to him he had been there.

 i think he appreciated what was left...especially the cadbury creme eggs. the bubble gun was a close contender.  however, sister was NOT a fan of the bunny ears.

we were meeting the rest of the mick clan at 12:30 for lunch, so before we headed there, we stopped by my grandparents' house to visit with them a bit and so they could see the kids. my grandparents are such troopers. anything to make my kids smile.

grandma doesn't seem too amused 

when we got to benton place for lunch, everyone was there and was ready to eat. we loaded plates with all the yummy food and we sat in good company. it was pretty low-key, but it was relaxing and we were around family. fletcher sat with aunt jenni and before i could look over, he was asleep. he stayed that way until we left. brynlee on the other hand, was all over the place and made the rounds. 

aunt jenni was a good pillow

making faces with cousin jake

playing with cousin eli

rolling on the floor with pops

gg glo and uncle dave think i'm cute

that's it. a long, fun, eventful easter weekend filled with family. hope yours was just as fun. 

Every year, my sister has an egg dying party in her back garage. She and her husband invite their friends and the local family, order pizza, drink beer and chat. The eggs eventually get dyed and all the kids play, running from backyard to the garage numerous times. It's always a good time. 

 Codi and Jen

 Princess Camryn

 Me and the Fletch

so serious

Adam and Crash (check out her nose)

Chase

having fun

it's Brynlee's turn

oops!

maybe next year she'll make it without spilling

the finished product

a little unwinding before we call it a night

one last snack with Camryn before we leave

After we left my sister's, we headed to my parents' house to stay the night. A little bonding with grandma and grandpa was in order before the kids went to bed. We would be leaving the next morning to head to Albia where we would be celebrating Easter. 

egg dying extravaganza

in preparation for easter, the kids and i headed over to marshalltown for our annual egg dying extravaganza with angie and payton.  after the past two years of forgetting things, and not having all the supplies we needed, angie and i planned about two weeks in advance. she was getting the pizza and cookie dough and i was bringing the eggs, dye, and vinegar. we arrived and after the kids got into their easter baskets from one another we soon belly-up'd to the table for some papa murphy's pizza. 

as soon as we were done eating, i got the cups and dye tablets going. angie put out the newspaper, because one of the littles always makes a mess and we were on out way to dying eggs. fletcher was thrilled. payton had a mild meltdown before realizing she liked to dye eggs, and brynlee just took it all in...after dumping the orange dye all over herself. 

it was a good time. angie and i got to catch up. the kids ran and played hide-n-seek in the curtains, and relay's life was threatened a few times for licking my toes and breathing nasty dog breath in my face. i'm already looking forward to next year's egg dying extravaganza.