My kids would be outdoors all day long if I would let them.
Our latest fun was on “Jungle Hill”.
But the neighbors whose shared property it was, weren’t into the idea of kids all over the hill.
Too bad they had been there for weeks with no complaints and I bought a rope to facilitate the getting down part the day before.
(By the way, our one neighbor thought it was great to let them play on the hill, and they don’t have any kids. So I was sure that when I cornered the other neighbor who is really fun and always outside with their girl, I didn’t think there would be any objections. Apparently I was wrong. And more apparently — we live next to Scrooge.)
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Fast forward a day and a half.
I came up with a new purpose for the rope.
And the kids can’t be happier about their new rope swing.
While Scout swings…
Icka watches.
And vice versa.
Or when things are really amicable, they push each other.
I love the weather we have been getting lately, and love to be outside with the weasels.
So I am glad the rope proved to be a serious source of some good entertainment for my kids and the whole neighborhood.
I held a Holics party at my house. It was in honor of everyone’s latest Pinterhea problem.
(Obsessive use of Pinterest.)
The deal was — everyone got on Pinterest and made something straight from its pages for everyone else.
I’ll admit, I was impressed with everyone’s showing.
Here is the dinner I served.
A trio of soup and salad including cream of broccoli, cabbage slaw and a pasta salad.
I was a fan.
One holic, who gave away glittered vases like the one featured above.
Another who gave away darling stationary.
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Other holics gave heart confetti, a birthday banner, dessert sauce and personally calligraphic stationary.
I gave homemade coconut syrup and toasted coconut.
It was delish.
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The night was fun as usual — good conversation, food and gifts.
Can’t beat that.
In an attempt to decorate, I had Britni trying to bend the word “Holics” out of floral wire.
Obviously, she “nailed” it!
When I made fun of her, I tried it myself, and improved it by a LOT.
Sorry Brit — stick to glittering!
This boy has been reaching for a few days now.
Mostly for toys.
But today –
He reached for his one and only.
And got the plenty of kisses he deserved.
You know the days where you are over everything and everybody?
Had one of them.
But this guy is never in that mix.
I could never be over this guy.
At least until he hangs out like a total hot shot with his friends, and gets tattled on by his friend that he called his mom dumb.
Or until he fake cries over and over because he wants bubble gum before dinner.
Or he wants to keep the light on and work on his computer all night while I am trying to sleep.
Easter, as usual, was a big hit.
The night before, the “Easter Bunny” filled their eggs according to what they loved.
We had to add a new basket to the bunch this year, so the boys took the duck baskets, and Navy got the new bunny.
The Easter Bunny always hides the baskets. And each year, they get a bit tougher because they get older.
Here is Scout’s behind the couch.
Navy’s was under the sink in the cupboard.
Dash’s was under a chair in pretty clear sight.
I love this picture that depicts my kids that very morning. Scout was so excited that he got up kind of early and was exhausted from going to bed pretty late the night before. Navy is admiring Scout, and checking out what he is doing. And Dash is just sucking away while smiling.
Navy loved the cheapest thing in her basket — her candy lipstick.
(Remember this for next year!)
After finding their baskets, we got the kids ready in their Easter best.
This is Scout’s first suit, and I am in love with how handsome he looked.
Navy and Dash didn’t disappoint either. And I am loving Dash’s mini Sperrys.
If only these three acted at church as good as the looked. I guess hyped up on candy doesn’t make for reverent children.
(Especially when they are on the stand to sing and they start a nudging fight. I was on the front row giving them the evil eye when finally Navy made peace and leaned over and kissed Scout on the cheek. She was such a saint until they all had to leave the stage, and three teachers were trying to get her down and she wouldn’t leave. Don’t they know that her latest obsession is to sing like Ariel? After I got up there and carried her over the stage to get down, she started to be really stinky at our seat. So my mom, who really doesn’t know the art of whispering, told her that if she didn’t shape up she was going to take her out and whop her bottom. I jumped over three people to tell my mom that she wasn’t whispering and she looked at the two rows behind us that were cracking up and just shrugged her shoulders. It was slightly hilarious and Trilby and I had the giggles for the next ten minutes. It was a literal joke straight out of a sitcom.)
The whole family.
Scout insisted the Micah wear a shirt to match his.
After church we headed to the Brockbanks for our annual Easter egg hunt and dinner. We were especially excited because Jake was home for spring break!
B took on baby duties like she always does.
No wonder that my kids like her more than ANYONE!
No wonder — she is always taking care of them.
Megan was on fire this year and filled over 300 eggs!
Right before we were going out, we were trying to set the hunt rules. Unfortunately Ka wasn’t listening. More unfortunately, we have a tradition of throwing water on those who don’t listen!
The kids pre hunt.
Icka was out first. She is hilarious. She picked up a few eggs, and then was ready to just check out what was in them and call it a day.
But not until after she took a turn on the slide.
Cade was looking for the shiny eggs — the ones with the $$$ in them.
Scout was a solid searcher this year.
My contributed confetti eggs this year, and anyone who found them got to crack them on somebody’s head.
Poor NayNay got tagged multiple times.
And then Icka tried to get her with real eggs over and over. And because we were dying laughing at it, Icka kept going and going and going.
Trey got quite the loot.
But when everyone found out that the most desirable egg (Nonnie’s camouflaged egg) was still out there, people were going to town looking. it looked like green grass, so everyone thought that it might be hidden in the ivy.
Too bad for those who quit early, because Scout (with Micah’s help) ended up with the jackpot egg.
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Yet again, it was a great Easter.
Thanks Auggie for the fun day.
XO
We got a call Saturday morning that Bree’s baby was on her way. After a few things, we hopped in the car and headed up to see her. She arrived after 1:00 and was 6 lbs 12 oz and 19 inches long. She is darling and really sweet. We are so excited she has finally arrived safe and sound.
Three had Cheerios for breakfast this morning.
Two had bangs.
One had a recent bad haircut.
Zero cleared their bowl.
This big boy has always chosen to suck his pointer and middle fingers together.
But lately, he is changing it up by starting with his thumb.
Don’t ask me how everything he does is cute.
If you don’t know by now, Bella has convinced all of my kids that she is the “other” mommy. So when Navy cried for her mom, Bella rushes right over. Usually Navy will say, “No, I want da udder mommy!” But Bella just responds with something along the lines of don’t discriminate! And quite honestly, it works in my favor quite often. Like when Navy cries at night because she is scared of “bad guys” and the other mommy goes in to talk her through it, or when Scout needs a little attention, when Dash needs a change/bottle/etc…but especially when one of my kids needs reprimanding and she takes over.
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I have had to try and counsel the other mommy that she is constantly being watched. So words, actions and everything else need to be hand picked. I also had to tell her that if she is taking on the other mommy role, she doesn’t get to pick and choose when she is on. It is an always thing!
So you can imagine my delight when I walked into Bella’s room to see the other mommy’s great example that Navy mimicked. Nice work Bella.
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Now…here’s to hoping that Navy’s two mommies doesn’t confuse future teachers.
Especially when she happens to also mention her daddy!
There have been a few bouts of fussiness lately.
The culprit: new teeth.
I think.
It better be, because it is too soon for perfection to go away.
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