Easter 2011

Let's just say that Easter morning we created a monster:

The Baby's hair had gotten a little long and The Beloved decided to have some fun with it by spiking it out all over his head. It's a decision I don't believe we'll ever repeat. The Baby became one with his hair - turning into CRAZY MANIAC CHILD - (yet still so utterly adorable in a wild animal like fashion. )

Here are his calmer, older, reverent styled hair brothers - who held still long enough to pose for an Easter picture.

Too Cute!

After church the boys went on a Scripture Easter Basket Hunt.

(a fun tradition from my childhood that we've carried over)

We give the boys a clue that has a scripture reference listed. They then look up the reference and try to find a word in that scripture, that clearly stands out, which will direct them to their next clue.

The Beloved reading the scripture reference from his Blackberry -

Example -

The word in this scripture was plant, so they ran to the plant to find their next clue.

This word leading them to this location was throne.

And they finally found their baskets in the backyard after reading the word earth over and over again in a scripture. Sometimes you gotta reach a little :) apparently prophets weren't big on the word "backyard" back in the day. :)

Seriously, do you see Mr. Crazy Eyes playing with his Easter spoils...

The Beloved spoiled me with some beautiful flowers -

And he ate his heart out to a little Sara Evans.

Did I mention he loves her by the way? She's probably a close second to Flow from the Progressive Commercials.

Yes, it's that serious. 

Side note: when he taught at the high school he convinced his students that Sara Evans was his ex-girlfriend whom he broke up with to go out with me.

So Romantic.

If only it were true :). 

That little trickster.

Update: The Baby received a haircut and things have calmed down drastically at our house :)

But we love him either way.

We are so thankful we can celebrate Easter and be reminded of the sacrifice our elder brother, Jesus Christ, made for us and for his glorious resurrection on that third day after his death.

We  are blessed to know of Him, to have the knowledge that we may be forgiven for our sins and that one day we'll return to live with Him and our Father in Heaven again.

The Hunt

My little dad is many wonderful things, but three things he truly enjoys are surprises, fun, and a little healthy competition -

which makes him the perfect man to put on the Annual

Family Easter Egg Hunt.

He sets up two different egg hunts -

One for the kiddos in the backyard and another for the adults in the front.

Surprises = candy/money in the eggs

Fun (well that one is pretty obvious)= Easter Egg Hunts are F.U.N.

Competition= which adult can collect the most eggs with the most money. It gets dangerous.

Watch out for this one - she's all smiles until the whistle blows.

It was actually The Beloved I had to watch out for this year. He would quietly follow my lead and then at the last moment pounce on the egg I was reaching out for. Naughty, naughty. But, no need to worry - I am a professional, even at 9 mos prego - I totally whipped him :).

(Beloved, let me brag a bit - it's the only thing I thing I ever beat you at.)

Here are some unattractive pictures I thought I'd still share and maybe you can imagine their potential:

It was a little sunny out :)

Thanks for the fun Mom and Dad!

We enjoyed ourselves immensely.

Does Your Husband...

 have more shoes than you?

Trivia:

Which style of shoe is The Beloved's favorite?

Answer:

That part is my favorite. :)

I am in so much trouble. :(

I love you dear.

Be Kind.

Remember, I am "with child". :)

Heavenly -

Nothing quite compares to the mixture of mountains, a healthy river, muddy trails, rocks, and little boys running a muck. 

The sight makes me feel so content and thankful for my family. 

Learning from the Pro how to skip a rock with true perfection -

Pocket knife training -

No comment - :)

Took a break from the fun for a little nourishment -

Swimming!

I love swimming -

 I love the smell of too much chlorine and the echo of an indoor pool.

I love seeing my children enjoy the water and becoming little fish right before my eyes.

I love watching The Beloved transform into a 10 year old as he pretends to be a flailing alligator spinning in the water or a shark you have to be on the watch out for.

Not that he is dying to play the role of an alligator or shark, but more so anxiously awaiting the sounds of his children's laughter as they swim away in "fear".

So, if you can't tell from the many pictures above,

The Baby is ALL Daddy's Boy!

You may also notice in the pictures above that he WILL NOT look at the camera and he definitely will not humor me with a smile. 

It took some manipulation on my part, but I finally captured a little joy emanating from our little man.

It went something like this,

"Smile Honey."

"Come on. Smile for Mama.

"Buddy, I will not give you back your pacifier until you smile."

 

Success!

Such determined little individuals we're raising - I can't imagine where they get it.

All Little C wanted to do for Spring Break was stay at a hotel with a swimming pool. We took it one step further and drove a couple hours away to truly get a little R&R.

The scenery was fantastic.

The rest and relaxation was even better.

We would sleep in, eat a continental breakfast, go for a swim, warm up in the jacuzzi, take a little nap, watch a little of the GAC channel, go play outside, eat dinner, swim again, shifts in the jacuzzi, and then go to bed perfectly exhausted - ready for the next day when we could do it all again.

Heavenly.

P.S. I still haven't taken down our fort - All of those clean blankets lounging around really satisfy my ever-sensitive detergent smelling senses.

Let's Try This Again -

There's no better way to start out Spring Break than with a -

Fort Mansion!



We're ready for Spring Break -

Bring it ON!!!

Self Esteem Boost -

If you need a refresher course on not caring what people think about you -

 put yourself in the humiliating situation of rockin' out in your car, windows rolled down -

to....

Justin Bieber.

It will teach you to be strong

(and also how to avoid complete eye contact with every driver around you).



You see -

 I have this 8 year old who knows it is not cool to flaunt his adoration for Justin Bieber... but he really likes his music. So for Valentines Day we bought him one of his CDs.

And much to my horror when we put it in I....

liked it... a little.

Shoot.

Not me.

 I was so strong during the BackStreet Boys, NSync, and 98 degrees era -

No thank you!

But now I guess my inner 12 year old girl has come out.

Plus, if I ever want to hear Ludacris rap again in a PG state I am going to have to depend on a Justin Bieber track.

A little while ago we were watching an NBA basketball game where Justin was in attendance. The camera focused in on him and almost the whole audience booed. My motherly defense went off -

He is just a kid.

A talented kid.

Who, granted, is a little obnoxious, but what teenager isn't? Plus the poor guys voice is still in a pre-pubescent state.... we should be kind to him just for that right?

I really don't feel too sorry for him - obviously he is making the big bucks -

what I mostly want to say, in a really weird round about way, is that I feel sorry for myself.

What a mean trick for my brain to even enjoy his music a little bit.

Here's the mind game:

Little C enters the car.

"Mom, can we listen to my CD?"

"Sure honey, if you really want to."

So, I secretly sit there enjoying the music while Little C pays me no notice because he is  singing harder and louder than any 8 year old girl alive.

We arrive at Little C's school and he hops out.

I then make myself turn the CD changer back to MY Taylor Swift CD because that is what I "really" like.

I had put Justin Bieber in strictly for Little C.

I wouldn't listen to it by myself - BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE IT.  He's the goof ball that does.

Then I remember - I am a 28 year old woman. I don't care what people think about me. Half the people that dislike him haven't even listened to his music - they just hate him because everybody else over 13 does.

So, I go to turn it back because I am sooooo mature...

 but can't.

Because all of a sudden I am a 16 year old girl stuck in a 28 year old body and will not be caught dead enjoying Justin Bieber!

So, there's my confession for the day.

Let the truth be told.

:)

The End.

Watch Out!

We'll start out this post with a few cute pictures of the kiddos.

Just a reminder as to why women endure pregnancy - :)

I love these little humans!!

The third tri-mester is the killer in my life.

I have to constantly remind myself to

CONTROL MY THOUGHTS.

Be kind. Be kind. Be kind.

I truly had to refrain the other day from making an "I was dumb today" badge to hand out to the thoughtful souls around me.

I was in the check out line with my cart full of children and groceries when the checker asked me how far along I was.

I graciously supplied the appropriate information -

and her reply was...

"Oh. Yeah. I guess you look good."

You guess I look good?

Well - I guess.... that YOU WERE DUMB TODAY.

And now you will receive a badge stating just that.

Because I am a woman that thinks about making badges. :)

p.s.....I will never admit that again. :)

I know I am being sensitive -

and Mom I don't really think she is dumb. Just completely unaware of how her statement may affect a woman who is expecting.

My third trimester I get huge.

Huge, huge, huge.

And this is when the questions begin.

"When are you due? Really, 2 1/2 more months? Wow. Seriously?"

Tell me about it. I look down and think the same thing.

I can whine a bit right?

I really am thankful and blessed that my body is capable of carrying wonderfully, healthy babies that I love to pieces.

I just have to try and remind myself of that every time I am tempted to hand out an, "I was dumb today" badge to a poor unsuspecting commenter.

The good news is -

it is Girl Scout Cookie Season!

So hurrah for Thin Mints - and the box I ate today... in one sitting... after 7 people at church were astounded that I still had ten weeks left in my pregnancy. :)

Two more things and then we'll end this prego post:

My laundry is getting done everyday because I am in love with my laundry detergent smell. Gosh, the happiness that it brings. Also, my skin is so extra soft. Especially my face. My skin clears up completely when I am pregnant, which is a delight.

When The Beloved is in need of a little uplifting I tell him that he should go and smell the freshly washed comforter in the laundry room. 

After he declines that marvelous suggestion, I inquire as to whether or not he'd like to feel my face - because it is so soft and glorious- but so far he doesn't seem sold on either offer. Odd.

He is really missing out on the greater joys in life. :)  Poor guy.

P.S. THE BELOVED IS GROUNDED!

After much pressure he convinced me to get on the scale the other day.

I weigh more this pregnancy than ever before, and although I am glad I am gaining weight and not losing it, I find it a tad depressing to look at the numbers on the scale.

The Beloved likes to play this game where he guesses how much I weigh. It's awesome.

Right.

 So, he knowingly over guessed - to which I responded - I have never weighed that much in my whole life!

So I get on the scale to prove it, but the numbers that appeared prove that his guess was almost exact.

I stared down at the numbers in shock. How could this be? I just went to the doctor two weeks ago. How did I gain twenty lbs in two weeks?

I didn't speak.

I just stared down at the weight listed below like a deer in the headlights.

Then I heard The Beloved laughing hysterically.

I looked back and finally noticed his foot pressing down on the scale behind me - adding 20 extra lbs to my total.

Rude. :)

I was relieved...

but I had to smell a lot of clean laundry after that. :)