Easter-2009

So in most ways I'm not a planner but a procrastinator....so Easter..I kinda threw together. I had planned Easter crafts and baking in my head but never made it past the inner workings of my quirky brain so.........just decorated a little, resurrection eggs, and did egg coloring/dye but the kids didn't seem to mind or know what they were missing. Walker was up late the night before working his charm so the Easter bunny was late and only hid 4 eggs outside ( just enough so that the kids could see he had come but was going to hide the rest of the eggs in the yard once we got home from church ;). Unfort, my kids are eagle eyes..and they looked out the windows and wondered why the Easter bunny only hid 4 eggs..so I said well those are the ones you can see probably. Church was great until 5 min. before service we get a call from a friend in the nursery that Caleb has pink eye...we have a very efficient system in getting all 4 kids to church..esp. on Easter morning..surely we didn't overlook pink eye. So, I go back and see Caleb's very pink..starting to weep eye...our friend said "when i saw him I said that's a Wendl kid...he's the 4th. They just wet his hair down and throw him in the car"....sad but very close to the truth. So Caleb and I hung out in the foyer with all the other late people and tried to pretend he didn't have pink eye while keeping him away from all the other kids. My mom/dad, brother, sister-in-law, niece, and neighbor were over for the Easter egg hunt, lunch, and then we sat on the deck and visited all afternoon. Note to self...let my mom make the choc./coconut cake next year....jeez. I'm stealing this from Jen..I'm glad my family is here to share in life/daily events and not just to babysit. The kids all found the egg with their name on it..including Walker by himself..he was so tickled with the eggs/candy/money. Coleman told my mom on the phone with Zoey in the room " the Easter bunny came while we were in the front yard and hid alot of eggs..and then he told Zoey to leave the room and whispered to my mom....I know it's my mom and dad hiding the eggs.---my heart was sad :( but sweet for him not to ruin the fun for the little ones. Olivia thinks a rabbit isn't smart enough to hide egg/do baskets but that it's a real person dressed as a bunny doing it. The resurrection eggs were good...the kids listened, opened the eggs, answered the questions, and we tried to explain without sounding like "drink the kool-aid" parents of God's love for us and what Easter was about....we'll see. It was a fab. day.

Spring Break-2009

So we usually don't go anywhere for spring break b/c Paul is busy with tulip photo shoots but he had 3 days off so the kids (esp Olivia) always want to stay in a hotel...I guess b/c we hardly ever do...it's usually easier to rent a cabin or house to fit our needs (which after this trip only confirms that thought). We went to the No. Georgia Mtns. (helen) and the kids only criteria was it have an indoor pool. They were so excited and enjoyed every aspect of hotel life. We got 2 rooms ( 1 bedroom/and a living room). I let them jump on the beds/ back and forth. They stayed up late , watched alot of tv, and ate junk food-life was good in their little world. They loved the breakfast and making their own waffles but most of all loved the pool...they swam 2-3x a day. They loved the hike...well Walker didn't. He called my mom on the hike and told her "Walker can no like the woods. We are lost in the woods. Please come get me Nana" but he ended up being a trooper. The older kids told everyone about our 'vacation' and we were staying in a hotel with a pool. Now, I had fun b/c they had fun BUT Caleb didn't adjust well to his room and cried the first nite so of course we couldn't let him cry for long and the 2nd nite he went to bed fine but then was awake from midnight -4a.m....crying, playing on the floor, laughing...it was insane! Hotel life is not for me...i disinfected everything but we met several nice people but overall crowds annoy me :D. We were exhausted that morning..and I missed my coffee...kids were tired and ready to go home...but some good memories

Fire Station with Walker

Walker and I went to visit the fire station with our playgroup friends. I almost backed out because there was a terrible storm-pouring rain. But, Walker insisted we go see the firetrucks. Caleb fell asleep so I was able to leave him home with Paul/Stuart. Walker had a great time..asking endless questions about the truck and what everything was for. The firemen were very patient and kind but probably glad to see all the 2/3 yr olds go. Walker wanted them to drive the truck so he could ride in it. Later we followed a garbage truck (baa-bage truck)-as it picked up dumpsters and he was thrilled and so tickled. He bought a 2nd garbage truck with his birthday money- the 1st is green so he picked a blue garbage truck that picks up dumpsters.