Easter Bunny & Eggs

The Easter Bunny came to see the boys, and he left goodies!  Ryland and Reed were thrilled to see all the candy, books, and trinkets that filled their Easter baskets. 

 

If you have ever wondered how the Easter Bunny gets in your house, we figured it out.  He comes through the front door, or at least he did this year.  He left bunny prints from the door all the way to the family room where he dropped off the baskets.  Silly bunny! 

 

The boys were excited to hunt for eggs.  They put on their comfy clothes and grabbed their new grabbers.

 

Just about...

 

A little help from Daddy and Reed was able to get an egg off the stone fence.

 

 

Cooper sniffed out the eggs for Reed.

 

After all the eggs were found, we enjoyed the beautiful day outside.  John Chris and I started talking about landscaping the back yard.  We heard the boys laughing hysterically, so we walked over to see what was so funny.  Reed had smashed all the eggs in his basket.  He either slammed them on the concrete patio or crushed them with his hands.  He also attempted to eat a few.  Yummy shells too.

Easter Service

We had a wonderful Easter, and we really enjoyed the Jazz music at church with the boys.  After the service, the boys checked out the fountain.  I took about 25 pictures, and I was able to get one decent one of them both smiling and looking at the camera.

 

Most of the pictures looked more like this one.

 

This fountain was built in memory of a young girl who passed away, and her parents traveled the world to research the design and materials used.  When I first heard about their story, I thought it was a big waste of money and a bit showy.  I thought there had to be a charity that would benefit more from a donation than a massive fountain built in front of our sanctuary.  Since it has been completed, I have completely changed my mind.  Children, families, and lots of people have crowded around for pictures, make wishes, and to pray.  Seeing my boys run around it and attempt to get in the water gives me so much joy.  I also have felt the comfort and presence of God at this site during a difficult time.  I am sure this gives comfort to the parents who lost their daughter way too soon.

Rainforest Cafe

It's date night with my little boys!  I took the boys to Rainforest Café for a special night of fun, while Daddy went to a basketball game. They were completely amazed before we even went in the restaurant.  They loved the huge fish in the aquarium, but they loved all the junk even more.  I have never had so many requests for shirts, hats, toys, cups, and the list goes on and on.  The boys were total RC paraphernalia junkies.  They could have easily spent $300.

 

 

Ryland wasn't afraid of the big mechanical alligator, but Reed wasn't interested at all.  While Ryland tried to toss coins in the gator's mouth, Reed chunked coins from about 10 feet away.

Ryland and I were excited to see our awesome table by the elephants.  Reed wasn't thrilled.  He was scared, and he refused to get out of my lap or release the death grip around me.  It took about 15 minutes and a blinking cup of lemonade to finally get him in his own chair.

The boys enjoyed their dino chicken nuggets and fries, but they were more excited about the swords the balloon artist made for them.  The perfect end - a sword fight table side that quickly escalated to the two surrounding tables.  The un-expecting victims thought it was hilarious when they were stabbed.  I was ready to pay and exit before it got ugly. 

We had a fantastic time, and we will visit again soon.  The boys loved Rainforest Café!

 

 

Bunch of fun

We had a relaxing evening with our favorite neighbors to enjoy the Good Friday extra day off.  All the kids played upstairs quietly, and we should have known they were up to something.  I went upstairs to assess the situation, and I found them all having a blast while destroying the playroom.  Thing is, I love it.  I am so glad this huge room is getting some use and making some fun memories.  Ryland and Charlie were very secretive about what they were up to, but I have a feeling it will end in tears.

 

Grace was sitting quietly reading in the rocking chair.

 

Travis and Reed had emptied the toy box and climbed in.  Who needs toys?

 

By the end of the night, everyone was worn out.  We started Horton Hears a Who, and we soon had droopy eyes.

Chapel Hill Easter Party

Ryland's class celebrated Easter with a carrot themed party.  The parents helped out at the  tables that each had an activity.  While I was painting feet, Ryland came over to show off his bunny face paint.  I was a bit surprised that he let someone paint his face, and when I asked him to put his feet up and hop like a rabbit, he did.  He was in character and loving it!  This makes me so happy to see him being silly and having fun outside home.  Just one more reason I love Chapel Hill!!!

 

Brady Rabbit and Ryland Rabbit snacked on carrots and ranch.

 

The Easter Bunny stopped by for a class picture.

 

 

 

GCSML Easter Party

It was a beautiful day outside, so we headed to Parr Park to enjoy the GCSML's annual Easter Party.  As I was getting all our stuff together and loading the truck, I came back in the house to find the boys wearing their Easter baskets as hats. 

 

The boys were not interested in the snacks or games that were set up for the party.  They wanted to play on the playground.  Ryland has mastered the huge rope web, and he climbed all the way to the center.

 

Reed is still a little small for the big web, so he practiced on the little one.  He was very intense and determined to make it across.

 

It was time for the egg hunt.  Ryland and Reed participated in the "big boy hunt" this year, and they found lots of eggs.  Reed would find one, sit down and open the egg, eat the candy, and then go look for another.  This method lessened his overall take home, but he mastered the sugar intake limit.  Ryland ran all over the place grabbing the eggs and then chowed down on the treats.

 

Neither Ryland or Reed had much interest in taking a picture with the Easter bunny.  They both said "Hi" and gave her a high five, but the thought of waiting in line with two sugar crazed boys swayed us to skip. 

 

Before we could leave the park, Ryland and Reed had to chase this poor squirrel up the tree.  The squirrel must have been amused, because it ran around the base of the tree 10 times before inching up.  It then ran around several more times and inched up a little.  I was shocked that it stayed so low and within reach of the boys for so long.  It eventually ran up the tree to catch its breath and laugh. 

 

 

Easter treats

Tonight was all about prepping for Easter.  I stayed up way too late, but I got every bit of it knocked out.  The Easter cards came in today, and I have to admit the tent picture with the cheesy stuffed animals turned out pretty cute for Easter. 

 

 

After a bit of cutting, scoring, and gluing, the printable tags were all attached to the classroom treats.  The eggs are all stuffed, taped, and labeled.  Ryland's class is getting a foam craft kit.

 

 

Reed's class treat is egg shaped chalk and a carrot or bunny sucker. 

New toys

Don't you just love the hours after you get a new toy?  Ryland and Reed were completely mesmerized by two new toys.  They played quietly and only complained when it was time to eat lunch.  John Chris and I need to think of a way to stretch these birthday toys out.

Precious boys

Ryland and Reed are growing up too fast.  We had their 4 and 2 year old pictures taken this weekend, and I am so pleased with them.  We used a new photographer, and we will definitely use her again in the fall for family pictures.  She captured their sweet and silly moments, and I can see their different personalities come out.  Love these precious boys to pieces!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jumping party

Urban Air rocks!  It is a huge building full of trampolines and foam pits.  Ryland's friend, Jake, invited him to come celebrate his birthday.  It was a bit overwhelming at first,  but Ryland warmed up quickly.  He jumped, and jumped, and jumped. 

One thing he wanted to know when we left - When are we coming back?

Ryland's 4th Birthday Party

It was finally time for Ryland to celebrate at his birthday party!  I don't think he could have made it one more day.  The party was all about construction and lots of kids.

 

It was impossible to get a smile out of Ryland once the candle was blown out.  He was ready to eat his cupcake and go play again.  Even John Chris managed a small smile, and he had a stomach bug.

 

We had a huge turn out for the party, and we were nervous that we would run out of room.  The ladies at Paradise Pond were amazing, and they just kept squeezing in another plate every time someone else showed up.

 

 

Wow!  What a great group of 43 kids!

 

I was getting pretty nervous about how many kids were coming to the party, because I had lots of late RSVPs. (like the day of the party)  I was worried that I wouldn't have enough food, drink, and favors.  By the time the party was over, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of being blessed.  About four years ago, John Chris and I didn't know any of these awesome kids or families.  We were about to have Ryland, and we didn't have any close friends in the area with children.  Fast forward to today, and we are surrounded by people we adore.  What a fortunate feeling!