Easter 2011

Typically we spend the Saturday before Easter with Brad's family. His mom always boils lots of eggs and sets us up with fun dyes for decorating. Ashlyn and Carter enjoyed dipping their own eggs into the colors.

Carter loved his blue egg most.

The kids also enjoyed a fun Easter egg hunt.

More cousins!

Audrie even got into the Easter egg action.

The kids put on Grandma's dress-ups and paraded through the room while throwing out candy.

Sunday was pretty low-key. We barely got ready in time for 11:00 church, so we didn't take any pictures before. These are the best shots we could manage after our meetings:

Ah well.

Later in the afternoon we stopped by Mason and Lorie's to see their new baby boy! It was also fun to visit with Mom, Kari, Bryon, Tyler, and Michael!

There are so many fun Easter traditions that it is easy to forget the true reason for the holiday. We're so thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and for the knowledge of the plan of salvation. We'd like to do better at helping our children understand the significance of this holiday. Does anyone have any suggestions for Easter traditions that help the family remember Christ?

Cousins!

Last Saturday we got together with my siblings and their families and had a little brunch and hung out for a while. My kids are always so excited to see everyone, especially their cousin Tyler. Here are a couple of cute pictures of them together:

Tyler is such a good sport and cute as can be! I think they are really going to love playing together as he gets older! Also, any day now we are expecting the arrival of a new cousin . . .

Carter's Eggciting Achievement

Yesterday morning Lorie made scrambled eggs at our house. I think Carter was intrigued, because later in the afternoon I hear, "uh oh" and I walk up to the kitchen to find this on the floor:

Carter had opened the fridge, taken out an egg and tried to crack it. Actually, he didn't just try to crack it, he did crack it. I told Carter that playing with eggs was not okay and cleaned up the mess.

Later that evening I come into the kitchen and find this:

Carter had once again opened the fridge, pulled out the egg carton, and cracked an egg (or two). Only this time he cracked them into a bowl (which he had also gotten out himself) and mixed them up good with a spoon. Well done buddy.

The next morning Brad cooked those well-stirred eggs up for Carter to eat. Yummy!

Don't ask me where I was when Carter was playing around in the kitchen . . . not paying attention to him obviously!

Cheeks, Kiwi, and a Cowgirl

I have a goal to blog once a week, but somehow I can't even make that happen! Here are some recent pictures of the kiddos.

I hope Audrie's yummy cheeks never go away!

Carter loves, loves, loves kiwi. The other day he climbed up on the counter, grabbed one and began washing it up. I don't typically wash the kiwi . . . but I guess it can't hurt.

Please excuse Carter's pantslessness. We are still in the process of potty training . . . it has been a long, long process and at this point there is really no end in sight . . .

Thursday Ashlyn was supposed to dress up as a cowgirl for preschool. We don't have a lot of western wear around here, but a plaid hand-me-down boy's shirt and some cute braids did the job just fine!

When I picked her up she told me that she had seen a cow and wanted to go home and "eat some grub." They do so many fun things in her class!

I can't remember what this look was for.

Nighty Night Carter Man

This is what happens at 6:30pm when Carter hasn't had a nap and he is just sitting on the couch watching a show:

Lately he has been sucking on his bottom lip when he is about to fall asleep and even for a little bit once he is asleep. I've read that it is soothing for kids (kind of like sucking a thumb), but it looks funny. He never used a pacifier or sucked his thumb, so I feel like this popped up out of nowhere.

Actually, Audrie sucks her bottom lip too. I find her doing it a lot when she doesn't have a binky in.

Also, Ashlyn used to suck on her food (especially bread) when she would get tired. She still does it sometimes even now. It drove me crazy, but it seems like she has mostly grown out of it, so I'm hoping that is what will happen with Carter too.

What is with my kids' crazy sucking habits?!!

Kids Grow Up Too Fast!

Do you ever happen to look at your kids and think, "when did you get so old?" That is what I thought when I saw this picture.

A recent conversation with Ashlyn included the word Whatever and the phrase I'm not going to college. What!?!

Also, it amazes me how fast babies learn new skills. It really makes me feel lazy. In 7 months Audrie went from a helpless little newborn to a crawling, standing, babbling, smiling person. I wish I could say that I've accomplished a similar amount in the same time, but I haven't!

Sometimes I just want life to stop moving so fast - for the kids to get older slower, for my baby to stay a baby longer, and for myself to do a better job of enjoying them.

Taking a Few Sick Days

Audrie spent the weekend before last sicking it up with a high fever and a super runny nose. She was clingy and grumpy and it wasn't any fun for anyone. We were thinking that she might be cutting some teeth, but so far, not a tooth in sight. She no longer seems sick, but her nose is still running and her breathing is a little raspy (but it's been that way practically all winter). We were excited to see some smiles from her last week once the illness had run its course.

A little while ago I read about amber teething necklaces and their supposed pain relief properties. I was intrigued and decided to purchase one for Audrie. I really have no idea if it has helped her in any way, but I'm hoping it has (or will). She pretty much wears it all the time. I kind of want one for me.

About the same time Audrie started feeling unwell, Carter developed a fever and a runny nose. We figured it was some sort of bug that would run it's course and be gone, but 11 days later he is still fighting it. We think that his flu turned into a sinus infection and an ear infection, so we're treating that and hopefully he'll be 100% soon. Doesn't he look pathetic?

Poor kid.

Ashlyn, however, escaped all disease (knock on wood) and has been a trooper with the minimal attention she's been given. She's been able to watch way more movies than normal, so that makes her happy!

Well, needless to say, we are so, so ready to be done with sickness around here. I think we are going to attempt to stay well for all the rest of 2011. Who's with me?!!