Easter Egg Hunts and Coloring Eggs

Saturday morning Dave worked but the girls and I got up and headed out for the Easter Egg hunts.

We first hit the one in Mendon.  It was nice this year because it didn't start until 10 a.m. so the feeling of being rushed wasn't there.  It was much better than last year too because last year it snowed!

They had the egg hunt really well organized.  It was broken down into age groups and they said multiple times that each child was to get six eggs and then if there were any left they would do a free-for-all.  There were some kids (boys) that had way over six eggs but kudos to their parents for making them dump them out so it was fair.  There weren't any kids upset because they didn't get any eggs.  Each of our girls got their first six and then an additional one each.  Everyone left happy, which is a huge plus in my book.

After Mendon, we headed to Logan, picked up Grandma Peterson and went to the Easter Egg Hunt at Lee's Marketplace.  For this egg hunt, the kids follow the path through the grocery store for treats.  They actually gave out nice treats.  There were apples, string cheese, rootbeer milk, a can of rootbeer pop, cheese and cracker pack, and only one station gave candy.  The Easter Bunny was present and so we were able to snap a picture.

Saturday night we were able to take a few minutes and color eggs.  It isn't Easter unless you color eggs!

The girls had fun coloring the eggs and seeing the fun colors they could mix.  Of course, my artist Ashley was covered in colors and was the last one to leave the table because she was "busy" making art.

and the final product........... 

Well....That's Never Happened Before

I took my casserole out of the oven tonight and set it on top of my flat top stove.  I turned and walked a little way from the kitchen and was talking to Hannah when all of the sudden.....BAM......my casserole dish shattered.  We're talking into a hundred pieces.

I think Hannah and I were lucky that we had left the kitchen area.  One piece hit my foot and one hit Hannah's.

Needless to say, dinner was ruined and we moved on to plan B.  I was extremely thankful when I reached the bottom of cleaning up the glass that nothing happened to the stove.  I was praying that it hadn't done anything to the flat top.  Phew!

Exhausted

I believe the saying, "In like a lion, Out like a lamb" is suppose to reference the weather but in our household it references our spring activities.

Hannah and Ashley each have TaVaci practice once a week.  One on Tuesday afternoon and the other on Wednesday afternoon.  Things will start picking up for this activity as they prepare for their final concert mid-May.

It is now the time of year that preparations begin for the May Day celebration in Mendon.  The girls in grades 1-5 participate in braiding the May Pole.  Last year was Hannah's first time and she was excited to do it again this year.  The meeting was held on March 27 and practice began March 28.  After a few practices, they were short some "little" girls.  Hannah volunteered Ashley.  So even though she's only in kindergarten both girls are braiding the May Pole.  This means that both girls have practice Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:25 to 4:00.  This will happen up until the celebration on May 7.

Plus......soccer season is under way.....well.....that's when it's not raining so hard that they cancel the games.  Hannah and Ashley are both playing.  This brings a practice for each of them on Friday afternoons, a mid-week game for both of them......of course they're not always on the same night......and a Saturday game for each of them.

On top of all of this, Dave has training all next week and the week after training he goes to his swing shift rotation.  Why is that bad you ask?  While we're at work/school, he's home.  While he's at work, we're home and while we're home without his assistance, we have to still do homework, reading, dinner and coordinate all of the other activities.

Phew!  I'm exhausted just typing this. 

Did I mention Hannah has piano lessons on Wednesday evenings too........

May the force be with us.....we're gonna need it!

You Never Know What You'll Find.....

when you check on the girls before heading to bed.

Aren't they so cute?

When we tucked them into bed, they were in seperate beds.  It warms a mom's heart to know that they really do need each other.

Hannah's Happenings

A little catch up on what Hannah's been doing:

There have been times during this school year that I've wondered if I was going to be able to pass the third grade.....again.  Hannah has been required to read 600 minutes per month.  This equates to 20 minutes EVERY day....not just Monday through Thursday.  This also means that the short months, like February, require a bit more.  The 600 minutes are not prorated for the shortened days.

Each month brings a new genre for a book and then a book project needs to be done.  We have done lots of posters.  Then we did the wax museum, which I posted about awhile ago.  The next month required a one person skit on a fantasy book.  That was fun!  So imagine my surprise when Hannah returned home one day after school had been in session for a few months and informed us that she was required to do a "Big 6" project for the Media Center.  What?!?!?  Yes, the librarian requires the 3-5 graders to select a subject, research it and then give a 15 minute presentation on what they've learned.  They also have to give what resources they used to find their information and provide a visual, which can be a poster, slide show, powerpoint presentation, etc.

My thoughts?  Are you kidding me?!?!?

After much procrastination and Hannah coming home each week after Media and saying that Mr. Larson told her that she needed to get her Big 6 project don, we bit the bullet and pulled off the task.  Hannah research the Vladamir Draft Horse and gave her presentation on March 22.  Was it 15 minutes long?  No, it was about 4.  I think 15 is a bit much for a third grader.  Her visual.......it was poster.  We're getting pretty good at these! There is no way I was pulling together a powerpoint presentation or a slide show.  They're in third grade for heaven's sake.

Both Dave and I were able to make it for the presentation for moral support and I snapped a few pictures.

Isn't that poster amazing?

Hannah has now moved on to being a nine year old.  She celebrated her birthday on March 26!

The girls have a friend party every other year.  Hannah had one last year so this year was pretty low key for her.  She was able to invite two friends over on Saturday for an extended playdate.  One of the friends she wanted to come over is in our camping group.  The mom was heading to Salt Lake to shop for the day so Kaylee and her sister Taylor came to our house at 10:30 and started playing.  Then a friend from Hannah's school joined at 1:00 and they played until 4:30.  We had homemade pizza for lunch and cupcakes for dessert.  Then the older girls watch a "scary" movie on the big screen and Ashley and Taylor opted for "A Bugs Life" on the laptop in Ashley's room.

The two sisters were picked up from the house at 4:30 and we dropped the friend off at her house as we headed in for dinner at Texas Roadhouse with Grandma Peterson.  We've made it a tradition to take the girls out to dinner for their birthday and we let them chose.  Right now they like choosing Texas Roadhouse because you get to sit on the saddle while you're sung to.

At Texas Roadhouse we opened presents.  Hannah had mention a few days before her birthday that she really wanted a bubble gum machine.  I'm not really sure where this idea came from but a light bulb went off in my head and Dave carried out the plan.  When I was growing up we had a bubble gum machine downstairs on our bar.  Over all of these years my mom has kept it.  I asked if we could have it and she agreed.  So, Dave bought some metal and made a stand for the bubble gum machine.

At Texas Roadhouse Hannah first opened the present containing two packages of bubble gum balls.  The look on her face was hilarious!

Me:  "Hannah?  Didn't you say you wanted bubble gum?"
Hannah:  "No. I said I wanted a bubble gum machine."
Me: "Oh.  Sorry.  I thought you wanted bubble gum."

Isn't this face priceless?

Little did she know that when she got home, there would be a bubble gum machine set up in her bedroom.

She had also requested a Taylor Swift CD and a remote controlled dog.  Overall I think she had a great time opening presents she was just a bit confused over the bubble gum.

After returning home, we sent the girls upstairs to open the dog while Dave snuck the bubble gum machine into her room.  We then had the girls come down to get ready for bed and Hannah was so surprised to find the bubble gum machine in her room.  It was such a fun surprise.

On Sunday, I made Hannah a birthday cake.  I became adventurous this go round and put raspberry filling in the middle.  The only problem I had was that I needed to rotate the cake 180 degrees to make it line back up.  Not bad though for my first time.

Hannah requested blue frosting and that turned in to her pillow pet being the model for the color, which turned into making an ocean cake.  Us four girls had a really fun time decorating the cake and laughing.  What sticks out the most?  That would be right after I made the sea horse.  Nicole's comment was, "That doesn't look like a sea horse.  It looks like a duck!"  Thanks Nicole.....such a blow to my artistic ability.

We invited Uncle Glade over for baked potato bar Sunday for dinner and then Nate and Kendal's family joined us for cake and ice cream.  It's always great when you can extend the festivities over multiple days.

Happy Birthday Hannah!!

We Love You!!!!