Easter 2013

This year, the week right before Easter was marvelous. The weather was sunny and we played outside all week. I love being outside! I found online a couple Easter egg hunts we could attend that the community put on. Grant, Carly, and I went to a hunt at around 5pm on the Thursday before Easter and Grant did a hunt, and then each age group after did one and the adults even got to do one. I told Grant to stay right next to Carly while I did mine, which lasted a total of 10 seconds. Anyway, it was fun. The Saturday morning we were going to go to one at 9am but we were late and didn't make it. Luckily we were invited to another hunt at 10am. So since I got to do the hunt with Grant on Thursday I stayed home with Carly while she napped as Perry and Grant went to the hunt. Grant definitely got his fill of candy no doubt. Next year we might not do any hunts except for our own. And we will fill the eggs with his favorite berries like raspberries, blackberries, and blue berries. I think that will be equally exciting  for him to receive and a little candy in his easter basket. We definitely tried to emphasize the purpose of Easter and why we celebrate it and how eggs correlate with that theme. So of course we celebrate easter to commemorate Jesus Christ's resurrection. And Grant learned that Easter is also about rebirth of plants and animals during the spring season, which represents also Christ being reborn in a sense into his immortal body.

Anyway so we did Easter baskets, where Grant got 2 pieces of candy and a book about Jesus' life. We did a little Easter egg hunt again with the unopened eggs from the previous hunts because its so fun to watch him hop around and get all the eggs. Then we colored eggs with food coloring mixed with vinegar. So much easier not to worry about buying an egg dying kit each year. Then we had church, which had an excellent Easter program, including the ward choir singing 2 numbers, which I am a part of. I like ward choir because its helping to strengthen and rehabilitate my voice from when it was lost when Grant was born. Perry suggested I do it and I love it. Then we came home and had Eater dinner and the next day we had Easter FHE. We did resurrection bread and Grant really learned the events and preparation of the Savior's death and resurrection after repeating the process over and over again when you make the bread.

So below are recent pictures of Carly and pictures of Easter and the week before Easter.  Also pictured is the dress I sewed for Carly. It took me about 3 full days in all but like 3 weeks of time to complete you know because I can't just devote all my time and energy sewing. I have kids. So it was hard and fun and we used our Easter budget money for Carly on the dress. So that was her present this year. She will probably be able to wear it at least for another year.

Carly has also been progressing in leaps and bounds lately. She has 2 new bottom teeth that came in at the same time. She learned that she can say "da-da" and "ba-ba" and so on. She can sit without falling over, and rolls all over the place. She is just so fun. Oh and she has figured out how to feed herself using the pincer grasp. So she can be occupied for a while with little snacks while I'm cooking dinner. Its great and definitely easier to be  mom now that Grant isn't pestering her while I make dinner because she is with me in her high chair.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese frosting

Grant is 3! Warning: Photo dump.

So we have a fun birthday weekend for Grant. He is our big 3 year old and if definitely energetic, funny, creative, and loving. I planned a Diego party but just as I was finishing my ideas and plans he decided that he likes Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I have nothing against Mickey but I decided to continue with the Diego theme. We created a Jungle atmosphere and a great mexican lunch spread in honor of Diego's mexican heritage and a planned animal safari using their rescue pack objects like their field journals and flashlights to spot animals.  Actually as I'm typing this Grant is singing the Diego theme song. However just a couple days ago Grant said he doesn't want to watch Diego anymore and when he turns 1 he can watch again lol. So I basically did his party at the tail end of his liking for diego.

It was fun to have my parents and sister and brother in law in town. They helped decorate and I would have never had everything ready in time with out their help!! I pushed the party back a half hour. We wanted a smallish party and we already had so many adults as family there plus kids we decided to just invite one other family to join us. It was fun. The kids enjoyed it and the weekend turned out great too.

Thursday my family arrived super late, then Friday we went to DI and I have to mention that I found a wire wisk for my kitchenaid hiding in the toy aisle! Yay! I have been meaning to buy one but just havent gone to the mending shed to get it.  Later we hung around and also went to Pizza Pie Cafe (kind of tradition when my dad visits). We also did a couple errands as far as party food went. Then Saturday we set up for the party, had the party, and laid low the rest of the day. The weather was fantastic by the way. Then Sunday my family sadly left. Monday was a holiday and Grant's actual birthday and we went on a little shopping spree with Grand parent and Great Grandparent money, got some yummy lunch, played, had some ice cream cake, oh and a trip the doctor. Long story short Grant has weak elbow joints. Ironic twist is that one of the toys he picked out from the store was a doctor kit, and he got to visit the doctor the same day on his birthday. The staff had a good laugh and Grant now knows exactly what to do with each of his doctor things.

Oh and Carly learned a little more skill in how to sit up. Prior to this weekend she would fall every which direction. Now she can sit up pretty well and rests a little on the boppy behind her when she is tired and its so cute how she rests on her hand if she leans too far and she really enjoys this new vantage point.

So here are a bunch of pictures from the birthday day and party. We basically did a family party and let Grant decide which one of his family friends to invite. We would have loved to invite everyone but the party favors and every thing were the expensive part of the party.