Easter Egg Hunt

Holidays are really starting to get fun again.  I've always enjoyed the holidays -- most do.  But now that I've got kids, it's like I'm seeing everything through young, enthusiastic eyes again.  And my gosh, that's fun. 

This year, we attended our church's Easter egg hunt.  We met in the church for songs and the story of Easter before the hunt began (while the big kid helpers hid the eggs outside).    

Ms. Neumann is one of the Pre-K
teachers at St. Paul.  She led the songs -
singing Little Bunny Foo Foo right now.

Nora thoroughly entertained. 

Also did the bunny hokey. 

She didn't even sit by me during it... she sat by her friend.
Getting so grown up.

I had this guy right by me though.  He didn't want to sit
by Nora and Mallory.  He didn't want to sit, period.
He walked to the back himself (with Dan following) and
got a busy bag to play with.

Then found himself a super special
spot right up front.

Let the games begin! 

For the egg hunt, we had to split up.  Nora and I went with the big kids while Dan took Myles into the special (not very hidden) area for kids two and under.  

Off she goes!

Found one.

This may have been the egg that got her shoes completely
caked in mud.  Oh well, that's half the fun.  But note-to-self
for next year... wear rain boots (and bring her Easter basket).

"Eggs!"

Showing Daddy all the eggs she
found when we met back up again.

The loot -- they were only allowed to find 10 eggs each
to ensure all kids were able to find some.  Very nice.

Loves of my life.

Then we went inside for a cereal bar.  They had all sorts of cereals they've never had like Fruit Loops and Trix next to Cheerios and Kix.  Guess which they chose...  they loved them.  :)

And...

the Easter Bunny was there!!
Yup - this is the best picture I ended up with.
On the bright side, Myles wasn't crying.
It was taken overlooking all the kids eating their cereal and
running around.  It was distracting and hard to get their
attention.  I'm surprised they even got up there and like I
said, at least there wasn't tears.  

As I was buckling Nora into the car seat she said, "Mom.  That was amazing."

I think it's safe to say she enjoyed herself.

Science Experiments

I want to get back to doing more activities around here.  We don't have to do as many as we did during Christmas but at least one every couple of weeks would be nice.  For them and me.  

Today, we basically made volcanoes but I just put the baking soda in a dish and gave them tinted vinegar and droppers to play with.  (A big thanks to the Walgreen's pharmacist who gave me 5 droppers for free when I asked if they sold them!)

Watching what happens when baking soda and
vinegar mix. 

drip, drip, drip

Observing

His wheels were turning.  After a few droppers full, he
decided that wasn't fizzy enough and instead took
handfuls of baking soda and plopped them into the
cup of vinegar.

This is how it went for the remainder of play time.

And he loved every single minute.

{First picture of him actually looking and actually smiling!}

Kidnastics!

I've been patiently waiting for Nora to turn three so she could start all the fun classes through the park district like dance and gymnastics.  So as soon as the spring brochure came out, I signed her up for Kidnastics -- gymnastics for three and four year olds.  

As the first day approached, she was getting more and more excited to go.  She was thrilled on Monday morning - and I was just as thrilled when she ran right over to the rest of the kids leaving me in the dust.

There were three different "coaches" there.  The kids rotated through the stations twice.  When they went through the second time, they did different activities. 

Watching from behind my camera lens the bleachers, I
was proud that this time I wasn't the mom in this picture
holding my shy and nervous daughter while watching
the rest of the kids.  

Watching the coach to learn how to do mule kicks.

They stood on their heads as the coach helped them put
their legs up on the angled mat.  Nora was in her own
world roaming the mats during this part.

Meeting another coach.
He did animal walks with them (ie: walk like an elephant and
swing your arm like a trunk, reach tall and walk on tippy
toes like a giraffe, run fast like a cheetah, etc.)

Here they are doing the giraffe walk.

Log rolls down the wedge.

And somersaults!

This little man watching from the sidelines tried
to make a break for the equipment a few times but...

stayed fairly content playing games on the iPad.

The balance beam was one of her favorite stations.
They started on the little beam here walking from color to color.

Then went to the big beam and worked on "stick landings".
(and walking sideways like she is here)

The spring board.

And jumping up to the mat stack and back down.

The bars - they'd swing on this one
then they tried to hang and swing their
feet up to touch the bar by their hands.

I said he was fairly content with the iPad.
This was the other thing keeping him
occupied.  Climbing up the three bleachers.

and taking the stairs back down.

I know she's already looking forward to next Monday.  When we were getting in the car she said, "I had lots of fun there.  Can we come back tomorrow?"  A reaction like that means money well spent, if you ask me!

Snow Activities

Who knew that at the end of February we would have gotten our biggest snowfall of the season?  When there was finally enough snow to make a decent sized snowman, we took advantage of it.

Nora helping put the final touches on our snowman -
adding coal for eyes. 

Myles got to put the carrot in for his nose. 

With all the snow flying around it looks
kind of miserable out there but it was actually quite nice. 

Me with the kiddos and the snowman.
(it's really hard to take a picture with your phone while
it's snowing... and dark.)

Then I moved inside to get dinner moving while Dan
had a little more time with them sledding on the mini
hill in the back. 

A few days later we got more snow.

This is Nora the next day posing proudly with the
snowman she made by herself the night before.
She knocked it down shortly after this picture because
she didn't want Rusty to pee on it like he did to our
other snowman.

He loves helping us shovel.

Finally armed with the proper tools (the squirt bottles),
we got to do something I found
on pinterest.  We painted the snow with colored water.  

They both enjoyed it - especially Nora.  Even I had to get in on the action.

This was our finished masterpiece.  Pretty colors on the snow and
in the sky.

While it was fun to do some more winter activities, I'm ready for all the snow to melt and spring to be here.