Easter Weekend Part 1

We had such a busy weekend and we have so many pictures of the kiddos that I decided to break the Easter weekend post into two installments.

We started out our weekend with a much needed day off for both me and Tony. The kids slept in a little bit and we ran some errands and generally spent the day relaxing. It was so nice to get to see the kids in the morning and not have to rush out the door, but Tony and I were ready for bed time by the time 7pm rolled around. I don't know how Durinda keeps up with those little ones- they are into everything!

We were lucky that the kids decided to take a mid morning break to read some books; I caught a very sweet picture of Tony and the kids.

We also got to play outside; Durinda got the kids some bubbles for Easter, and they played with bubbles Thursday afternoon. Durinda said the kids had a blast, and Friday morning Jack talked about bubbles and pointed to the window over and over, so we decided to let them get out in the yard and play with bubbles in the afternoon. Harper and Jack were both so good not only playing with the bubbles, but navigating the backyard as well. Here are some sweet shots we took of them playing.

The next post will have all of our Easter pictures: Easter bunny visit, nice church clothes pictures, Easter egg hunt, etc. Stay tuned!

A Beautiful Mess

Our house has been taken over- held hostage really- by bandits. These bandits run amok, pillage, steal, leave the loot they determine to be worthless, but make off with anything they find valuable. They are stealthy and work together to achieve their goals, but they are also short sided and have a minimal attention span, often jumping from one grab to another. I was told that these bandits would be coming, they were projected on the horizon, but we were in denial. Tony and I weren't prepared for the full impact of these little looters and this weekend will be devoted, in part, to "vandal proofing" the house.

Monday was a rough day because our schedule was off- it rained- the kids and I couldn't get out to go for a walk and chaos ensued. Jack fell down the stairs (just two) and landed on the hardwood floor (luckily, the diaper bag helped to break his fall), Harper charged Abby while carrying a plastic spoon and plate over her head, this scared Abby and she started barking at Harper, which scared Harper and she started crying. This all happened within moments of each other- literally- I was checking Jack out after his fall when I heard Abby barking- it was stressful, frustrating, and comical all at once. I know that these days will soon outnumber the days where we sit in the living room and read books and play for an hour.

Luckily for Tony, by the time he got home from the gym, the kids were much calmer and had dinner. How can you not love these two little ones- even if they are crazy, curious, destructive explorers?

Weekend in West

Tony and I loaded up the kiddos and headed to West this weekend to spend some quality time with the Colletts. Tony's brother, Ryan, and his wife, Erica, and their daughter, Emmy- 10 months old, live in West and Mimi and Papa were spending the weekend there, so we invited ourselves down too!

 We spent the day Saturday playing, laughing, eating, catching up, and watching cousins run all over the place. We were even there to witness Emmy's first steps! I think she started walking so she could keep up with Harper and Jack!  The three kids got along really well; Emmy was great about sharing her toys, and our kids really liked exploring their backyard. Harper was quick to walk through the grass barefoot, but Jack wasn't too sure what to think. Both kids enjoyed the big back porch and can't wait to go back.

Harper and Jack also had a great time seeing their Mimi and Papa. They hadn't seen the kids since they really started walking and I think they were surprised to see how much Jack and Harper move (they hardly ever sit still). Here are some good pictures of Harp and Jack with their Mimi and Papa. We need to make a good effort to see them more often, that's for sure.

Oh, this weekend the twins also shared a pack-n-play for the first time in almost a year. We weren't too sure how their napping would go, but they slept about an hour- Tony and I were amazed. Here's a shot of them sleeping- too cute.

Today we spent the day recovering from our road trip and running errands. I was working in the kitchen this morning and turned around to see Harper and Abby playing "peek-a-boo". I was so proud of Abby for sitting and watching Harper (not running away or ignoring her), and so proud of Harper for playing with Abby instead of just trying to pet her or squealing at her. I hope this is a sign of a friendship in the making.

The weekend was great, but went by too quick. I'm hoping this short work week will go by quick as well so we can enjoy more family time.