Easter Weekends

My family's Friday afternoon Easter egg hunt was the same this year as just about every other year.  We were missing a few people, and we added a few people.  Mike ended up taking his 8 hours without pay (another story for another time) (ridiculous) that afternoon, so it was fun that he got to be there with us.  

We started the day at the movies.  We went with Richelle, the boys, Nana, and Raelynn to see Rio 2.  I wasn't all that impressed, but I guess it could've been worse.  All three of the Toy Story movies are excellent.  The liked the second Monsters movie even better than the first…and I'm 50/50 on the Despicable Me movies.  So I honestly had high expectations for Rio 2…those expectation were not met.  Oh well.

It dawned on me that this was Blip's third Easter!  It feels like he's been here forever, but at the same time…how in the world has he been here so long already?  I can't remember life without him…and what I can remember…I wish he was in it.  I love that he's here now…and his fun personality never disappoints.  And I love the way his cousins love him and play with him (even though that pretty much means he runs around crazy instead of letting them actually play a game).  They all happily cater to his needs and seem to enjoy having him around (most of the time).

The kids played and we ate dinner…and then realized how late (read: dark) it was.  The hunt started a little later than I would have liked, but only because I forgot my camera cards, so I only had my phone…so as soon as there was little to no light our pictures were done.  And the ones I do have are not so great (as you can see here).  Oh well…next year I will remember.  I hope.

We usually hide a bunch of eggs in Regina's front yard for the littlest hunters, and we hide the rest out on the greenbelt.  Blip was most interested in opening each egg before moving on to find more eggs.  He did NOT understand the rush…he just wanted to open each one before committing and moving on.  After he was done (or really after all the eggs were found) he headed out to the greenbelt with the bigger kids.  They were done too, but he still wanted to be out there with them.  

When everyone was done, everyone went through their loot back in Regina's front yard.  We left with absolutely NO candy.  Blip doesn't eat candy (except for m&m's when he goes potty on the potty seat), so I was glad not to feel obligated to haul anything home and store it…and then throw it all away.

The night ended pretty stressful because I was discussing family picture clothing with my sisters while we were together (and we each brought all our outfits to see what we still needed), and Mike wanted to go home (we'd seriously been there for 2.5 hours…I still don't get it). So I decided it would be easier and less stressful for Mike to work next year instead of come with us.  It was a nice try, but somethings should just stay the way they work best.

Sunday morning Mike got up with us even though he had worked off duty all night…and didn't get into bed until 5am.  Exhausted or not…nobody wants to miss seeing what the Easter Bunny left for Blip.

When the Easter Bunny came to leave stuff for Blip, (s)he realized that after the last several months of seeing little things here and there…and collecting said items…that his basket seemed very full. In the end, the Bunny held on to a few items for another time because there was plenty left for the boy.  Not everything was small enough to fit in Blip's basket (really a bucket), so there appears to be more than there is.  

Blip's basket contained a new towel for bath time (a Cars towel with Mater on it), a smaller and more portable Buzz and Woody (collected long before the big ones were family members), building blocks, a cute Nunny blanket, new Superman shirt, socks, and hat, Toy Story bandaids, a new book about animals and their babies, a coloring book, a Toy Story sippy cup, a fish loofah, a Monsters toothbrush, and a Blip size backpack (that was ordered for last Christmas, but we found the Mike Wazowski backpack instead).  Not even one piece of candy.  I like it best this way, but I doubt it will last forever.

After we were done with the bucket, I made my boys breakfast.  Blueberry pancakes, bacon, and eggs.  Blip's favorite meal…he really LOVES bacon.  Then we played with his new stuff.

Mike needed to get a few hours of sleep, so he went to bed while Blip and I entertained ourselves.  We hardboiled a few eggs and colored them.  And much to my happy surprise- he actually tried one! He liked the first bite, but the yoke was his limit for taste testing.

We played with toys (new and old), watched a movie, colored eggs…and then it was time to get ready to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house for another Easter Egg hunt and family dinner.  Our kid is at the end of grandkids in both of our families.  Luckily we have Patrick and Sarah that had Tucker a few months after Blip was born…or poor Blip's life would suck.  Molly and Ivy are just a few years older…luckily they are still little enough to want to be little and do the little fun things on holidays.

Our Buvala Easter Egg Hunt only had four participants.  Which made it super easy…and not that many eggs had to be filled.  I think I only did 110.  That's 26+ eggs each, but most of the eggs were tiny, so I think it all worked out.  At least I hope it did. 

Blip didn't "get it" any more than he did two days prior.  He still wanted to investigate each egg before moving on.  Which is really fine…since we didn't leave with one piece of candy from this hunt either.  It was perfect.

We ate dinner and ran around the backyard all afternoon.  I love watching Mike run and play with his son, so I was perfectly content.  The weather was beautiful and it was nice to be around family.

I am thankful for my sweet little family.  And I am thankful for the sacrifice my Savior made for me…the true meaning of Easter.  I know He lives, and I know He loves me.