Easter Happenings

We had a great Easter!

Our celebrating started with the Second Friends Preschool Easter Egg Hunt. Here are some pictures...

Kylee insisted on wearing her Easter dress to school on the day of the hunt. She looked pretty cute and even let me curl her hair:

The kids made their own Easter "baskets" out of milk jugs. Kylee's was a cute bunny:

Each student had a 20 egg limit. While a generous limit, Kylee was still frustrated with me for cutting her off...she had a great time "hunting"!

Kylee with the other girls in her class:

Kylee and I after the hunt:

When everyone had collected their treasures, we headed back to school to open all the Easter eggs...

It was a fun morning.

We also celebrated Easter at home, where, despite yucky cold weather, the Easter Bunny found us:

This is Connor's new "I'm too cool to let you take my picture" face:

Connor is just getting into G.I. Joe figures. We brought up a box of Brandon's old figures and it has provided hours of entertainment. The Easter Bunny brought Connor his very first G.I. Joe of his own:

Kylee found some Easter goodies, too:

I asked the kids to pose together for an Easter picture. Aren't they precious?

We finished the holiday with dinner in Baldwin City, where Grandma Lori (er, the Easter Bunny) had orchestrated a fun indoor hunt for the kids. Connor read the instructions for their scavenger hunt while the others looked on...

Easter was an emotional holiday for me this year. As I sat in the Easter service at Church, I realized how much more deeply all the references to Resurrection and heaven affect me, because I know one of our children is there waiting for us. Caden has already gotten to experience heaven's splendor, and knowing that is overwhelming at times (in a good way, of course).

This is also (aside from the anniversary of his birth) the last major holiday in the "year of firsts" that grieving people must endure. It seems incredible to me that at Easter last year, we had no idea that anything was wrong with our youngest son. My, how things change in a year.

I was also emotional because I realize that this pregnancy, with our baby girl, is a sort of "resurrection" for our family. Brandon and I have both commented on how we don't know how we would be getting through our grief process with Caden if we didn't know that we had been given another chance with this precious little one...we are so grateful for God's blessings!

Top Dog

A little over a month ago, Buster graduated from Obedience School. We share this picture so when you come to our house and he jumps all over you like a madman, you know we at least gave it the good college try. :) Here he is in his graduation cap with his instructor, Tara.

He's a great dog. Very smart. Lots of energy. He has topped out at about 40 pounds, which is just right for us.

Now that Connor knows he's going to have two little sisters, he refers to Buster as his brother. He and Buster are best buds, with Buster preferring Connor far more than any of the rest of us. Maybe it's because he senses that Connor is the only family member that can even remotely keep up with his energy level.

Congrats, Bust!

Searching for Spring...

Hello!

It is Spring Break week for the Carlson kids and we are enjoying being in "no school" mode. Today held playdates at our house for both the kids, a little too much TV time, and bedtime tonight will be later than normal. We love it! It is great to have Connor here at home with us during the day. Kylee has recently developed a fear of being "left alone", so it is a relief to have another body in the house during the day so that she doesn't have to track me constantly in an effort to avoid perceived abandonment.

We have had a bit too much winter around here! Just tonight, Kylee asked if she could blow bubbles. Our rule is that bubbles must be blown outside (we get just as many bubbles all over ourselves and the ground as we do in the air). Kylee asked if she could please blow bubbles inside since it is so cold outside. I conceded and offered to lay down a towel for her to stand on in the kitchen while she played with the soapy mix. She then said, "I'll go out on the deck". So, there she stands, in the 30 degree weather, right next to the back door (wearing a Snow White dress), blowing bubbles (somewhat in vain given the gusts of wind). Where is spring? I love our kids, though, set on enjoying the pleasures of life despite the cold and wind.

We have some blooms in Caden's garden! The daffodils are peeking up and their cheery yellow flowers have already graced our kitchen table and island. Hooray! Lilies and some of the bushes are starting to green up, too. We can't wait to see this memorial in full bloom!

We made a trip to Great Bend this weekend to clean out my Grandpa and Grandma's house. It was a tough weekend emotionally, as tensions ran a bit high with the strain of packing up so many years of memories, but it feels good to have it done. My brother, sister, and I and our families will now enjoy heirlooms from the home where we spent all of our Christmases, Thanksgivings, and many happy weekends with Grandma and Grandpa. The house continues to sit on the market and we are hopeful that a buyer will come forward soon!

Kid quotes for today...

We are sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner. Grilled cheese and tomato soup are the main course (we only eat gourmet food around here). Kylee picks up her bowl and tries to gulp her soup, which thankfully did not result in a spill, but did result in a rather sizable orange mustache.

Kylee: "Don't you like my lipstick?"

Me: "Yes, your lipstick is beautiful. How about I get you a straw for your soup?"
Note: Using a straw to slurp soup is a great trick for the kiddos that I learned from my friend Trena. It has been a lifesaver!

Connor (from across the table): "Orange is DEFINITELY not a good color for her."

Just a few minutes ago as Kylee comes in from the deck, where she has been blowing bubbles:

Kylee: "Mommy, I was outside blowing bubbles in my Snow White dress, and I am not wearing ANY underwear!"

Oh, geez. Does that make me a bad Mom?

I'd better go. :)