Easter celebration, phase 3

The Easter bunny came last night! He was a little worried about varmits and rain (and having to wake up really, really early), so he hid the beautiful boiled eggs around the house. The boys were up and playing at about 7:15 and found one. Braden's face was a beautiful mix of confusion and discovery as he realized the significance of this find. We dressed them and came out into the foyer to find their Easter baskets stuffed with goodies. Each boy got a pair of Diego "glubs" (Garrett's word for them) to help mommy in the garden.

After the baskets were emptied, the boys began their egg hunt. Meanwhile, the Easter bunnies helpers tossed some plastic, candy-filled eggs outside.

Linsey made pigs-n-a-blanket for breakfast and now, at 8:34, we've hunted, we've eaten, we've blogged, and I'm ready for a nap before Church.

Easter celebration, phase 2

I love making Easter eggs. It is, without a doubt, one of my favorite holiday traditions. I have this wonderful fantasy of my boys and me creating these colorful artistic eggs and ooohing and aaaahing as we do so. In my egg dying daydream, my children are well behaved and sit quietly and calmly while they dip eggs in and out of dye.





The reality is a far cry from the fantasy. Broken eggs? yes. Tears? check. Some pushing and shoving? Got that, too!





Here are the pictures that make it look like a fun affair:

The boys showing off the finished product:

And me showing off the final product:
Here they are leaving the baskets on the front step for the Easter bunny!

And, the all-time classiest picture ever: Me, Garrett and Braden (and a Miller Light bottle on the buffet behind us. Why? 'Cause I'm a good mom of course).

Easter Celebration, phase 1

Kristen, my step-sister, and her husband hosted family and friends today for a really fun Easter celebration. As she tends to do, Kristen went ridiculously overboard. The kids decorated cupcakes, hunted Easter eggs, smacked a pinata, and played with all of Morgan and Mitchell's toys. There were about ten or twelve kids, half of them preschoolers so it was chaotic fun!

Here is Tom with his grandson, Camden (Kristen's oldest). Camden is a junior in high school and currently has his heart set on Baylor. We're going to try to get him to stop on Hwy 6 about 90 miles earlier, though.

Here's Grandad blowing bubbles for Garrett and Morgan (with the long blonde hair).

Here is Jeremy, Kristen's husband, manning the grills. He cooked brisket, baby back ribs, country style ribs, spare ribs, and sausage. YUUUUMMMMM!! (are you jealous?)
And the egg hunting begins...

This is Morgan and Mitchell, Kristen and Jeremy's kids. Morgan is four months older than Garrett. Kristen had them all dressed up and they were such little cuties.

Here is Linsey and Matt. They've been a big help with the boys the past few days so that Kyle and I could have some much-needed rest and relaxation. We tried to take a family picture, but, like usual, not everyone would cooperate. Here are three tries:

Three new posts in one day??

"Why is that?" you ask.

"Procrastination," I answer.

Pee-Wee Swine Showmanship

Imagine this: A livestock arena. Dust in the air. The noise of hundreds of anxious parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles all crowding around. Twenty preschoolers, all dressed in their best cowboy (or cowgirl) gear. Eight pigs. One very nervous Braden:
Ready, Set, GOOOO!

This weekend was the annual Brazos County Youth Livestock Show, and our boys "participated" in the Pee-Wee Swine Showmanship yesterday afternoon. They did this last year, too, and this year was pretty much a repeat.

Kyle went into the show ring with them, and they hung close. Braden hung very close:

Most kids chase after the pigs. Here's Garrett's attempt (can you see him? He's in the bottom left):

Once the pigs (and kids) are sufficiently riled up, the judge (here in the blue, kneeling down) calls all the kids over while he talks to them about showing pigs. Kyle is with our kids on the left side of the pack here:

Notice all the spots on that picture? The best I can figure is that is the flash reflecting off the airborne dust.

This year, they ran out of trophies, so our kids received "participant" ribbons on their way out of the arena. They are supposed to mail our trophies to us.

After the Pee-Wee Swine Showmanship event, the 4-H and FFA kids show their pigs. This is Braden watching his babysitter, Victoria, show her pig:

It's Texas. It's March. That means...

Bluebonnet pictures!

A little thief in the night

Last night Kyle fell asleep on the couch with the TV on and lights on. Like most nights when he does this, I left him there and enjoyed the quiet of my king size bed (Kyle snores, you see). Sometime around 3 am, Garrett woke up, like he does most nights.

On his sleepy journey across the house into my room, he stopped, noticed Daddy on the couch and decided he, in fact, needed the A&M blanket Daddy had over him. And he needed it right then.

He tugged and tugged on the blanket, waking Kyle up. Kyle held on. Garrett tugged some more, threw in a few whimpers, and was victorious in the battle for the blanket. When I woke up this morning, Garrett was in bed with me with the A&M fleece wrapped around him. Kyle was asleep on the couch without a blanket. Poor Daddy.