Easter Eve

On the Saturday before Easter, we had business as usual at the ball park in the morning. The team lined up, played a great game (a win!) and had a fantastic time.  William George enjoyed snacks on the playground with both grandmothers while Papa studied the game and Skip's coaching. The girls received the "game balls" which is just about the biggest distinction they can imagine.  

We had a picnic at the park - not because we are organized and conscientious but because we really got burned out on the ball park hot dog last year. We cannot have another one. After a quick lunch, we struck out for a marathon afternoon. First, we went to Auntie Melinda and Grammie's church for their spring fling. Although we missed their egg hunt during the game, we were ready to hit the inflatables with full force.  Also, Aunt Melinda escorted them through the face painting booth and captured the process on on my camera, too.  Lauren choose a bunny face, whereas Gracie picked a butterfly. 

After face painting and jumping for a solid two hours, we went to Gran and Papa's for their church's egg hunt.  The duo had fun playing games, snacking and hunting a LOT of eggs. This has been a funny year for William George because he is the oldest of the "2 and under" egg hunting groups, meaning that his mobility advantage has scored him a LOT of eggs. Even more fun is the discovery that the eggs at this particular hunt had the chocolate candy stashed right inside the egg -- no silly middleman involved in the trading in of eggs! (No criticism to our church's egg hunt, of course. It's a larger affair, and that step preserves order.) If you happen to be a two year old, discovering that you can simply  pause for a bite of chocolate, mid-hunt, is a revelation.  

After a very long day, we were ready to crash. We were eager about our church's Easter celebration, and some of us were also excited about the Easter bunny. I was one of them. 

Enumerated Update

Our thoughts and prayers are with our Arkansas and Oklahoma neighbors after last night's storms. 

Hello, friends. Locally, we are expecting some of the apocalyptic weather we sometimes see in the spring. Please be careful and heed the usual precautions.

Otherwise, briefly, here's where we are:

1) Break: I took an unexpected break last week. Easter weekend occurred when I was already four weeks behind on photos so I tried to motivate myself to become current by insisting that the photos be edited in chronological order (four week backlog + Easter weekend). That process took about five days, but now I have about 40 drafts hanging out in Blogger. Also, I am prepared for the recitals and end-of-school activities that are right around the corner.

Of course, any time I mention being "behind" to Skip, he gives me a look that says, "You realize you are worried about productivity as it pertains to............... a hobby, right?"

Yes. Yes, I am.

Addendum: Skip has read this entry and would like for me to clarify that he is very supportive of all hobbies and activities.

2) Prayers: My mom recently came clean about a diagnosis she received back in December. It is serious, but reparable. If you would, please, remember her in prayer while she undergoes further diagnostic testing next month and evaluation with a specialist in June.

3) Snugglebug: Yesterday William George exhibited a lot of fear and anxiety during a thunderstorm. Since the storm occurred during his nap time, we took a nap together. We have a queen bed in his room (his room was previously a guest room, and we kept the bed when we made the room a nursery), and he knows that will be his "big boy bed" soon. The last time I slept in his room he was a little baby. He was the scoochiest yesterday during nap. Oh my word at the snuggles.

4) Kate Spade: I have adored Kate Spade's products since the company was founded in 1993. I remember finding one of her earliest handbags at a favorite consignment shop (as a new item, carefully placed on a special Kate Spade shelf). I carefully admired it but passed because the price ($85.00) was beyond my budget. For years I regretted not saving to nab that bag, and then her line took off, prices soared and the goods were gone.

This article about KS designer Dana Lucas is a nice (free!) peak into the world of Kate Spade.

(By way of disclaimer, Skip gifted a Kate Spade bag to me for my birthday this year after I discovered an affordable option on an eBay flash sale. Hooray for sales!)

(As I was opening the gift, my mom's eyebrows raised, and she said, "'Semi obsession?'" as she often does whenever the subject of bags comes up. She would like for me to update my profile to read: Handbag obsessive in desperate need of an intervention.)

5) Lauren's curiosity: A few weeks ago Lauren taught herself how to iMessage on her iTouch. Last week she recorded a video message that she then sent via text. The toothless smack at the end is what gets me.


Future Vlogger from Cathi Lindsey on Vimeo.


And that's it for us.

Remember, be safe and try to stay out of harm's way.

Easter Party 2014

Yesterday was William George's Easter party at preschool. Since we missed the Christmas party due to illness, his excitement level was off the charts. When I arrived, the class was outside playing. When it was time to line up to go inside, he became super serious (below) about showing me the ropes, how to line up, how to put your hands behind your back and how to hold a bubble in your mouth. Clearly, it was important to him that I use my best manners and follow instructions. 

Once inside, he gave me (another) tour of the classroom. 

"This is my classroom.  I do spashul work here. These are my friends." 

I used my persuasive powers of suggestion to get pizza on the menu -- meaning that I offered to bring pizza. William George normally pushes his food around on his plate during parties, but since pizza is his all time favorite, he dug in with enthusiasm.  

After the party, he came home and slept for a solid three hours, proving that he enjoys a party as much as Gracie.

Happy Easter to you and yours!

PS: Remember the duo's party?

Easter Egg Hunt, 2014

This past Sunday was our church's annual egg hunt. Lauren heard the announcement during children's church, and she was herding us all afternoon toward this all important activity.

The duo were very excited, but no one was more excited than William George.

Egg hunting was a serious endeavor for George, and he quickly gathered as many eggs as he could find.

After the eggs have been collected, they are exchanged for a candy bag. William George was reluctant to make the transaction since he figured he had worked really hard to gather eggs. Once he surveyed the goodies, he felt good about the trade.

The duo's age group was more competitive, but they were up to the challenge.

After the egg hunt, the trio stumbled upon the Easter Bunny. When George saw him, he ran to me yelling, "MOMMY!  It's the EASTER BUNNNYYYY!  Come ONNNNN!!!!!"

George was over the moon. 

Sometimes the Easter Bunny brings new sandals. After checking the fit of last year's sandals, the Easter Bunny may have decided not to bring them this year, as they mostly still fit. Lauren was not receptive of this news so when I approached the above meeting, Lauren quickly explained that she had discussed the sandal situation with the Easter Bunny and had point-blank asked him about new sandals. "He said YES!" she said. "I asked him for new sandals, and he went like this [gesturing thumbs up]!" she exclaimed. 

Well played, LuLu... well played.  

A Point in Spring's Favor

The pollen is going in the con column, but the extra daylight is a definite pro for spring.

Daily Photo

What? You don't strip off your pants periodically throughout the day? 

Enumerated Update

Happy Tuesday, friends! How was your weekend?

1) Softball: Last Saturday was opening day for softball, and we had our second game Saturday. The duo have been super excited, and although I am running way behind in the pic department, updates to come soon.

2) Family: We have had family in town, and that has meant lots of cousin time. The duo couldn't have been happier.

3) Common Core: One of our local candidates in the upcoming senatorial election has chosen to attack the common core. Readily, I will admit that I know very little about the subject and rely on what I have read, much like you possibly? My background is in the insurance/risk management sector (think Ben Stiller's character in Along Came Polly)(I will become very Reuben Feffer-like, crazily quoting statistics, if you mention you performed work involving a ladder last weekend.) so I can espouse freely on the law of large numbers, risk reduction, litigation and avenues of recovery, but I tend to tread carefully with regard to subjects about which I have no or little professional experience. Our senatorial candidate does not share the same caution and, instead, uses the topic for political grandstanding.

Anyrate. I didn't mean to veer from my policy of not discussing politics here, but this blog entry is a good counter to some of the negative common core comments seen on my Facebook feed.

4) Internet Snooping: I tend to be opposed to any and all forms of snooping, and therefore, the new Facebook feature revealing who has viewed your profile, is good step toward transparency. Following LinkedIn, beta users of the new Facebook feature can readily see who has been checking out their profile. I'm on board.

5) Online Anger: On a loosely related note, I am baffled by the degree of online anger and hostility displayed in comments. Lately I have become addicted to a couple of online trading sites, partly because the sites are a convenient way to get a virtual flea market/consignment/yard or garage sale fix, but also because the comments are hilarious -- unless the comment is directed at you personally. In that case, the comment probably seems disproportionate, mean-spirited and ill thought out. This NYT article, reminiscing about the lost art of the unsent angry letter, explains what is going on psychologically with the hostile commenters

Do you draft angry letters that remain unsent? I never have, but I often experience Lincoln's oft described case of stairway wit, i.e., this is what I SHOULD have said.

Anyrate... That's it for us. What is happening with you?

The Apprentice

William George has recently discovered the adrenaline rush of pulling his closet's contents out into his room. He drags out all of his shoes, clothes and all those other items - large and small - that are stored inside.

Lauren taught him that closets can be a treasure trove of activity, and she has shown him that the upper shelves are a veritable gold mine of out-of-reach goodies.

Thank you, Lauren.

Bikes

The bikes have returned for spring, and the duo have enjoyed taking spins through the neighborhood. They also have been teaching William George how to ride his tricycle.  

Overall, he does really well.  

He has an excellent guide and a patient coach. 

Sometimes he likes to give a little instruction of his own. 

These monkeys...

...we love them so.  

PS: Happy Friday to you, friends! I have no idea where this week has gone and apologize for light posting.