For all of our Easter resources please refer to the blog entry titled “Easter Resources“.

March 24-25

March 24th (Sunday) marked day FOUR of our visiting and visitors… talk about an AMAZING long weekend feel to our days! Thursday was a trip out to use some time sensitive coupons and then heading to the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts with Shandai and Emily… Friday we had Steven over for the night for games and visiting… then Saturday was an afternoon (for JUST ME!) at Bree’s with my newest love of my life LILY! That brings me to Sunday and.. the NOVAKS!! ALL OF THEM! (that’s right Andy as well!)

Lily Irene who apparently takes binkies best from yours truly!

Our morning was spent with some cleaning and laundry and all that fun stuff and then early on in the afternoon we grew by 6 and had a grand total of NINE kids running around. Echo is especially fond of her Anthony who she has dubbed NeeNee… And was more than willing to babble to him until he was desperate to get her to just STOP for a minute!

With her NeeNee

We loaded up not only Minecraft but the PS3 and the adults settled in to visit.

Busy gamers

For dinner we had walking tacos… where you take mini bags of Doritos (50 for around 10.00 at Sam’s Club!!) and put your taco mix in there after breaking up your chips… add fork and eat! The amount of spillage was nil and everyone was soooo full!!!

Supper chaos lovely and controlled

We are already talking about planning a gaming night with NO electronics over at their house in April… as it stands right now we have a First Communion to see (Andrew and Anthony’s joint) on Thursday evening and then Friday is the egg hunt with them. I am going to be so spoiled with all my time with Darcy and the boys. Andy even hopes to be at both events in some capacity, though he does have to work both days.

The menfolk

Trinity and Aidan on iTouches

Monday marked the start of the end of our time without Nana and Baba. So it was time to go into overdrive on the Easter work. I really doubt  that we will finish the week or start the next with much going on school wise once Nana and Baba return home. I am already thinking on the penguins which are our next major topic before I turn us back to looking at the United States. I have not decided how we will deal with the general topic… but I really want to cover lots!

We made our Resurrection Eggs lapbook which corresponds terrifically with our book Lily’s Easter Party by Crystal Bowman. We did change two of the touch items out of necessity but it was fun to do together!

Trinity with our eggs

Creativity has been just oozing out all over the place here lately… today it was Emanuel’s turn with his fish themed picture.

A special picture

We also made our hand lilies… we didn’t have yellow pipecleaners so had to use bright orange and instead of straws went with green pipecleaners! We have continued with our song and it is almost ready to record!

Lilies on the table

We discussed the history of Easter traditions… specifically two questions!

1. Why is there an Easter Bunny?
2. Why do we decorate eggs?

We of course set Ken on the hunt for answers and he got us a video

That sadly went rather over their heads… but I found two sites with answers… The Bunny issue HERE and the Egg issue HERE.

And so the tone of our week is set! With Nana and Baba’s return imminent I am just hoping for some work done, some visiting and then the weekend going smoothly… but more about that later!

Andrew scaring Echo while Anthony and she are playing

Happy Easter everyone! We have had a marvelous day! Start the morning off with Grandma and Grandpa Mike’s from scratch waffles with berries and whipping cream and go from there! Then it was time to pack the kids up and head to Walmart for the traditional shopping of the sandals. 

So happy

Everyone got what they wanted – Trinity girly pink, Zander transformers, Emanuel Lightning McQueen and Gavin after near tears and an accidental dropping of sandals – ones that LIGHT UP. It can be so difficult to find the right thing for each kid! This time we did an amazing job of doing so. 

We did have to run back to Walmart with Emanuel to exchange his, we somehow grabbed 13s on the way out of the shoe section when we actually needed 11s. He had a blast in Grandma’s convertible (with the top up as it is still spring in Alberta… EARLY spring) with Mommy and Grandma ON HIS OWN. 

Just like at Chris and Chris’ we had EGGS to dye! AND Uncle Wayne to join us. Traditions are wonderful. Mom boiled a ton of eggs, we made up a bunch of dye cups, brought out the white crayons and fun ensued. Messy fun, everyone got involved (except Echo who was napping). Good thing Mike enjoys hard boiled eggs!

EGGS

Kept them busy

Then it was time for the gifts from mommy, daddy and the Easter bunny – a whole bucket of bubble soap and bubble wants and Kinder Surprise Eggs. So much excitement and chocolate (which by the way Echo did NOT like… though she did like the cow’s milk she had Saturday for the first time).

BUBBLES

Kinder eggs

Don’t forget the actual church clothes Easter pictures!!! I gave each of the kids their sock owls as well, I love my mom’s couch for pictures.

Cheese

A vision in white

The kids have loved the added space that Grandma has at her house, the freedom and their own rooms. Oh and don’t forget all the toys. We are borrowing a couple containers of Grandma’s outside toys  to take back to the Chris’ for the rest of our time there. At least then the kids can do something outside of the house for longer than 15 min. Fingers crossed the bowling set is the key to familial harmony. 

Me and my mommy

Oh and our special dip!!

Gypsy has also fallen in love with Echo, though the snacks she has been sneaking her has been helping that along. It is so cute watching the giant dog follow the tiny baby around the house and vice versa. She is a very well behaved dog. Emanuel even went with mom and Uncle Wayne and walked the dog HIMSELF most of the way!

The Gypsy

Supper was delicious with ham as the centerpiece… sadly after dinner we got some unpleasant news… my sister in law Holly is in the hospital for gall bladder surgery. Please keep her in your prayers and positive thoughts. This was very unexpected and has put their little family into quite an upheaval. We are currently trying to figure out a way to deal with my nephew Jimmie. He is in school for full days but someone needs to be there before and after. I am waiting to hear what her mother’s plans are for travel (she is in Texas) but if she can’t make it Echo and I may have to pack up and catch a ride to the city for a few days at least. 

The kids are slightly unimpressed with the knowledge that our time at Grandma’s is coming to an end. We have promised that once a van is purchased we will plan another visit but for the kids… well they LOVE their grandparents and this house has become a second home to them. I am glad, it reminds me of how I felt about my maternal grandparents’ home. It was comfortable and happy and… a good place to be! 

Hanging with the VERY popular Grandpa Mike