Easter Recap

This year we hosted an Easter Egg hunt the day before Easter Sunday.  It was really fun!

All the kids ate on our low-maintenance floor.  They had a good time and didn't make a mess.  After this they all went down to the basement and played with our toys until I called them up for the hunt.

The adults got to actually sit on chairs (or by the fireplace).  Thanks to everyone, we had a whole bunch of delicious food.

Then, the egg hunt!  The kids who wanted to participate were a variety of ages, so we sent them out in three waves.  First it was the two-and-under crowd.

Ashley had a great time finding eggs.  These kids were slow and careful during their search.

After two minutes, we sent out the three-to-four-year-old crowd, who were chomping at the bit and ready to break through our screened-in porch to get at the goodies.  Everett was thrilled to find two huge blue eggs in addition to his regular stash.

The final, older group ran out into the yard after Everett and his posse were well underway in their search.  Except for one injury to a boy who tried to climb onto our roof, everything went smoothly.

In all, we had almost 200 eggs hidden in our little backyard, so each child ended up with enough to satisfy their sugar cravings.

William did not participate, and no, he was not torn up about it.  After all was said and done, he just loved playing with the empty plastic eggs.

I had fun chatting with some of the other moms while we watched the kids.

The kids gathered back inside to count their eggs.  They polished off all their candy while the adults sat back down and chatted.

It was a really fun day!  We decided not to do Easter Baskets on Sunday because the kids had gotten plenty of candy the day before.  We just had a relaxing day and talked about the story of the Resurrection.  I tried to find some sort of religious-themed craft for the kids to do but I didn't have much luck.

And, because I spent so much time preparing for the party and I am an awesome mom, I forgot to buy egg dye.  The plan was to dye eggs on Sunday together, but we just had to forget that as well.  Oh well!  I don't think the kids missed it, but I do know they would have had a lot of fun.  Hard-boiled eggs are a popular snack at our house.

Tidbits

On Monday I finally bought the kids some summer clothes.  I always have the most fun buying for Ashley because there are so many cute things out there.  I am excited for her to wear some of the little knit dresses.  We were very blessed:  in total, I probably bought 10-15 pieces of clothing for each child, plus church shoes, and I spent a little over 100 dollars.  Success!


I told Ashley that we would have a girls' day out, so I took her up to the Quad Cities with me to do our summer shopping.  She was thrilled.  Everett and William went to play at a friend's house (incidentally one with all boys), and Ashley giggled with excitement off and on during the 45-minute drive to our first store.  "It's just the girls, and the girls are only on this side of the car!" she exclaimed.  Later, she would announce another similarity. Ashley's one request was that we go to a restaurant for lunch.  That girl is just like her mother--we both love eating out.  So, we stopped at Panera on the way home and split a sandwich and a smoothie.  I don't know if she or I had more fun.  It was a wonderful morning.


Next on my list: cutting off the kids' old jeans so they can have some play shorts.  I always think their jeans will last until the next child needs them, but no such luck.  We have about a six-to-eight month time limit before holes start magically appearing in the knees.  I've even tried patching them from the inside when I notice the knees are wearing thin, but I must not do it right because after a few washings the patch gets wrinkly and the pants look odd.  Surprisingly, Walmart and Gap jeans seem to have the same lifespan.


Has anyone read about the tornadoes down south?  Scary times.  We live in Iowa and haven't had a tornado scare yet.  Everett and I watched some tornado footage this morning.  I explained the devastating damage.  We talked about tornado safety.  I explained to him that even if we lost our house like many of those people did, we would still have a wonderful life because we have each other and Heavenly Father.  Everett accepted this without question and without any fear.  I love the simple, unguarded faith of small children.  I hope that my children don't think the world is a safe place because nothing bad happens--I want them to understand how to be happy even if something bad happens, and that their family and their faith are the most important things they have.  (I hope the way we discuss the facts of these events promotes acceptance but not fear.)  It is a lot to manage and we work on it in small steps, but explaining all of this to them always increases my own faith.


Everett wrote (dictated to me) and colored another story yesterday.  I love getting a glimpse into his creative little mind.  His stories usually revolve around monsters or robots, and this was no exception.


My house is a complete disaster but the kids have been happy.  Does this mean I win or lose?

Thoughts From a Couple of Preschoolers

For whatever reason, Ashley is very proud of her long hair.  I have never discussed it with her.  I have never mentioned my long hair, let alone what length I prefer.  Somewhere during these last few months, Ashley got it stuck in her head that long hair is the best, and long hair is definitely for girls.

Two weeks ago as we were driving in the car, Ashley piped up from the back seat.  "We need a girl baby!" she announced.
"Why do you want a girl baby in this family?" I asked.  Ashley had captured my full attention with those five words, and I had to find out her reasoning.
"Because then my sister will have long hair just like me!"
I explained to Ashley that it takes babies a long time to grow long hair.
"Some babies aren't even born with any hair at all!"  I said.
With that, Everett and Ashley cracked up.  A bald baby was a fantastic joke.  However, I happen to think baldness gives babies a very special level of cuteness.


"Mommy, you are my best friend," Ashley informed me sweetly as she snuggled up with me yesterday.
"Why am I your best friend?" I asked.
"Because you have long hair just like me!"  Ashley's grin accentuated her dimple.
"What if I cut my hair short?  Then would I still be your best friend?"  I had to find out.
"No.  Uh-uh."
"Well, who would be your best friend?"
"Papa."

After I reminded Ashley that her Papa does in fact have very short hair, she looked a little worried.  With two brothers and a clean-cut father in this house, Ashley's long-haired friend prospects end with me.


Yesterday morning, the kids had some friends over to play.  First to arrive was a fun boy.  Ashley was thrilled to finally see a couple of girls coming up the walk.
"Look!" She exclaimed, jumping with excitement in front of our living room window, "There's some girl ones, just for me!!!"


I make it a habit to keep the radio off when I'm driving with the kids.  If there is no background noise, they are more likely to point out a landmark, ask me questions, or sing songs--and I'd hate to miss any of the silly things they say to each other.  Today I was extra glad for the silent radio.

While we were on our way home from preschool today, Everett sighed and asked, "Why is it still raining?"  Poor guy.  His favorite thing to do is play around outside (and break the rules by turning the hose on), and today was a dreary, windy, rainy, cold sort of day that chills you to your goosebumps and makes you hate those April Showers.
"Well, those clouds just have a lot of rain in them, I guess," I replied, un-helpfully.
"Why?" Everett predictably asked.
"Why don't you think about it and tell me how you think those clouds got so much rain in them?"
Everett mulled it over for a minute.
"I think," he announced, "the clouds get the water from a stream."
I was impressed.  We've never discussed the water cycle.
"How do they get it from the stream?"  I had to find out more about his conclusion.
"Well. . ." Everett paused.  "The clouds are kind of too high to reach the stream."  Then he perked up.  "I think on those days it is bright and sunny, and you don't see the clouds, they are gone looking for water!" Everett sat back in his seat, pleased with himself.

I laughed and congratulated him on his conclusion.  Conversations with my kids are much better when I ask them what they think instead of telling them what I know!

Horsing Around

When Joel gets home from work, the kids immediately perk up and run to him.  "TAG!!!!"  they'll shout, as they smack him somewhere on his legs and try to run away before he can reach them.  Joel usually catches them before they are out of arm's reach.  Sometimes out of frustration, Ashley will exclaim, "Stop tagging me!"

Well, tag isn't the only game they play.  

Exhibit A: Stick-pulling

Joel lets Everett think for a few seconds that he's going to beat his Papa, but Joel always pulls him up in the end.

One thing's for sure: Ashley has her fierce look down.

Exhibit B:  Arm Wrestling.

The competition is laughable, but it's fun to watch anyway.

(Once more, note the angry eyes)

Everett likes to think he has a chance.  Sometimes Joel encourages him by pretending to struggle.  Watching their facial expressions and bulging neck tendons is very entertaining.

I wonder where the kids learned to be so expressive with their faces?

Ah.  Ok.  Now it's becoming more clear.

Another game they've tried is the one where they take turns placing their hand up a stick.  The winner is the one whose hand covers the top.

But I think the kids' favorite game is. . .

DOG PILE ON PAPA!

Or, Stand on Papa!

Or, Run and Try to Knock Papa Over!

But Papa always has the last say.  What can the kids do?  He has every physical advantage.

Everett and Ashley not-so-secretly enjoy the process of being bested, especially when it means they are hanging upside down.

And I can't forget to mention the tickling.  A good session of horse play is not complete without tickling.

I think the tickling is my favorite part to watch.  

Enjoying the Outdoors

We've been having some fantastic weather.  The days are warm and sunny, and Everett has even had occasion to wear shorts.

William is not walking yet (praise the stars) and I thought we should rig something up to keep him occupied while my other children prance and jump and laugh and get into mischief.  Last week, we all trekked down to Menards and bought a toddler swing.

It was a good purchase.  William will sit in this swing for hours.  Yes, I am being literal.  Hours, whether he is actually swinging or not.

He is content to watch Everett and Ashley and suck his precious little thumb.

Of course,  he also knows how to smile at his Mama and make her happy.

Instead of smiling, these days Ashley is inclined to pull a face when the camera is pointed in her direction. P.S. You are looking at one of two short-sleeved shirts that still fits Ashley.  I have been afraid to get to the store, buy a wardrobe of summer clothes for the kids, and jinx us all back into a snowstorm.  But I think there is no avoiding it.

One of Everett's favorite activities is standing way out in the field behind our house while Joel throws balls or frisbees.  Everett runs to the thrown item, retrieves it, and brings it back.  He acts so much like an enthusiastic golden retriever I half expect to see a furry tail wagging from his little behind.

Ashley likes running after these things too, unless she feels they have been thrown too far.  Then she shrugs her shoulders and happily watches her more excitable brother go after them.

But she does find satisfaction in being the one to hand the prize to her father.

Sometimes all three of them wander out in the field on an adventure.

Everett likes to be king and take charge of whatever treasures the trio finds.

Another popular activity is soccer.  We place the grey bins you see on their sides as makeshift soccer goals, then Everett and Joel battle it out.  The game is slow and Joel understands that Everett needs to win (a slim margin is all Joel is willing to lose by), so the game-winning celebration is always performed by our triumphant four-year-old.

Other popular games, recorded for posterity:

Mr. Fox

Red Rover

Hide-n-seek

Freeze Tag

Turn on the hose and spray your sister.

You'll Probably Think I'm Crazy. . .

On Monday, March 21st, I left with the three kids and began a 20-hour drive to Utah.  The funniest part is, I wasn't planning on making such a big trip until a few hours before we left.  Joel had a crazy idea Sunday night--what if I were to drive out to Utah and surprise my Dad on his birthday?  I told Joel he was insane.  But Monday morning I woke up and thought, "I can do this."

So, I went to the gym, ran some errands, got packed up, and the kids and I left around dinner time.  I think it was probably the craziest, most spontaneous thing I've ever done.

The kids are great travelers.  We only stopped every three hours or so for potty breaks.  When Everett or Ashley had to go to the bathroom, I pulled off onto an abandoned road (when you're driving through Iowa, Nebraska, and Wyoming, abandoned roads are a dime a dozen).  No way was I taking a preschooler, a toddler, and a crawling baby into a gas station bathroom.  It sounds like the beginning to a bad joke.  Everett was thrilled with nature's rest stops.  He enjoyed peeing without the confines of a porcelain bowl and was amazed at his ability for great distance.

We did stop at one bona fide rest stop, which happened to have a dinosaur and a sand pit.  I had no problem letting the kids stretch their legs a little.

They certainly look like traveling children.  Disheveled, dirty, and a little trunky.

The stroller is the only way we could all go to the bathroom at once.  And we had to, for there was no other option.  William was happy to sit and wave at passers-by.

Since our town touches the Mississippi River, which touches Illinois, we really have to drive across three very long states to get to Utah.  Seeing as there are 50 states in the Union, it could definitely be worse.  We got to Utah after 20 hours of driving and no catastrophes, but I do have a couple of stories.

Story #1:  Rookie Mistake

While we were driving through Wyoming, I neglected to watch the gas gauge.  The orange you-idiot-you-forgot-to-refuel light went on just as we passed an exit.  I looked for a green sign and found one--the next exit was 15 miles away.  It could have been a lot worse, given the region we were driving through.  I wasn't worried about it since we were driving at a constant speed (but I killed the radio and air just in case), but after a few minutes I explained our situation to Everett and suggested that he say a prayer for us so he could learn from the situation.  He offered a sweet, sincere prayer specifically asking Heavenly Father to help us get to a gas station.  The very moment Everett ended his prayer, we crested a hill and saw a little town glistening beneath us.  I hope it was a testimony-building moment for him.

Story #2: Plans Are Made to be Broken

Laramie, Wyoming is a nice town.  The kids and I stopped and had dinner at Burger King, which isn't my ideal fast food restaurant but the small playground it offered outweighed my desire for a good meal.  After dinner, we saddled up and drove two exits to the edge of town, only to be greeted by flashing orange lights and signs notifying us that I-80 was closed.  After a lot of grumbling on my part, I called Joel and asked him if he could do some investigating for us.  The internet informed us that the roads were closed due to high winds. I grumbled some more and debated about waiting the conditions out or booking a room at Best Western.  I stewed for a while--longer than I should have--and finally pulled up at the lobby doors.  

The children were complaining loudly and behaving erratically.  My nerves couldn't take it so I yelled at them.  A moment later I heard a small voice come from the back seat.  "Mommy, be nice to us!"  Ashley sweetly requested.  I apologized and we went on to have a pretty good night.

PART II

After booking a room, I parked the car and loaded myself up with our overnight bag, my camera bag, the computer bag, my purse, and William, and beckoned Everett and Ashley to follow me.  Though it had been a pleasant day, the temperature had suddenly dropped to twenty degrees and a fifty-mile-an-hour, bitter wind chilled us right through our coats.

I struggled with the baby and the bags (which were banging and jerking themselves down from my shoulders) and called to the children to follow me, but my voice was carried away by the frigid, howling winds.  Suddenly a nice older gentleman ran out the front doors of the hotel.  

"I saw you from inside.  Can I please help you with something?"

I thanked him and handed him the biggest bag.  Literally having a weight removed from my shoulders gave me enough energy to corral the children into the hotel, up three levels in an elevator and to our comfortable room.  I thanked our new friend over and over and wished him a nice stay.

I packed up early the next morning so we could enjoy a continental breakfast before finishing our drive to Utah.  As the children were eating bagels at a table in the breakfast room, our nice gentleman friend walked by so I smiled and waved.  A few minutes later we finished up and walked to the lobby.  But before we could get out the doors I heard a voice behind me.

"May I please take a bag for you again?"  It was the same nice gentleman.  He must have been waiting for us to finish eating so he could help me out to the car.  He did, and Everett chatted with him about visiting grandparents.

I thanked him again, and we were, once again, on our way to Utah.

Story #3:  Ice and Wind

The night we checked into the Laramie Best Western, I heard two eastbound travellers describe the horrors of that night's I-80 road conditions.  "I couldn't see anything for 80 miles!" one woman exclaimed.  "The wind and snow were blowing so bad, we had to drive 20 miles per hour the whole time.  Thank goodness for the semi-trailer in front of us.  The only thing we could see was its tail lights."  She shuddered as she remembered the trip.

I was glad we decided to stay the night in Laramie.  I made sure we got on the road about an hour after sunrise so the ice could begin melting.  Even so, it was still slick.  If you've ever driven in Wyoming, you've experienced its gusting, fantastic winds.  Although the air was clear and there was no sign of snow, those nasty winds, coupled with the slick roads and the powerful, shuddering semi-trucks made for difficult driving conditions.

I thought Everett could benefit from another learning experience, so I explained the dangerous road conditions to him and asked him to say a prayer for safety.  I didn't think I needed to feel calm, but my soul was blanketed by peace the moment that sweet boy began uttering his simple, faith-filled words of prayer.

We made it safely and without incident.  Everett and I talked about that later and I hope he remembers that Heavenly Father does indeed answer prayers.

Well, you've just read all the notable things that happened to us on this trip.  I don't go into these kinds of adventures looking for wild and harrowing stories to tell, so thank goodness these tales are mild.

We were happy to arrive in Utah, especially Ashley.  When we saw the first snow-covered mountains (hills to this Utahn) in Wyoming,  Ashley exclaimed, "Look!  I see mountains, and I can see Grandma's house right there!"  The little dear remembered her grandparents live by mountains, but what she didn't realize is that we were still a few hours away.  

An hour after we got into town, my mother took the four of us to my Dad's office so we could surprise him at work on his birthday.  "Surprise!!!"  The kids yelled.  Their visit to his office was made even better when Grandpa shared his stash of suckers.

Later, Grandpa set up the trampoline, hammock, and hammock swing.  The kids would have lived outside if they could have.

The kids enjoy talking to people who take their wildest fantasies seriously.  

It doesn't hurt that my cool brother will play Spiderman with Everett.

William loved the hammock.

But the hammock swing was his favorite.  He relaxed peacefully with his legs and arms sticking out in all directions.  He looked like a little fly some spider captured and wrapped in a section of web.

Ashley loved the hammock swing, too.  "Even higher!  I want to touch the moon!"  She'd exclaim to whoever was pushing her.

I am so mad at myself for only taking pictures this one day.  We had a very enjoyable visit with Joel's family as well, and we loved celebrating Grandpa Johnson's birthday.  Even some of my sisters-in-law came over to visit, and the kids had a blast running around with their cousins.  I got to go shopping at Costco with my wonderful mother-in-law, and as always I enjoyed her company.  I wish we could have stayed longer but we were only in town for a week.

Oh, hold on, I have one last story to tell for the benefit of the Johnson Clan.

Story #4:  I Can Take Care of Myself

(You know what's coming, Wayne)

Saturday afternoon, the kids and I arrived at the Johnson house in Sandy, Utah.  After chatting with my father-in-law, who was the only one home, it was about lunch time so I went into the kitchen to fix something up.

"Do you want me to make you something?  Do you know how to feed yourself when Mary Susan is gone?  Joel can barely even make himself a sandwich anymore," I teased.  

I heard a voice from the living room grumble amiably, "Oh, I know how to take care of myself."

"Let's see.  We have some eggs, but no bread."  (Joel's mom was at the grocery store)  "I could make us some scrambled eggs," I suggested.

Joel's dad came sauntering into the kitchen.  "I know how to take care of myself," he grinned, "let's go to Wendy's."

We all had a tasty lunch.  As we were walking out of the restaurant, Joel's dad turned to me.  "See?" He said, pointing at the building behind us, "That's how I take care of myself."  

I'm glad he decided to show us first hand.  That lunch hit the spot!

Our trip home was easy.  My Dad, the kind soul that he is, drove us as far as Omaha where he jumped on a plane headed straight back to Salt Lake City.  It is only five hours from Omaha to our house, which went by quickly enough that the drive was pretty enjoyable.  It felt good to be home.  Joel got off work an hour early and saw us at 4:00, right before dinner.  I think he was glad to no longer live as a bachelor.  And we were all glad to see him!

Catch Up: William's Birthday

William turned one on March 20th.  We had a really low-key day.  After we went to Church in the morning, everyone got a nap.  While William was still sleeping, the kids and I blew up a bunch of balloons so he could crawl around our living room and be amazed.  Everett and Ashley giggled and plotted and loved the secrecy of it all.

 I didn't get very many smiles on camera, but William loved the balloons.

William has been really into balls lately because he is intrigued by the cause and effect of throwing things.  The balloons, while too big to throw, were perfect for crawling through.

Everett and Ashley were excited that this was a surprise they helped plan for William, but they loved playing in the balloons as well.

38 balloons.  That is how many I inflated.  I know the exact number because there was a dud in each bag.

Fun with balloons almost never ends.  When one game gets tiresome, someone can always think of one to take its place.

If you are one year old, you especially like the squeaky sounds your slobbery teeth make.  (No balloons were harmed in the producing of this image.)

Curiosity is magnified by 38 colorful balloons.  We had hours of fun.

And of course floor play isn't complete without a little roughhousing.

When it's your birthday, everyone allows you to be king of the mountain for slightly longer than usual.

And the birthday boy was thrilled.

After balloons, it was time for some simple presents and a candle-lit cupcake.  Imagine the pictures I neglected to take:

First present: A green sippy cup!

Second present: A trio of racquetballs!

Third present: A large bright green ball!

The racquetballs have been a big hit.  All the kids love them for their handy size and bouncing capabilities.

We made cupcakes without frosting, because I don't particularly like frosting and the kids were just happy to have something called cake.  A number one candle was lit and extinguished courtesy of dear Ashley, and everyone dug in.  William enjoyed his first taste of cake and the kids enjoyed that I let them eat two.  What a day!  I really admire the moms who go all out when their kids turn one, but it would feel a little like a wasted effort to me.  I am just selfish enough that I want the star of the day to appreciate what I've done.

Even though we didn't have a fancy party, the kids enjoyed the day and we all enjoyed our time together.