Easter #2

Some people don't enjoy celebrating holidays two days in a row.  I, on the other hand, love it -- especially because I rarely have to do any of the preparations.  This year we provided the "place" for the Cipra Easter gathering, but Grandma Cipra still did all prep and cooking.  I know, I'm spoiled.

Here's a variety of group shots, because it is impossible to get a good shot of all 4 kids at once.

The best of Lauren & Reese...

The best of Jack...

 

Emmy didn't smile in any of the group pictures, but I thought Reese's expression was funny here...

And then it was time for another egg hunt.

Grandpa gave Reese the clue to look in the pool table.  She scored lots of eggs there.

After 38 years of giving the rest of us baskets, Grandma and Grandpa finally received Easter baskets of their own!  Reese was happy for them.

Then it was time to open the eggs and enjoy what they found inside.

Just like yesterday, Emmy found egg hunting to be exhausting.

And just like yesterday, we ate chicks.  This time in the form of cupcakes.

Easter #1

Happy Easter from the lake!  With so much snow on the ground, the egg hunt was moved inside this year.

 

All that egg hunting makes a girl tired!  Grandma's lap is the perfect place for an afternoon snooze.

 

I made this adorable (and tasty) chick cheese ball.  Click here for a link to the recipe.

 

 

Camp Smile

Reese had a very successful visit to the dentist today.  This was a completely different experience than the last time when I had to hold her down kicking, screaming, and crying just so they could take a look inside her mouth.  Not sure if it was so different because we switched dentists or because she is a year old - probably both.

We LOVED Camp Smile, and highly recommend to anyone looking for a pediatric dentist. 

Reese and Emmy enjoyed playing in the school bus in the lobby.

The dental hygenist did a great job explaining everything to Reese and making it fun - thank you Medley!  She got to go for a ride up and down in the chair, feel the spinning toothbrush, squirt the water across the room, and kiss the mouth vacuum -- all before the exam began.

Then Reese sat in the chair by herself (while holding my hand and holding Lovey in the other hand), put on her sunglasses, had her teeth counted (10 on the bottom and 10 on top - just right), chose birthday cake flavored toothpaste, and had her teeth cleaned thoroughly.

Next the dentist came in and checked out her teeth while looking for princesses inside her mouth!  Reese thought it was hilarious that the dentist found Ariel and Flounder inside.  I'm pretty sure she knew this was pretend, but she kept asking me to look inside her mouth all day to see if Ariel and Flounder were still there -- and see if Prince Eric and Sebastian joined them. 

Reese wasn't a fan of the flouride, even though the dentist tried to make it fun saying she was painting a picture of Libby (our cat) on her teeth.  Reese jumped out of the chair at that point, had a few tears in her eyes, and was done.  Luckily that was the last thing to do.  As we left Reese told me, "See Mommy, I told you they would try to put that yucky white stuff on my teeth again," (she clearly remembered the flouride from a year ago).

Her teeth look great.  One of her bottom teeth sticks out a bit from her normal bite, but they are just going to keep an eye on it.  It will probably just correct itself.

The only negatives of the appointment had to do with Emmy who was wondering around the office while I tended to Reese.  Poor Emmy pinched her fingers in a drawer and bonked her head before the receptionist came to entertain her.

Great job, Reese!  I am SO proud of you! 

Two Babies

We had fun visiting the Kopacz family tonight, including their newborn twins!  That is one busy and adorable family!

Kristi with Henry (just turned 2) and Charlie.

Sweet Sofia already holds her own with 3 brothers.

 

I think Luca (4) and Reese appreciated a little time without their younger siblings.  They got along really well.

And Emmy as just a little jealous when I would hold the babies.  She seemed pretty amazed that there were two, and kept saying "Baby, Baby!"

 

Jumpin' Jack

Happy 9th birthday, Jack!  We had so much fun jumping around at your SkyZone party!

 

Yes, that is me (Mommy) in the blue.  I was pretty proud of my jumping skills, and Reese thought I was cool.

Emmy loved it too and cried when it was time to stop jumping.

All that jumping makes you hungry!  It's time for pizza and cake!

Boys vs. Girls

This rarely happens... we hung out with boys today..  We had fun playing with Henry and Will during the day.

 

Then at night we resumed our normal routine of hanging out with girls.  We had our neighborhood friends over for a movie night (while the parents played games and watched the NCAA tournament).

 

St. Patty's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here's a craft I found on Pinterest, and Reese (and the other kids) did at MOPS last Friday.   Cute, cute, cute!

Disney on Ice

I forgot to post this awhile ago... Reese and I had a great time at Disney on Ice.  It was a wonderful day out with my big girl while Daddy and Emmy stayed home.

A princess waiting for the show to start.

 

Highlights included Tinker Bell and Ariel (but she was a little scared of Ursula).

 

We attempted some self portraits during the show.  First, great expressions, but no flash.

 

Turned on the flash, but it is so bright!

 

EGGstravaganza

We had a fun evening with Bryan, Ashly, and Elsa. 

Reese entertained Elsa by standing on her head.

The babies flew with their daddies.

Then we decorated Easter eggs. We made traditional eggs and tried some new techniques (1) dyed with jello (2) tie-dyed with shaving cream and food coloring -- tip: wear disposible gloves, my fingers are an interesting color today (3) glitter using glue and glue dots.

The end result - pretty!