Lotsa Blossoms

Before our spring break trip we enjoyed some lovely visits to the popular local blossoms.

First we saw the cherry blossoms (with our friends, Sharon and Meg, and about a million other people).  When Lainey first glimpsed the trees she exclaimed, "Look!  Popcorn trees!"

While we were at the Tidal Basin we stopped by the FDR memorial.  The kids loved the waterfall.

 

They also loved dancing on the benches.

About a week after seeing the cherry blossoms the girls and I saw the bluebells at Bull Run Park.  The hike/walk was only about a mile/mile and a half and it was quite pleasant.  The flowers were pretty, the girls were well behaved (though they didn't care to have their pictures taken), and we didn't run into very many other people.

 

EASTER

Our Easter celebrations were spread out this year, in part because the girls and I were visiting my parents during the holiday.

Alaina and Ellie enjoyed an annual egg hunt at the Black's house (thanks again, Sarah).  It was fabulous.

 

It was Ellie's first egg hunt.  She put a couple eggs in her basket.  Then, seeing that an egg had opened, spilling it's candy into her basket, she was done.  Elle threw her few eggs on the ground and focused on her few jelly beans. 

At my parent's house we did a little egg hunt after church, but we didn't do baskets (some tears were shed when Liz realized this).  Those were waiting for the girls when they returned.  The little girls opened theirs while Liz was at school.  Lizzie quickly opened hers before she had to race off for play practice.

I think the harmonicas were the favorite toy.  The girls each also got a couple swimsuits, a long-sleeved rash guard, and some playdough.  The little girls got boats while Liz got the bananagram game and a jump rope.  Lizzie was especially excited about her bikini and I'm feeling a little guilty about it.

 

Our final egg hunt (a neighborhood one) took place last Saturday in between Lizzie's play performances (it was a pretty busy day).  Lainey, by the way, is dressed fancy because she had attended a Fancy Nancy birthday party earlier in the morning.  And, Lizzie is still wearing her makeup from the play.

Not-so-good group shot of the egg hunters:

We wanted a silly shot, but only the littlest kids accommodated us.  It was pretty funny to see Gabrielle copy her big sister.

 

I  haven't been blogging lately because of the stack of books on CD and Classics of American Literature DVDs (a series of lectures from a Brown University professor) next to my computer.  I love 'em all!  Every time I sit down at the computer to blog (or check email or google something) I can't resist listening to one of them instead (and that's not to mention the books that also distracted me).  This past month has been a total book worm nerd fest.  I read/listened to eight seven or so books and plowed through 14 DVD's of lectures.  Needless to say, I've let some things slide so I could indulge in literature.  Ahhh, books.  Still, we've had a fun, eventful month even if I haven't recorded any of it till now.  First off, my adorable little sister, Julie, had a baby girl!  It's her third baby, first girl and little Hazel made a big debut weighing in at 10 pounds, 10 ounces!  It just makes my heart ache that I probably won't meet her till next summer at the family reunion when she'll be over a year old (same thing has happened with many of my recent nieces and nephews).

In other news, Lizzie has started up her spring soccer.  It's her third season with this team and she seems to be enjoying it.  No pictures of her though, because I'm busy watching the little kids at the nearby playground during her bi-weekly practices.  She's been pretty busy lately with play practice (also bi-weekly), pottery (this gobbles up my time too), piano, and Girl Scouts.  I'm so glad we are almost done delivering those darn cookies.  I'm also glad Liz is so patient with her sisters during piano practice because when she's playing they hover nearby, dancing, singing, or trying to play along with her.

I tried to toilet train Alaina.  It went so poorly that I haven't tried again since (but we did get lots of Lego time).  Now I'm thinking I'll just wait a bit and train Alaina and Ellie at the same time.  Pray for me.

 We've enjoyed some excursions and some friend time and I'm finally doing some playdates for little Ellie with kids her age.  Poor third child .  .  . 

We survived another dental check-up and Alaina absolutely amazed me with her compliance.  Having Laines go first seemed to make all the difference.

We attended (and immensely enjoyed) our friend Celia's go-kart birthday party.  I haven't been on these things since I was a teenager so it was pretty exciting (and a little bit nostalgic of my early dating years).

 

Alaina finished up her dance class and started swim class.

We also experienced:  the lovely cherry blossoms, bluebells in bloom, a spring break trip to visit my parents, Easter, a visit from one of my brothers, and Lizzie's play practices and performance, but more on those later.  .  .  .  In the meantime check out this sweet sister time: