Maggie's Egg Hunt

It's only fair that it be Maggie's turn now.  Geez...I was looking back at a few recent posts that were very "Jackifilled"{clearly I made that word up}.  So here it is Mags, all for you...

Thursday was Easter Egg Hunt day at school for both kids.  But oddly, {and luckily}, I was only invited to one of them.  And when I say, "I" that really means all parents {I haven't been shunned}.  This actually worked out very nice for me.  I didn't have to choose who got graced with my presence, Maggie got me fair and square.

Seeing as how this is the first time I've been invited in her classroom for a holiday, I loved every minute of it.  Even the part with her climbing on top of me, laying across my lap, and wrapping her arms around my neck in a choke hold.  Yes, my Maggie loves me.  And yes, I do understand why parent visits are a rarity in the toddler room.

Eventually Maggie did take a break from trying to climb into the womb with the "new baby"{as she likes to call her}.  And when she did, Maggie made her way outside to a plethora of Easter Eggs.  Her first announcement was that she only wanted, "peenk".  That quickly changed.

Somehow Easter brings out the aggressive side in my little sweet demeanored gal.  Who knew?  I was not prepared for her go get 'em attitude.  That girl was on a mission and color didn't matter.  When it was all over Maggie had the most {by a lot} eggs in her basket....I told you she meant business.  I suggested she give some to the other children and she made it clear she did not like that idea.  And because I think Maggie plays teacher's pet often, Ms. Meredith gave Maggie a loving squeeze and said, "oh, she can have as many as she wants".  Being sweet has it's perks,  I suppose.  That is sweet with a hint of spice.

This was basically the only part of the indoor party where my sweet honey bunny wasn't attached to me.   And that was only because she had sweet treats on her plate.  Oh the joy of going to school and getting an icing covered cookie...it makes it all worth it in her book {and makes me cringe}.

This was the start of the hunt and also where Maggie realized she had some competition.

Eggs were everywhere...on the slides, in the outdoor toys, along the fence.

I think the only way I got her to stop long enough for a picture was to show her that there were still eggs behind me.  I'm pretty sure she is smiling about the fact there were more eggs and not me.

There's my girl counting her loot.  That is her new favorite skill to practice.  It is precious to listen to.  She's up to 14!

When I caught her breaking into her eggs, Ms. Meredith sweetly said, "oh, I told her she could".  There's that sweet with a hint of spice again.  That sneaky girl knew better than to ask me, especially after that blue dye number 40 something cookie.

Post class Easter Egg hunt pictures.  Jack told me all about his since I wasn't there.  It sounded like so much fun, I don't even think he missed me.  {and please excuse his egg hunt attire, I had his Easter shirt made long sleeve this year, no idea it would be this warm in March.  I know I could have done better than a shark though...oops!, he didn't seem to mind, we named him our Easter Shark} 

Mystery Reader ???

Get ready for something so super cute...Daddy was Jack's Mystery Reader at school on Thursday.  And as cute as I think Daddy is, it was Jack who won the "so super cute" award.

This is how it went down in classroom D11...

While Clay and I walked in the classroom, Mrs.Mary had all the kids hold there heads down and keep their eyes clsoed super tight. No peeking.  I soon found out that Jack was completely clueless.

The mystery has been solved...Jack's Daddy is the Mystery Reader!
The moment Jack opened his eyes was priceless.  He almost look disoriented, completely confused, shocked, and elated all at the same time.  He made a beeline right for his Daddy and climbed straight into his arms.  Still not uttering a word.  It was the sincerest form of a happy surprise.  Melt my heart.

It  didn't take Jack long to settle right in and become the star of the show right by his Daddy's side.  His first book of choice, Toy Story, naturally.

And how sweet was Jack to let his friend's pick Curious George's Easter out of the bag?  At least four more books followed.  Jack was a proud boy.  {I sure do love being on the other side of the classroom.}

And no mystery is complete without a picture of my two favorite four year olds and the Mystery Reader himself.

Outside

I know you've heard it a bazillion times lately, but I can't help but ask it again, did we seriously go straight from winter to summer?  What happened to spring?  I am sensing a very hot next couple of prego months.  I'm certainly not complaining, because if you know me, you know I don't love cold weather.  So bring on the sunshine...along with  my swollen legs and my beautiful veiny decor that covers them.  {in case you haven't gathered it, I'm not exactly a big fan of being pregnant...big being the pun}

Okay, so back to the real reason I am writing this post.  Our little family enjoyed an amazing weekend outside.  It was so beautiful that you almost felt guilty just walking inside the house to eat {so we didn't, lots of picnics and outdoor restaurants instead}.  Fabulous I tell you.

When we weren't eating outside, we were playing outside.  We kicked off T-Ball season.  And if it hadn't been for Maggie's portrayal of a cling on, I would say that was fabulous too.  You see if Mommy even stood up to cheer for Jack or even worse walked to the fence to take a picture of Jack my mini me/cling on melted.  When I completed my task and asked her what was wrong, she would whimper, " I just want you Mommy".  Oh, so sweet...and bitter {very} at the same time.

But, all the Maggie love aside,  I really enjoyed watching Jack play.  He's pretty bummed this season about not having a classmate or friend on his team {how could that have happened after 4 years at the same school, nuts?!?!}, but he is way happy about the blue jersey and the thunder bolt on it.  He said it looks like a super hero.  I was shocked that he liked it better the Sand Gnat that adorned his jersey in the Fall.  Go figure.

Thunderbolts must be the trick because Jack put all his effort into his first game {effort is what we are really pushing around here} and he did great. He even earned a bag of Skittles post game.  That must have been some serious effort because we don't give Skittles away too readily around here {especially a whole bag}.  He's already looking forward to his next T Ball game concession stand visit.

The rest of the weekend was left playing "Daddy draw every super hero you can think of with sidewalk chalk on the driveway" and "construction".  In case you are wondering what "construction" is, it's where  Jack climbs and plays on all of the debris and equipment left in our driveway.  And then the neighbor kids join him to up the anti.  I'm pretty sure it's safe, your thoughts?

{and although these pictures may look like they are from the same day as my last post by way of Jack's outfit, they are not.  no, Jack has deemed his "soldier shorts and his Batman tee" as his new uniform.  and no matter how many times it goes in his dirty clothes basket it always comes out before it has been washed.}

Maggie, however, did not play "construction" with the boys.  Instead she took lots of {very slow} walks with her baby doll stroller and I joined her.  And she stopped to smell every flower and 'every' is not an exaggeration.  Each time she saw a pink or purple one she announced it as if it was the first one she had seen. "Look Mommy, a poooople flower!".  And as any good Mommy would do, I shared her excitement all 72 times.   Maggie really is a lovely child.  And although I joke, she truly is my little angel.  There is just something about My Maggie.

I hope you and your family spent lots of time outside on this beautiful weekend too.  And if you didn't, you should have. Here is to another weekend full of sunshine....construction debris and pink flowers.

Construction Update

We have made some progress since my last update.  And according to our contractor we should be finished in about 6-8 weeks.  I am finding that very hard to believe.  Seems a bit ambitious to me.  I would be pleasantly surprised if it panned out that way.  But, I find myself more of a realist, and I don't see it happening.

But, what I do see happening is progress {when they work}.  Which has forced me to begin thinking about kids and bedrooms.  All in the hopes that I will be moving out of mine before this baby arrives.  So far I've got Maggie's pretty visually planned.  And I've picked up a few items here and there.  A fabulous pink dresser {call me brave please, not nuts}, her bedding, and fabric swatches for her drapery.  

Jack needed more window treatments because he is going from two windows to four.  So I've got his roman shades being made and picked up some more panels for him.  I've got his new "rainbow" shower curtain per his request.  He wanted a rainbow shower curtain with "all the colors except for pink and purple".  What was a Mom to do?  His new big bedroom with his own bathroom was the only trick I had to lessen the blow of another sister.  So I translated "rainbow" for madras.  And I have to say it is super cute.  Can't wait to get going on that space.

And as for new baby girl, well there isn't much I can do until Maggie gives up her bedding and baby gets a name. {which is a whole other dilemma in itself}  I'm pretty sure I will be warranting your help on that in a few.

So for right now, all of our new indoor items are honed away in a closet, just waiting to come out and decorate kiddo rooms.  Picking out shingles and stones have got me thinking that will be the fun part of this housing adventure.  Not much to show you there, but here is the latest on the outside...

Who would have thought stone was so difficult to pick out?  Well, I did it {and it was painful} and it's done. " Done" meaning giving the chimney a face lift.  We are even getting a bit on our house.  Told you our little white cottage wasn't going to be white anymore {or wood for that matter}.

The gables are getting a face lift too.  I always thought they needed a little plumping up.  And apparently so did the architect.  And I must note that both kids napped right through this process.  That last gable being Jack's room.  He literally had pictures off the wall when I went in to get him from his nap.  He snoozed right through it.  Amazing...and a maybe little scary, huh?  Just shows you how much energy he  uses when he is awake.  Anyone feel sorry for me? {totally kidding}

And here is a view of our master addition and loggia {which I think is just a fancy word the architect uses for sunroom}.  On the inside they are working on plumbing and electrical.  Maybe one day we will get sheetrock...

So to say the least, I am exhausted, over decision making, and living in a work in progress {while nauseated}.  This is where I remind myself of my new motto..."three's a charm", oops not that one, my other new motto..."this too shall pass".  And when it does we are going to have a glorious new space with a glorious new little life in it.  

One day we will look back on this and think she was worth every nail.  And she might even have a name we can use in that thought.