Spring Break, A Sleepover, and the Easter Bunny

Maliana ~

This past week was your spring break from school and although you started it with the tail end of a nasty fever again on Monday morning, by afternoon it was gone and you were feeling considerably better. We decided to take advantage of the gorgeous sunshine and take your scooter to the playground and then get some Coldstone on the way home.

"No questions, Mom. Just observe."

That evening we busted out some sidewalk chalk you got for your birthday and colored together until sunset.

While it is beautiful outside, it is also thunderstorm season in Ohio and that night we were expecting our first batch of storms. You asked, "Mom, if I don't wake up with all this thunder tonight...will you give me a shiny nickel?" #expectations #keepemlow

With Easter right around the corner, we also colored eggs this week. 

coloring Easter eggs...shirts optional

your eggs...smiley face included

Goddard was closed on Friday which gave me the perfect excuse to play hookey from work and take you and Sam to the zoo and then keep Sam for a munchkin sleepover. It was so much fun. Immediately after speech (on Friday), we picked up Sam and headed to Five Below (for toys, of course!), then Polaris, and finally made it to the zoo by mid-afternoon. It was a jam-packed day but lots and lots of fun to have Sammy along on our adventure!

Here were some of the highlights (as shared on Facebook):

~ Driving M and my niece to the zoo and from the back seat I hear grunting, giggling, and then one of them say, "Uh oh. That might be poop."

At the mall = 1 hour
On the escalator = at least 12 times
(sure felt like it anyway!)

Me: "Ok, as long as we're stopped at the gas station filling up, you can unbuckle and be as weird as you want."
Munchkins: "So we can twerk you?"

not about to let a little rain stop us from enjoying the zoo...although
you were humiliated by having to wear a poncho #7goingon13

you got to see this but had no interest in joining Sam in
communing with the bear...you were SO tired

eventually you fell asleep in my arms.
on the way home you told me that you love to do
this because "it's the best snuggle"
(I love it when you do it too!)

however while you slept, you missed this craziness

back in the stroller but still zonked...

even sleeping through Sam communing with penguins now!

By the time we got home, you were wide awake and ready for round two of the playtime shenanigans!

Came out of the bedroom and told me you were going
on an adventure. There's a lot of "Hey Dude."
and "What Bro?" being said.

You both woke up to Easter Bunny pancakes on Saturday morning (nothing less for a sleepover at our house)...

And then we headed off on an over an hour and a half road trip (one way) to Springboro for a helicopter Easter egg drop. It was a long drive but you were both so entertaining and did great...plus the egg drop was pretty cool!

over 10,000 people at the egg drop ~ craziness!

57,000 eggs on the field and 3,000 more to be dropped.
You decided to just hang out and chill with me...it
was a little too overwhelming with all
of these people.

luckily I had some chocolate in my purse so
you didn't completely miss out on the treats!

there were 2 helicopters that took turns landing (pictured above)
and getting loaded up and then would circle the football
field to drop the eggs for the crowd

it's hard to see the eggs but they are all falling
out of the chopper in this picture

watching with Daddy
(the helicopters made at least
6 trips, maybe more!)

Sammy made a good haul and was
sweet enough to share some of
her loot with you

both of you were so zonked out
on the way home...

Then, we got to Uncle Kevin and Aunt Beth's and you were able to play with all of your cousins for a bit...it was nice to see them again!

adventurers!

When we arrived home, it was time to get ready for the Easter Bunny's arrival that night. You decided you wanted to leave him a note and some carrots and set about to write him a very special request.

"Hello Easter Bunny. How are you doing?
Can you get something for Mom and Dad for Easter?"
(the rest is a picture of our house and the moon at the
top and then you leaving carrots on the stairs
while saying, "Sh Sh") ~ so cute!

the special Easter Bunny carrots and your note,
right by the back door that leads out to
our woods...

You woke me up early on Easter morning and as I rolled over I was met with a big smile inches from my own face and you whispering, "It's Easter!"  

You really enjoyed finding all of your Easter eggs and the basket that the E.B. had left for you. In fact, he had even honored your request and left something for Mom and Dad too...

reading the note from the E.B. which was
right next to 2 six packs of beer ~ one for Mom
(Grapefruit Shandy) and one for Dad
(Yuengling) Hmmm...how does that E.B. know
just what we all like? must be magic!

the E.B.'s note

happy with your basket

checking out your loot

We took a walk/bike ride later as the sunshine was beautiful that morning! As we headed down the trail I noticed that my favorite bluebells were starting to sprout. You commented, "I have a favorite plant too." When I asked what it was, you replied, "Radishes!" Ha ha!

you brought Silkie along and I noticed that while you
are very proud of mastering this new trick of riding
one-handed...you use your free hand to soothe
yourself with Silkie. so sweet...you are the
perfect combination of big and little
kid all rolled into one!

After our walk/bike ride, we got ready and headed over to Aunt Connie and Uncle Pat's for our annual Easter gathering. It's always a nice tradition and Aunt Connie outdoes herself with the delicious food and Easter egg hunt for you kiddos. So nice.

with the cousins at Easter 2015

Daddy, Memaw and Uncle Kevin

Uncle Kevin tipping you off on one of the eggs

the best we could get on a family picture
(unfortunately we completely forgot to get
a picture of the entire family ~ Memaw
and I were devastated, the rest of the
family not so much, ha.)

cousins going through your Easter loot

cousins being silly together

And here is a very fun surprise that we had for Papaw...he is such a good sport!
Click HERE for CONFETTI EGG SURPRISE!!

aftermath of the confetti eggs

Once again, it was a lovely Easter and although we didn't go anyplace crazy for your spring break...the quality time that we managed to squeeze in when we could was a bundle of fun.

Love you, Munchkin!
Mama