Hoppy Easter

It was a hippity hop good Easter here at the house! The Easter Bunny brought a bunch of cute little things for the kids and hid a few eggs around. Mostly it was great because family was around. Aunt Tara, Aunt Lainie and Uncle Bavan came to spend the day. It was gorgeous out and we spent most of the day outside. We even ate under the gazebo, which Spike had just put the cover on that morning! Here's hoping it doesn't blow down!!

Spike really outdid himself cooking this year. He prepared BBQ chicken and amazing turkey burgers. He also whipped together this fruit salad that was delish! Lainie worked on feeding the fish-eaters...she created a glazed salmon that was a hit. Lainie and Bavan brought an enormous apple pie with them and we all over-indulged. I didn't fare so well in the baking department. I attempted to make my mother's famous easter braided raisin bread for the very first time. Bread yeast and I do not get along. After two sad attempts, I had a half-raised loaf in the garbage. I will not give up though--I will try again!!

The Easter Bunny also learned a lesson yesterday. He is NOT allowed to bring kites for the kids anymore. They seem like such a good idea at the time and it was a nice breezy day, but oh the tangles, and oohh the fighting of the boys with the kites....and the no-fly frustrations...did I mention the fighting??? So kite-free spring from now on!!

Spike and Nori's Egg-Cellent Adventure

The second annual Gartner-Baca Egg Hunt was held yesterday on the most beautiful day of the season so far! Kids were in shorts and flip flops!! How egg-citing (prepare for superflous puns to follow). We invited some pretty egg-stra talented egg hunters. They scoured our lower field for tons of plastic eggs filled with candy (which sadly melted in the hot march sun, who-da thunk?) and toys and stickers.

Awww, the babies....Maddy's first egg hunt. Corinna's got one up on her!

After the hunt, our little bunnies bounced themselves silly in the bouncy house and climbing on the rope swings and swing set. Then we headed inside for some sweet temptations. The junior chefs artfully decorated some sugar cookies and indulged in some peep topped cupcakes.

Everybunny went home with a bunny lollipop cookie. Best news of the day: the children passed out at bed time! So much egg-venture for the bunch!

Easter Morning

The Easter Bunny hopped his way into town and left some cute little baskets this year for the boys with some Dr. Suess books, a Phineas and Ferb doll for each boy, and some other fun odds and ends. We had a super low-key easter sunday and it was just what we needed after running around so much the week prior.

Spike and the boys had been talking about planting a garden for ages. He had gotten some seeds and they had talked about planting them on Easter. Though it was bone-chillingly cold outside, we decided to stick with the plan and we brought the planters and dirt inside on the kitchen tile. A little messy, but a lot of fun. I can't wait to see the vegetables grow.

The Egg Hunt!

We had planned a friendly egg hunts for some friends and family the day before easter. Well, a batch of cold weather and germy germs kept most of the revelers away, but our small group still had a great time. The egg hunt was inside as was they egg dyeing. So we didn't end up needing the 90 eggs we bought (anyone want an omelet?) we still had a blast and not one drop of spilled egg dye!