Pre-Easter post

We've never really done an egg hunt with the children because it drove me nuts that people would cheapen the most sacred of holidays with a bunny and eggs.

But this year, I figured we should have a little fun, just not on the same day as Easter.

So, on Thursday last week, Andy and I hid a bunch of candy-filled eggs around the backyard.

It was fun hiding them in obvious and really hard places too.

It was really difficult to find candy without food dyes in them.

The kids had a lot of whoppers and chocolate bunnies.

So, the children had no idea WHY I was making them get shoes and coats on.

We've had some contentious days recently, and so they were not happy not knowing what was going on.

Lilly had just fallen down a few stairs (steep and wooden) because Maggie had left dirty clothes on the steps. sigh...

It was getting dark and chilly during the hunt.

They enjoyed the eggs, after such a grumpy start.

Lilly made cookies that evening, for school the next day.

Anthony's been climbing on the chairs and benches, trying to get at more stuff on the table.

Here, he's holding the pancake flipper to reach for cookies.

Climbing in the photo album cupboard. :)

Friday was Earth Day!

And, Daniel's 16th birthday!!

He chose money over a birthday party.

That night, our ward (church congregation) had an activity though, so we saw many others, and we ALL sang to him.

The least girly chocolate cake Costco had.

Anthony was rocking out with Maggie's headphones.

I have more pictures from this week, and especially from today, but the hotel connection is soooo slow. I'll try to post them tomorrow at the hospital, while Anthony's in surgery.

He will need his port replaced. It should be a day surgery, but he has a lot of potential complicating variables (Down syndrome, heart condition, etc.).

Anthony update

We're in Seattle for a "simple" chemo procedure today. Anthony's port is not cooperating, and will need to be relined or replaced. So, I'll update the blog later today, with this past week's pictures, and some cute ones of Anthony and the x-ray daddy.

Climbing

Lilly's pajama pants I made last week.

Anthony remembers what to do when he sees a crayon, pencil, or pen.

If we're lucky, he'll have a paper nearby.

If we're not...the floor or the furniture or the walls suffice for him.

Last week, our church family came over to clean up our garden.

Before they got here, Anthony and Josh were playing with a tennis racket.

Anthony dancing in his new outfit.

Maggie and Lilly went to a girls' activity at the church.

They showed some of the projects they've created this year.

Each painted their mirror frame, then the vinyl was from Alphabet Garden Designs.

Back to the garden...

This is before.

We had so many people here!

There were at least 20 HUGE Costco lawn bags filled with leaves, mainly from our big sycamore tree.

Everyone who helped, suggested we cut down that tree.

Monday evening for Family Home Evening, we had a lesson on Love At Home.

One of the activities was looking at photo albums.

The children always love doing that. :)

Then, they played scum.

Josh's shirt had a small hole in the back.

He didn't want to forget to throw it away, so he ripped it bigger.

Pretty soon, the whole thing was undone, up to his armpits.

Maggie's wrapped in the shirt string.

Andy and I have been making more breakfasts this week.

He made me this omelet this week.

Anthony has been CLIMBING like mad!

The other day, I looked up and he had climbed up into this chair and was eating a graham cracker!

I didn't know to be more surprised that he climbed and sat down, that he reached the table decently like that, or that he actually was chewing on a cracker (working on texture issues)!

The gorgeous view from Kelly's track, although my camera and skills don't do the view justice.

Anthony climbing up to the tv.

He was relaxing with one elbow up, resting on that pillow.

Josh puts the pillow there to protect the wii from Anthony's clutches.

Yeah, we're working on changing furniture around so he maybe won't be climbing as much.

Kelly before her choir concert the other night.

That night, I had 5 different places to be.

Of course, Andy was working.

Actually standing up on the cubes.

Auntie Jenny sent a fun package full of coloring kits and lots of clothes for Anthony.

Anthony is OBSSESSED with Toy Story 3.

One of the outfits from Jenny had Woody on it.

Anthony sat for about 10 minutes in awe, studying Woody.

Anthony has been walking more, and can stand up on demand now! He's developing in leaps and bounds!

Crafty

During Spring Break, the children wanted to sew a few projects.

Josh made a couple pillows.

His favorite color is green.

Kelly helped with Scarlet's CandyLand party.

Kelly was the Lollipop queen or whatever Lolly is.

She made the white skirt, but got a tear right in the front when she took one of the lollies off. :(

Anthony was having fun pushing the chair around, and walking with it.

Lilly made some sleeping bags for her pillow pets.

Maggie made an artistic pillow.

Blue with stars, then she appliqued a moon, a house, and something else on it.

My beautiful daffodils.

On Sunday, I found Maggie and Lilly in the hallway creating an Easter poster.

They "hid" eggs on it, that have to be found by the viewer.

Andy and Kelly had a father/daughter activity.

They got to paint each other's nails.

Josh was having fun with Anthony before school one morning.

Daniel was watching Toy Story 3 with Anthony.

Lilly is always good to help with feeding Anthony if I am so busy to need help.

This time, she wore an apron over her 80s outfit (it was for the next day at school).

Maggie wanted a RED dress.

Actually, she wanted a dress made with the sheer fabric that is the skirt overlay.

But, she wanted it ALL RED.

So, that's what we did.

Lilly's next, and she wants blue and teal.

Josh wanted me to show everyone his double jointedness.