Happy Easter

Easter with a 15 month old proved to be significantly different than Easter with a 4 month old.  We tried our hand at some Easter Egg hunts.  Which didn't go well.  We knew better than to attend a formal church service so we opted for the outdoor service that only lasted for 30 minutes.  We also knew that there would be zero pictures of John Henry posing for a sweet Easter shot.  Long past are the days where he sits long enough for a posed shot.  So knowing that life is different, we did the best with what we had.

The Easter festivities started off with an Easter Egg hunt and class party at his daycare.  It started okay but quickly went downhill once John Henry realized there were other parents on the playground.  You could say we are going to through an attachment phase...

He just realized that there were other parents that were too close to him.

The picture above shows how he feels about the other parents.

So in the end I had to hold him for the entire Easter Egg hunt and class party (which is why there are no pictures of the actual party). 

The next morning we decided to try our hand at a second Easter Egg hunt at Mt. Bethel.  This one was even less successful.  I don't really blame John Henry for not liking it.  It was crowded and clearly he doesn't like strangers.  We should have skipped this part but I wanted him to at least try to do it.  I think we picked up one egg before we called it quits.

There was also a 6'4" Easter bunny there and John Henry liked him.  As long as we were 15 feet away and he had a firm grip around my neck.

Thankfully the church had a petting zoo in addition to the scary Egg Hunt and ridiculously tall Easter bunny.  It was by far John Henry's favorite part of the morning.  John Henry thought the goats were dogs.  He had no problem trying to pet and hug them.  He also tried to eat their food.  He didn't particularly like the food but it didn't stop him from chewing and swallowing some of it.

So excited to pet the goat.

Yes John Henry.  That furry white thing really is a bunny.

Petting the llama

This was his favorite goat.

Our Easter Family picture.  A little more casual than last year's picture but we'll take it.  Thanks Kriya!

After Mt. Bethel Grandma Yeary came over to our house to have lunch and give us our Easter baskets. 

Thanks for the gifts and candy Grandma!

The next morning we attended the sunrise service.  It was early and John Henry went in his pj's.  I have a feeling that this will be our service for the next three to four years.  When we got home Jay made us pancakes and John Henry got to open his gift from the Easter Bunny.

If you can't tell, he got golf clubs.  He was actually really excited and couldn't wait for Jay to open the box and put everything together. 

Hurry Dad!  Open it!

Helping put it together.

Taking his golf bag for a spin.  Surprisingly he really loves his clubs.  He knows to hit the ball and so far he hasn't broken anything. 

Later that afternoon we tried our hand at our third Easter Egg hunt.  I was more optimistic since it was just for Holland and John Henry and it was at Aunt Sherridan's new house. 

Once we were there I had high expectations.  John Henry was interested in holding his Easter basket and couldn't wait to get outside.  Once Max and Henry finished hiding the eggs we turned John Henry and Holland loose in the back yard.  It went down hill from there.  Holland knew exactly what to do and John Henry could have cared less.  He just wanted to run in the grass.  Henry did his best to help him but John Henry had no interest at all. 

John Henry just wanted to roll in the grass.

At least Holland enjoyed it.  Here she is counting her eggs.

After the Easter Egg hunt we headed over to Jay's parent's house for Easter dinner.  It was delicious and the perfect way to end the holiday weekend.  Happy Easter to our family and friends.  We missed everyone that wasn't here to celebrate with us. 

Cape San Blas

This was our first year visiting Cape San Blas, Florida.  The weather was perfect, the water was clear, and the company was fantastic.  We spent the last week of March with the Calvert's and Ramsey's enjoying spring break.  We had been trying to plan a trip for a long time and we finally found a time and place that worked for everyone.  We rented the last house on the cape and it was beautiful.  It had plenty of room for all of us and was very kid friendly.  We loved the back porch since it was screened in and provided another play area for the 5 crazy kids.  We spent our days on the beach and our nights cooking at the house.  No one was brave enough to venture out for dinner with all the kids.  Also with Clint, John, and Jay cooking every night, I was more than happy to stay in!

Our house.  It really did accommodate our three families.

John Henry enjoyed the beach until he got sick.  Unfortunately he wasn't the only little boy to get sick.  Jack, Hunter, and John Henry all got sick at the beach.  It made for a few rough days/nights.  Luckily John Henry got sick at the end so he was able to enjoy the first part of the week.  Here he is checking out the new beach toys.

Sarah took this picture of Avery and I had to steal it.  Doesn't she look so happy?  All of the kids (except maybe Jack) enjoyed playing in the sand and water.

Hunter and John Henry playing with a bucket of water.  This is the closest the boys came to playing together.  They just aren't at that age yet.  They are still in the age of playing alongside but not together. 

On the opposite side of the playing spectrum was Reese and Avery.  These two were inseparable.  Since they are older and close in age it was perfect.  They had such a fun time together.

I say John Henry liked the beach and he did.  As long as we followed a certain routine.  It started with spending some time just sitting in the beach chairs so he could check everything out.  Once he got more comfortable, he wanted to ride in his car, then play in the sand, then in the water.  Don't skip the order or he may flip out!

We did our best to get family shots.  With the bright sun and crazy kids it was hard to do. 

Jordan, Jack, and John

Hunter, Clint, Avery, and Sarah

 

Our family picture.  Like I said, John Henry had to have his ride in the car...

These boys are getting bigger!

The moms and their babies (minus Jack).  This was towards the end of the trip when JH started feeling bad and going down hill. 

The boys really enjoyed the fact that they could fish all day at the beach.  They would set up in the morning and by the evening we had plenty to eat.  The fish in the picture below was caught on the last day.  The picture is a little misleading so I want to clarify that John caught the fish, Clint is just holding it!

The house had a kayak that we were able to take out.  John Henry really enjoyed it and although the water was cold it was fun to be out in the ocean.

As I said before John Henry enjoyed the water and sand once he became comfortable.  One afternoon while everyone else was still napping it was just the three of us on the beach.  John Henry had the best time running along side the water and waving at the birds.  That afternoon he had no fear.

So it may sound a little silly that we took JH's car to the beach but it was a life saver.  He loved it and so did the other kids.  He would just sit in it and stare at the ocean.  That car is worth every penny I paid for it and then some.

Mommy and John Henry

Daddy and JH.  This was taken on the last day when he was not feeling well.  I felt so bad for him.

Before we went on the trip I bought college t-shirts for the boys.  Each boy sported his dad's alma matter.  In theory it was a good idea.  In practice it was a nightmare.  John Henry was sick and upset which is why you see my hand holding him down for the picture.  This is the closest we came to getting all their faces in a picture together.

What we should have done was let them stand next to the car first.  Hard to get everyone looking but at least no one is crying!

Pretty girls.  They are so similar it's scary.

Our last attempt at a family shot.  It is what it is.

Apart from the sickness we had a great time.  I can't wait until the kids are older and a little more independent.  It's a lot to take young kids to the beach.  It's fun but it's not a vacation.  I would call it more of a relocation.  It would also be nice to not be pregnant at the beach.  Maybe our next trip will be after I'm pregnant and without kids. 

St. Patrick's Day

We don't really get into St. Patrick's day in our family.  I personally don't love it because if you try to pinch me I'm going to deck you.  Green or not, don't even try it.  However, people do have a tendency to pinch those that don't wear green and so I made sure John Henry was prepared for the day.

No one is going to pinch this sweet baby!

Third Time is NOT the Charm

Every once and a while I try to be creative.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  My recent attempt failed miserably.  Let me explain.  Jay and I wanted to share some good news with family last weekend and we decided to do so using John Henry.  I ordered a special shirt for John Henry to wear to dinner with Jay's parents and the Santivañez crew.  We made it halfway through dinner and no one noticed the shirt.  I couldn't take it anymore so I put John Henry on the table told everyone to look at how cute his shirt was.  They got it then.  

The next day we skyped with my parents.  Again John Henry wore the shirt.  And again my parents didn't say anything.  When I tried to hold him still in front of the computer they still couldn't read it so I had to tell them what it said.  

Later that night my mom came over to babysit.  Poor John Henry was still in the shirt.  And for the third time there was no comment about it.  I had to hold him down so she could read it.  

The first, second, and third attempt to share our news flopped big time.  Now you could argue that the restaurant was dark, it's hard to read anything on the shirt of  14 month old that never sits still, and it's even harder to read something on a blurry computer screen.  However, it was still a flop.  

I don't know if John Henry will ever wear the shirt again.  I think we've all begun to loath the shirt.  So in case it never makes another appearance we took a picture.  I'm sure it's easier to read now since he's still, the lighting is bright, and we've zoomed in on the words.

Coming October 2012

Dog Collar

Have you ever seen that commercial with the grandson and the dog collar?  You know, the one that says don't have a grandson with a dog collar?  The one for Direct TV that starts with the man getting angry and smacking the couch in frustration?  Well John Henry has started to smack things in frustration.  He smacks a toy, the dog, us, or even himself when he's upset.  So in honor of the commercial, here is our son, in a dog collar.

Feel free to call child services.

Happy Love Day

I love Valentine's Day.  I think I'm one of the few people that actually likes it.  I don't think it was manufactured by the greeting card companies and I don't think it should cause unnecessary pressure for gifts and grief if you aren't in a relationship.  But hey, that's just how I feel and I think I'm in the minority.  I also know that John Henry will make up his own mind about the holiday but until he does, I'm taking full advantage.  

I decided that John Henry would dress up for the occasion.  We borrowed Wade's tux and it was a hit.  John Henry passed out roses and Valentine's to his teachers.

I quickly learned that John Henry should not hold the roses.  He wanted to pull the petals off.  No sir.

Please notice the tennis shoes. 

He really enjoyed running through the halls.  Tux or not, he was moving.

Later that day his class had a party and I was able to attend.  He had a great time and loved the fact that he could consume as much sugar as they put in front of him.  All in all, I think he really liked it!

Tasting his first Valentine's cookie.

The kids in his class were divided into two tables.

I still can't believe that John Henry sits at a table and not in a high chair at daycare.

They each had special hats for the party.

Guzzling juice.  It was the first time he had tasted juice and boy did he love it.