We had a quintessential Seattle Easter today. The last several years we’ve had lovely clear skies for Easter. This year we had off and on rain, which didn’t stop our celebrations but simply required a few rain coats and boots! We welcomed several of our dearest friends to our home – 3 other families from our original PEPS group. 2 other families also have little sisters in the mix, stretching us to 7 kids, 8 parents, and one Grandma. It was certainly a celebration, and so fun to see how much the kids have changed and grown over just a couple of months.
What fun little people they are! Nora loves to chatter, even if we can’t understand all of it, she’s outgoing and friendly and still loves to give hugs. Very stubborn and hates getting dressed in the morning, but so smart and definitely knows how to work a room. Elliott is still our little thinker. He cracks me up with his little jokes and earnest statements. Yesterday we were walking to the bakery while Nora took her nap at home with Jeremy. With his big brown eyes full of concern, he said “Mommy, I think maybe it would be ok for Abbey to come over, but not so many of my friends.” “Well why, Elliott, it’s so special to celebrate Easter and spring with our friends?” “Because Mommy, they might take all of my blue Easter eggs, and I want to have some for myself!” Hahaha! This kid has already figured out how to stack the deck in his favor! I told him about the joy of sharing with others, how Easter eggs aren’t as fun as playing with our friends, and that each family was bringing a few eggs so in all actuality, he was getting the same loot. Strangely, the last point was the one that sunk in.
Since I just finished cooking and cleaning for 20 people, I’m going to keep the narrative brief. Here are our darlings coloring eggs last weekend. I was shocked at Nora’s skill in digging the egg out of the cups. Her attention to detail and focus is really great, and she was so into this. Elliott was fascinated with the whole process, asking nonstop questions and determined to learn why everything was happening. You’ll see that a few eggs didn’t survive Nora’s experimentation with quietly shoving the eggs off the dining table while Mommy, Daddy, and Elliott were in another room.
Elliott and Nora love holidays – likely because I make such a fuss over them! – so we started our prep the week prior with the coloring of our Easter eggs.
More and more, Elliott begs to take a picture with the big camera. This one of me and Nora is one of his shots – pretty good!
Handsome Daddy.
The fruit of our labors.
Easter morning! We had baskets for the first year while we waited for our friends to come!
New sunnies for all!
Best bunnies in all the land!
Nora is wearing a formal jumper because detracted frazzled Mommy forgot about Easter and the stores were sold out of Easter dresses!
Another Elliott masterpiece!
Watching the big kids.
A room full of friends.
Mark informing the anxious crew that the Easter bunny’s work was complete, and the hunt could commence.
Rain jacket crew.
Surveying the land.
“What?! They said more are in the backyard????”
This Magnolia tree is usually blooming at Mother’s Day, and I often take pictures in front of it with my babies. Everything is so early this year!
The Easter crew – could they be any more adorable? And yes, Elliott is outnumbered 6 to 1.
Our family – I love these monkeys so.
Nora beginning to tantrum, and Mommy and Daddy are trying to shake her out of it.
Didn’t work! Crying baby in the background, and sillyDaddy in the front!
While our weather today wasn’t ideal, we’ve already had warm, long, sunny days, this encouraging hint at what’s to come in just a few more weeks. The warmer weather was so amazing last year, and so fun to have the kids outside often, and all of us feeling more relaxed overall. I’m looking forward to another fantastic spring and summer!
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