TONS of Eggs

April 12, 2014 - The biggest Easter Egg hunt in West Seattle was the same weekend as the other Easter party with the bunnies.  The kids were egg hunting pros by the time Easter rolled around.
Our friends from PEPS (Shannon, Bobby, Boyan and Caroline) have an annual Easter Egg Hunting Party with over 1,500 hidden eggs or rather they are scattered over the lawn for the kids to find and collect.  Both Benjamin and Josie LOVE it.  We have a great time each year, too.

The kids all lined up ready to collect eggs:

Listening to the rules. 

And, GO....

 Benjamin even found the silver egg that had a $5 bill inside!

 Not only do the kids love the egg hunt, the fun art projects and yummy food, but they get to reunite with PEPS friends Boyan and Bryn

Hula Hoopin'

Last year we attended Josie's school's Spring Showcase and true to her character, she said, "next year I want to do that!"  So, of course, this year she did it!!  She went to a hula hooping class every Thursday morning before school for about 4 months. That girl can swing that hoop.  She performed two nights to crowds over 500.  We were really impressed.  Great job, Jojo!! The video is small but she is the one in the middle with the skirt and the light up shoes. We have a nice, larger video but I can't upload it to the blog because the file is too large.   All of her biggest fans were there to watch her.  Jodi and her son Josh.  And our awesome neighbors, Mary and Stan.

 NO more pictures, Dad!!

Baby Chicks

The end of Spring Break week, the kids headed up to Liz and Ed's for a fun-filled weekend away.  Marty and I didn't go anywhere or do anything exotic like the Hollywood Film Festival but as always we loved having a bit of time to walk to breakfast and dinner each day.  

 While up in Snohomish the kids got chicks as pets.  They went to the feed store and picked them out and named them.  Then had to say good bye to them when they came back to the city.  

I love the gentleness and awe captured in the photos that Liz took. 

Thanks again Liz and Ed for a fun weekend for the kids and a relaxing one for Marty and me. 

The Dentist, Aunt Kim and Fasching

The day after we returned from Mexico the kids had appointments at the Dentist.  They, fortunately, both love going there.  It is such a kid friendly place and they always make them feel comfortable and entertained. Josie was the ever doting big sister, always right next to Benjamin in case he needed her.

 It was a shock to our system to go from 80+ degrees and sunny in Mexico to low 40's and cold back in Seattle.  Benjamin (who is more like me) was freezing so would wrap in a blanket and sit in front of the fire.  Josie (who is more like Marty) was quite fine with short sleeves!!

Aunt Kim had a conference down near the airport so she stayed with us for a few days.  It is always a treat when she comes... and we even got to go out, just the two of us to enjoy a dinner at Ephesus.

 Here are a few photos of the kids celebrating "Fasching" at German school which from what I can gather is pretty much like our Carnival.  Benjamin having a good time, as always... said sarcastically.  He has NOT enjoyed German school this year, sadly. 

 But these kids of parties where he gets to be with Josie makes it much better for him.

Mexico- The Pool

 Hours and hours of fun in and around the pool. No captions necessary on this post.

Windy Alki

On a cold and very windy day we ate dinner at Pegasus and took Benjamin's Spiderman Kite (bought in Mexico with Valentine's gift money from Grandma and Papa- thank you!)  It took some coaxing but then it flew!  And we all had fun throwing rocks and enjoying the sunshine...even if it was still a bit cold. 

Mardi Gras Fun

On April 5th, Josie's school had their fundraising auction and the theme was Mardi Gras.  Marty had a few MC duties but we still had a great time with some of our good friends, Liz and Chad and ALi and Chris.

Liz and Ali - moms to Benjamin's good friends, Henry and Charlie and Josie's good friends, Lilly and Will - have become wonderful friends and a very large part of my daily life.  We do a weekly swap  with our younger ones tied to our co-op preschool work day (on each of our "work day" we take all three boys to and from preschool and then back to each of our houses for lunch which gives us 2 days with a few free hours to volunteer in our older child's classroom and get some errands done.)  We also have our own unofficial co-op babysitting system set up.  They have watched Benjamin countless times for Dr. appts or while I teach Spanish and their kids are here often as well.   It's funny, I often miss the luxury of having built in babysitting with an au pair but due to a necessity, I have made two wonderful friends which far outweighs the benefit and luxury of having guaranteed babysitting.   I'm so thankful for them.

 Liz and Chad

 Ali and Chris

 What a fun, fun evening!