Easter Again ...

In preparation for Easter each member of the Gifford family chose a luxury to give up as a form of penitence, we acted out our own version of the stations of the cross, and fasted in the desert for 40 days. Okay well that was what we meant to do but things got busy so we ended up just dying eggs.

And by "we" I mean "me and Jack" because Mike was busy at Lowes and Kate was busy taking a nap. Kate + eggs = a REALLY bad pairing. We did make a Kate egg tho.

Kate egg on the right - Jack egg on the left. And below, all our eggs together.

Apparently we are way into happy eggs.

Easter morning the kids awoke to a breakfast buffet and a basket search! Well, minus the breakfast buffet.   Unless you consider peanut butter toast a buffet and then we totally had a buffet.

There were no baskets in the washing machine.

Laundry room, clear!

What kind of a cruel bunny would hide the baskets in this location? Jack and Kate thought it would be best to look just to be safe.

We thought all hope was lost but then - BUNNY TRACKS!

Jack was all "You guys, don't you think it's kind of weird that on one foot he has three toes and on the other he has four toes?" and I was all "You know Jack, we have no idea what this bunny has been through. What I do know is that making fun of the bunny's malformed feet is a good way to buy yourself a one way ticket to coal-in-your-basketville next Easter."  No mention was made of the errant 4th toe after that.

The deformed foot tracks led us straight to the kid's baskets behind the chairs in the living room where the bunny hides them every.single.year.  Guess those wonky toes must make him/her lazy!

The loot!  You might notice a lack of candy in the baskets.   That is because Jack is still not a big fan of candy (except for Reeses) and given the option Kate will just take a lick or two of whatever candy is given to her, and then leave the remainder on the couch.  So small toys it is.

KGifJr was entirely too busy to be bothered with posing for me.


One more Easter post detailing all the fun we had at Mima and Popo's Easter celebration is coming your way tomorrow.   And I do have every intention of getting it done tomorrow.  Just keep in mind I also had every intention of fasting in the desert for 40 days pre-Easter and we all know how that turned out.

Ciao!

Hoppy Easter!

More Easter pics coming soon - but I just had to get this one up right away. The amazing photographer Uncle Paul caught this one and I couldn't be more happy that he did. I try and I try but I can't get even one good pic of the two of them together. This one just captures them so perfectly - the adoring little sister and the doting big brother.




HAPPY EASTER indeed!

Who's the fairest of them all?

These two.







They take my breath away.

My Rookie Redskin

Back in January we were sitting at a traffic light while driving home from the grocery store when Jack's little eye caught sight of a sign on the side of the road. "Mama do you know what that sign said???" he asks. And in my head I read "Youth Flag Football - registration now open!" and in my head I think "Football!? No! Too dangerous! Too many chances for concussions! We like tennis! And golf!" and my mouth says "Ummm - hmmm - I'm not exactly sure what it said I went by too quick.". And he says "Mama it said FLAG FOOTBALL! Registration is now OPEN!!!"

Darn you first grade teacher. Who said it was okay to teach him to read so well at such a young age?

He asked me if we could sign up five times that night. And again the next day. And again the next. And again and again. And with him showing that much interest in something we simply couldn't just let it go. And it's *just* flag so how dangerous could it be, right? So sign up we did. It's an "official NFL youth league" so the team names are all "official" NFL teams. Jack is in the rookie division (one above instructional - one below pee-wee) and he was assigned to the Rookie Redskins! He couldn't have been more excited when he heard his assignment. He was hoping and praying that he'd either get Eagles or Redskins so it was a big score.

Here he is with his biggest cheerleader on the day of his first scrimmage last weekend.

Look at her holding his hand! LOVE!

He is SO proud of his personalized jersey. And I am SO happy that I paid the extra five bucks to have it personalized.


Showing off his smooth moves.


Of course I have no pictures from the game because I forgot to bring my camera. Not to worry tho - there will be plenty of games to come! He's loving it so far and has already informed me that he plans to play tackle in the fall. Ummmmm NO.

Kate is TWO!!!!

My "baby" goes from zero to 60 in 2.5 seconds...

See?

Then ...


Now ...


I was pregnant - then I blinked - and now my sweet princess is two. MUST. stop. blinking.

When JGif turned 2 he had quite a few little baby friends - which facilitated the need for a big 'ol baby party! Perhaps you remember the construction themed birthday party?? How could you not? It was EPIC! Kate requested something a little more low key for her big 2 year celebration. She understood that her mama was traveling for work the entire week prior to her birthday and was all "let's not do a big *thing* - how about just pizza with the family?" and I was all "RIGHT ON!". So her celebration was smaller but every bit as EPIC if you ask me. The only thing missing - and it was a BIG thing - was our Jersey contingent - Kookle, Aunt Steph, Evie and Noah. But 4 hours is a bit far to drive for pizza and cupcakes. Especially when there are two and a half kiddos involved! We've decided to do a joint baby bday celebration in the near future (Kate and Noah were born one month apart).

So regardless of size a party ain't a party unless there is a theme and decorations! I know that sounds like a quote from some profound thinker of days past - but that was all me. Feel free to quote me going forward. I wanted it to be a princess party, Kate wanted it to be an Elmo party. Guess who won?



Here is the birthday brother with his birthday present. How cute is his note?


Birthday girl and her Granny ...


And with Mima and Popo. I just love Kate's face in this one. She's all "Seriously? Another picture?"


And I just love Mima's face in this one. She looks like she's taking a very happy nap!


Kate and her handsome assistant opening KGif's present from Granny and Gramps.


It's an awesome water table for the patio! Kate decided to use it as a stage.


Then Mike started putting it together and Kate decided to use it as a bathtub.


They finally got it all set up and I don't think Kate has stopped playing with is since. It's the last thing she plays with before going to bed and the first thing she asks for when she wakes up in the morning. Just wait until she finds out you can fill it with water. She's going to want to us to move her crib out back to the patio.


Opening her present from Aunt Sue and Uncle Paul.


It's a piano shaped like a cat - it has all kinds of cool sound effects and you can make it meow with each press of the keys! Kate loves the microphone and she walks around carrying it singing happy birthday to herself. Also she likes to play it with her feet.


Opening her present from Mima and Popo.


It's Caillou!

Caillou (rhymes with bayou) is a show on a kids television network. Kate loves it. Me, not so much. Calliou is whiney and constantly upset about something. Plus the show has a theme song that gets in your head, sets up camp and stays longer then the Occupy Wall Street protesters.

After presents it was time for pizza! What, doesn't everyone eat topless on their birthday?


Caillou had some too. And probably whined about it after.


Bring on the cupcakes!

Kate wanted nothing to do with the cake. I have two kids who don't like cake. How that happened I'll never know.

And after cake it was time for some coloring.


Coloring is serious business.

Those eyes! Those lips! That dad looking over her shoulder! I have a feeling that dad is going to be doing the looking over her shoulder thing until she's about 50. Maybe longer.

And that wrapped up Kate's not-so-big 2nd birthday celebration. Here is the look she went with to end the night. Such a fashonista this kid!

"Tanks for coming, bye bye!" says Kate! (That is actually exactly what she said to everyone the second she was done opening presents. She gave them all a big wave and said it twice. We decided to let them all stick around for pizza tho - b/c we're nice like that).


I swear we're going to do it up big time for her third birthday. I'm talking moon bounces ... pony rides .. perhaps even celebrities if the Jolie-Pitts are free. Mark your calendars now!


(By the way - I have NO clue how Gramps managed to escape the prying eye of my camera during this soiree - but he did. Well played, Gramps. I'll get you next time!)