Easter 2017

We had a really low-key Easter this year since Steve was leaving Sunday afternoon/evening .

We dyed eggs on Saturday.

Kids were horrified thinking about "die"-ing (killing?) eggs. Horrified. Once they realized it was a coloring process, morale improved.

Downright enthusiastic

I planned this activity to take place while Will was napping. As soon as we got everything set up outside, I stepped back inside to grab my camera and heard Will crying. Luckily he is fairly easily entertained by food still, so he watched from his perch, goldfish in hand (and mouth).

This was actually our first time dyeing eggs and next year I think I'll pick up a few more egg dyeing packs from the Dollar Tree- I think some of the tabs could stand to be doubled up on, as a few didn't even fizz. The kids were amazed though and now I gotta eat a dozen boiled eggs by myself. Woof.

We had the kids hide out inside for a few minutes while I hid 80 plastic eggs around the yard and omg it was so fun to watch them try and find them all. The whole event was over within five minutes but they had a blast. (I didn't fill the eggs btw. I like to keep the bar set nice and low.)

Sunday morning we set our alarms to make sure we made it to mass (as 8am mass is the only option in our immediate area). I told the kids that the Easter Bunny hid their baskets because he knew we wouldn't have time to enjoy them before church.

It. was. FREEZING. Poor Molly's knees were probably knocking together in this photo. Will and I spent most of the mass crawling around the parish hall but I trust Sam and Molly and Steve gleaned something from the service.

We came home and I ran inside to see if I could "find" the Easter baskets for the kids and set them out.

I'm not big on having candy around the house, so they each got one bag of candy (jellybeans because they are strange and do not enjoy chocolate???!!!). Sam got a sports shirt (he is obsessed with those dry wick shirts and anything sports-related), Molly got a pair of jelly sandals, and Will got a bubble machine with refill bubbles. Sam and Molly also got a little paint set from the Dollar Tree. The bubble machine wouldn't fit in Will's basket so I shoved a bunny in there last minute (previously used as Easter decor). Will was wayyyy more interested in throwing plastic eggs underneath the couch, Molly just wanted to paint, paint, paint, and Sam wanted to throw his shirt in the dryer so he could wear it IMMEDIATELY.

The rest of the day was pretty low-key. We took a walk/bike ride and just tried to soak up Steve as much as possible!

Steve packed up his things and helped me move a few more boxes to the garage to prep for the move. The only things left in the house now are things that can't be moved until we actually move. I thought I might be bored with nothing to pack until Steve comes back, but luckily Will enjoys crushing Life cereal and scattering Cheerios about the floor, ensuring I have plenty to do at all times.

We eventually had to leave for Fargo to drop Steve off at the hotel. He had to go to MEPS very early the next morning to be sworn in and get his plane tickets. Obviously I did not cook a big Easter dinner (nor was I in the mood to) and not many restaurants are open on Easter Sunday. We ended up at Buffalo Wild Wings (#klassy) and the kids would probably not mind spending every Easter there as they could simultaneously watch sports, monster trucks, and bull riding while eating cheeseburgers and french fries.

Sadly, after dinner, we had to get home to get everyone to bed and Steve had to get checked into the hotel with the recruiter.

photographer fail with my potato-shaped shadow

It was like it didn't hit the kids until right then that Steve wasn't coming home with us. They were brave giving him goodbye hugs and kisses with sad eyes. But once we pulled away, it quickly turned into the saddest car ride ever. They might act like wild banshees around him 95% of the time, but man do they adore him. We made a paper countdown chain to help give them a visual of how many days until we see him again. Steve safely made it to Fort Bragg after a very full day of travel. Naturally nothing goes off without a hitch. Hoping we'll know more soon.