Easter Photos

(see post with Easter/photo explanations below)

Easter 2011

This year we had a good Easter, but quite normal. We colored eggs. I did my annual call to my mom to ask how to boil eggs, then started them heating up and forgot about them. For forty-five minutes. So, although we didn't eat them, they were still dye-able. Each kid did four eggs--one of them for Elise. With the leftover dye we dipped t-shirts in and made cute litte shirts. I don't think they'll stayed dyed, but they looked really cute for one day!

The next morning we found baskets and hidden eggs. That is my favorite part--I love to see them looking all over for their baskets. And too often it becomes a fight, but this year it was perfect. They were all nice to each other, found eggs for each other, took their time, shared, ... it was great. They each got a small something--Weston a Utah hoodie, Aidan a harmonica, Brennan a Thomas coloring thing, and Elise got a "Fur Real Kitty". Then we went to Grandma and Grandpas and again had a great time searching for mounds of candy and fun toys. It was so enjoyable. That evening we put the wii in the basement and played with it on the big screen, which was fun.

Earlier when Omi and Opa were in town we made sugared eggs. I remember making them as a kid with my family and it was so cool. The kids loved it! Auntie Hil made one, too. Each one had a little bunny, baskets, "eggs" and was uniquely decorated.

Sunday we had Scott home for the morning (no meetings!) and then went to church--we sang in the choir, a lovely song. We had dinner with Scott's family that evening. The weekend was also spring break so we got to stay up late and sleep in on Monday. It was a nice, relaxing, non stressful holiday!

(I am going to do a separate post with all the photos!)

For the Birds

Not that lots is going on, but we have finally got something to write about. Spring is kind of in the air, with lots of hints of the winter (it is snowing right now!), but still, the tulips are about to bloom, the daffodils are dancing, and our barbeque has a giant nest in it (with six blue eggs)! Isn't that amazing? I saw birds hopping around near it with sticks, etc and told Scott that I thought a nest was in there, so after a week or so, he checked it out and sure enough... It was beautiful. Of course we wouldn't be barbequeing any time soon. Though Weston did ask if we could eat the eggs--you know because Omi and Opa eat their bird eggs.

So yesterday, I took some photos today of the nest and a few minutes later I looked out and there were two male birds fighting and the female looking on (then she got bored and went into the barbeque). They fought for at least 10 minutes --mean! Pecking each other and turning and clawing. Finally one knew he was in for and took off, the other one chirping after him. The winner got up on the barbeque and puffed out his chest chirping and squawking for a few minutes telling the world how great he is and warning off the competition. Quite a show and I saw it all!

Then today, Scott went out to check on it and all the eggs are gone! I don't know if they moved them (can they do that?)--cause there are no sign of any eggs anywhere near the nest. There was a piece of a broken eggs near the fence. I don't know if somehow we disturbed the nest and so they moved and new birds were trying to move in, or if some new birds tried to take over or what, but since the eggs were gone, we decided to claim our barbeque again. We've gotten rid of the nest (and almost immediately new birds tried to build again!). I thought we would really love have a birds nest in our yard, but then I looked at the raspberry bushes next to the barbeque and noticed how picked on they were... maybe I am glad we won't have birds eating our berries! Still a neat experience for the kids.