Easter Weekend

We have had a wonderful Easter weekend.  The weather has been beautiful!!  FINALLY!!  The kids didn't have school on Friday and we also had the day off from work so we enjoyed a 3 day weekend together.

Ryan and Kayley had haircuts on Friday morning.  While we were gone, my Easter basket arrived in the form of a new kitchen table!

When I was taking pictures of the table,
Ryan was eating his last lunch in his high chair
and thought I wanted to take a picture of him!  

My friend, Angela, and I designed and ordered this table in January and it took until now to get it.  I was so excited to get home to see it.  Our old table was really beat up and the fabric on the chairs was beyond stained so it was time for something new.  Now, all we need to do is keep it nice...we have had it two days and Kayley has already spilled her milk all over it (I think it has been at least 6 months since she has done that) and Ryan has smeared his food all over it, of course.  :-)

Kayley had a soccer game yesterday morning.  I was in Iowa City for a luncheon in honor of my friend Katie Finn Milleman last weekend and missed her first game, but Andy said she was much improved this week.  Last week, she trailed behind the other kids and didn't seem very interested in being there, but this week she got in on the action and even kicked the ball several times.  That was a big step from last week, apparently!  Kayley is #6.

The kids have been playing outside almost nonstop this weekend.  Yesterday, they got the gator and ATV out for the first time this year.  Ryan had a great time riding around the yard with Drew and Kayley.

The Easter Bunny stopped by the house as well.  The kids liked their Easter baskets and loved the egg hunt. 

Music, Soccer and Easter Eggs!

We started off the week with Drew and Kayley's spring music program.  Kayley was very excited to pick out her outfit and I struggled a little with trying to get Drew to understand why his athletic pants were not appropriate.  It was the first time Drew has been in school all year without wearing athletic pants!  Both classes did a great job.  Ryan was excited to see them walk in and then enjoyed waving to them throughout the program!

This week was a big week for Kayley.  She started soccer!  Kayley hasn't been old enough for most of the sports offered in the area.  For most things, she needed to be 5 by April 1 and she didn't turn 5 until June so we had to wait until this spring to start.  She told Andy she wanted to do soccer.  We asked her several times if she was sure and she kept saying yes so he signed her up.  So far, she has only had one practice and one game because we missed two practices when we were at Disney.  She was pretty timid during her first game.  She is anything but timid at home and usually the aggressive one so we'll see how she does over the next few weeks.

Kayley on her way to her first soccer practice

Drew didn't want to play soccer so he is sitting this season out.  He loves playing soccer at school and at home so we think he was just nervous to try a new sports team.  We didn't push it with him even though we knew he'd be jealous when it was time for Kayley to go to practice and games.  And he is.  It is a good lesson for him I guess.

This afternoon was rainy so we decided to color Easter eggs.

Kayley patiently waiting for eggs to color

Drew hard at work

Ryan's first time coloring eggs!

Ryan didn't last long so the 3 big kids finished up while...

Ryan ate a snack.  :-)

Speaking of Ryan, he is as ornery as ever.  He needs all eyes focused on him at dinner and if you take your eyes off of him for a second, he makes sure you will pay for it by putting his yogurt in his hair.  And he entertains his brother and sister with his antics and they laugh at everything he does, which only eggs him on.

Disney World Part 2

Day 5 - Hollywood Studios

We spent Wednesday at Hollywood Studios.  You know you are putting your kids first when you go to Disney Junior Live instead of the Tower of Terror! 

There were three highlights for the kids - lunch with Disney Junior characters, Disney Junior Live and Fantasmic.  The highlights for Matt and Dad were the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and the Tower of Terror!  I don't think Andy cared, but I have to admit, I was jealous!  Both of those were things I would have loved to have done.  But, I really enjoyed watching the kids at the Disney Junior Live show...I just didn't enjoy the show so much!   :-)

Taking a break

Playing in the Honey I Shrunk
the Kids playground

 Lunch was with Sofia, Doc McStuffins, Handy Manny and Jake.  Kayley was very excited for Sofia and Doc.  Drew liked seeing Jake.  Ryan loved them all!

Kayley loved dancing with Doc

Fantasmic was the night fireworks and water show.  It was crazy how packed it was.  The show was fantastic!  The kids were a little tired, but they were great throughout the show. 

Day 6 - Magic Kingdom

We spent our last day at Disney at Magic Kingdom.  We got there early so we took of for Space Mountain to try to beat the crowds.  Andy stayed with Ryan and the rest of us got in line.  The kids did great so we were able to ride it again later in the day.  I was so proud of how well they did on every "big kid" ride!

Grandma holding onto
Kayley on Space Mountain

We also went to Enchanted Tales with Belle, where you act out a scene with Belle.  Dad was chosen (did not volunteer!) as one of the soldiers and Kayley volunteered to play Belle's father, Maurice.  Drew was a little shy and didn't volunteer for a part!

Soldier Mark

Belle visiting Maurice (Kayley) in jail.

Throughout the day, we rode Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Safari, Dumbo, Barnstormer, the People Mover (my kids love that thing!) and some other ones I am forgetting.

Jungle Cruise

We had dinner reservations at 1900 Park Fare with Cinderella.  Kayley put on her Cinderella gown, shoes, tiara and grabbed her wand and off we went.  Drew was not as into this dinner!  And he was embarrassed beyond belief when one of Cinderella's stepsisters kissed his cheek!  As we were leaving, we ran into one of Matt's high school classmates.  Small world!

On our way to dinner

Princess Kayley

At the restaurant

Prince Charming

Kayley was smitten!

Cinderella!!

Cinderella's stepmother

Cinderella's stepsister

After dinner, Mom, Dad, Kayley and Ryan went back to the resort.  Matt, Andy, Drew and I headed back to Magic Kingdom.  We went on Splash Mountain again, Haunted Mansion and It's a Small World (short line!) and watched the fireworks.  It was a great ending to our Disney experience!

Andy, Drew, Matt and me

Day 7 - Clearwater Beach

On Friday morning, we packed up and headed to Clearwater Beach.  It was cloudy and in the low 70s.  Certainly not great beach weather, but we made the most of it.  The kids loved the beach.  Ryan wasn't sure what to think of the sand at first and he thought the water was pretty cold!

 Once Ryan got used to the sand, he loved it!

Day 8 - Home

Saturday was our day to fly home.  Mom and Dad were on our flight to St. Louis so that was nice.  Mom sat with Drew and Kayley and Dad, Andy, Ryan and I sat next to them.  We were ready for a nice quick, uneventful flight home, but no such luck.  We sat on the tarmac for over 2 1/2 hours due to a thunderstorm to the north.  Ryan is a very active almost 2 year old.  Being confined on a plane that isn't moving for 2 1/2 hours and then over 2 hours in flight is not fun for him and, therefore, not fun for any of us!  But, it could have been worse I am sure.  After a long day of traveling, I was very excited when we finally pulled into our garage Saturday night!