Easter Extravaganza

Easter is one of those holidays you sort of forget about until you have young children. For kids, it's the holiday you first dismiss. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure the Easter Bunny out. By the time kids are 10 years old they just want their overflowing basket of candy. But until then it is lots of fun. Hiding eggs by tossing them in the yard, pastel green pants on your son, and loads of tic tacs for the kids.

This year we packed the minivan up with the dogs and Charlotte and headed to Long Island to visit Tiffany, Ian, Liam, and their newest edition Chase. The drive wasn't bad thanks to the portable DVD player. The weather was cold but at least there wasn't snow. Charlotte was very excited to see everyone and had a blast running around. Even the dogs did a great job not biting any of the numerous kids pulling their tails and screaming at them.



Friday night Tiffany and Ian took us all to dinner. We had pizza at a nice little place where Charlotte was in reaching distance of a family at the table across from us. Pizza sauce, kids, and touching strangers don't go well together. Dad even saw her toss a meatball onto the table of people next to us but he pretended he didn't see it.
Dad was glad to escape before people sent us their dry cleaning bills. The pizza was great and we all left stuffed.

Charlotte slept like a rock Friday night. We were able to stay in bed until 7:30am. Saturday dad and Ian took Charlotte and Liam to a local park to play. It was cold out but "fresh air" is good for kids. Charlotte's little red nose ran constantly in the cold but she had a blast climbing on the jungle gyms. He favorite was the slide and swinging with dad.







We hit the library where dad immediately made friends. Charlotte ran into the children's section and to an area with toys everywhere. Dad being in a strange place let Charlotte play with them. Some guy comes up to dad and tells him they are his toys and that she cant play with them. OK buddy, Happy Easter to you too (of course what dad was really thinking he wont post). Soon after Charlotte found lots of books and played and ran and found more books. When she started just laying down on the floor we knew it was nap time. Time to go.

Saturday Tiffany made a spectacular Ham Dinner. Yes Tiffany I am being serious it was really good. On the car ride home I told Shelby I wish I would have made a ham plate to go. How Tiffany was able to make a huge meal with all the chaos in the house I do not know. Dog, kids, toys, tic tacs, more kids, adults, more kids. It was really good and now you can cook anytime you want at family functions. :)

Liam loves tic tacs. Orange are his favorite. Ian gave him one thinking he would hate it. It back fired. He loves them. We found out this weekend he wont let anyone near them without a fight. Charlotte tried getting one. Smack.
Charlotte learned to stay away from Liam and his tic tacs. Of course Ian gave some to Charlotte. She loves them to. Thanks Ian for introducing us to the crack tacs. She is now addicted too. (notice in the picture below Ian is trying to get Charlotte and Liam to sit together by bribing them with Tic Tacs)


Sunday the Easter Bunny came and brought loads of fun for all the kids. Toys, Balls, Easter Grass, even Tic Tacs for everyone. Ian's brother came over for breakfast with his family and all of the kids played. Needless to say Charlotte was exhausted by the time we hit the road to head home. She fell asleep in her car seat before we could even give her a bottle. She didnt sleep for long but was great the whole ride home. She had a great Easter. Thank you Tiffany, Ian, Liam, and Chase.