Thanks Easter bunny!

Well, the beds were a pretty major Easter bunny gift, so I think he recycled and budgeted with the morning gifts. A very familiar basket for each and items that looked surprisingly Dollar Tree- like. You go, Easter bunny!

Grandma Candy stayed over the night before and we watched the movie "Red" while you two trashed your room.

That was fun. "Roman, Zoe! look at me!".

As expected. They did get two packets of graham crackers. And the final lines of this commercial run thru my head every time we're dealing with Easter baskets. My, I'm a product of the marketing machine, am I not?

The m&m's were a bit later...

Princess Z and Racin' Ro

Sometime between when Mom, Grandma Candy and the twins left to go pick up gyros for dinner and bedtime the Easter bunny made a special early Easter Eve delivery.

 A "castle" bed and a race car bed? NO WAY. Yes way. There was a lot of "in the bed...out of the bed..." and a fair amount of bouncing (see above for blurry proof).

And a little testing out by Daddy. Good thing the gate moves down, so Daddy could get his feet to extend beyond the edge of the bed. He got to play Giant.

Grandma Candy had the day off and wanted to see their reaction. They were pretty darn excited. Even if it's getting more cramped inside that room!

Grandma Candy remarked that your Dad was just as excited to get these set up as you were to have them set up because he always wanted one of those racecar beds. Why is this not surprising?

And when we saw this bed at a consignment shop last fall we knew it was destined for Ms. Zoe. She's a Tinkerbell girl, but she's also a Princess girl (although your Mom votes on the side of Tink - a phrase I never thought I'd say).

So it was cuddle up and go to sleep?

 Um...

Even with the Tinkerbell and Belle dolls this was tough.

So many new places to crawl (Roman was getting a kick out of that door). And although it's meant to be a little desk, it also seems to be more than that. Thank God for curiosity.

 Did I tell you that Zoe's bed has a light?

Did I tell you that it went on and off 100 times that first night? (And did I tell you that we closed the door at 10:30 and we heard noises, giggles and all around chaos making until past midnight?)

Mwah ha ha ha!

http://jane-inthemiddlelane.blogspot.com/2007/05/book-princess-in-blue-jeans.html

This is very funny to read in light of what's happened since it was posted. :)

Who knew?

We happened to be near a Lowe's this morning, and they were giving away free seedlings for Earth day. So we went to pick one up. While we were there we discovered they were having one of their free kids workshops. Bird house building. I figured you guys were too small for this, but Dad wanted to give it a whirl. That turned out to be a good idea.

You got all geared up with apron and goggles. Well the goggles worked for about 30 seconds with Roman and .25 for Zoe. "They stink!". Yes, Miss Sensitive Nose, they probably do.

You liked putting the nails in the pre-drilled holes, although that took a little more concentration.

 I was surprised at how well you actually did with a hammer. You actually hit the nail!

Maybe it was the tongue-sticking-out concentration method you employed.

This was fun! I love accidental, non-planned fun.

These photos are proof positive that I made a good move buying a new camera. The little one (i just happened to have in my purse) just doesn't cut it. Or maybe it was the caffeine produced shaky handed photog. No matter.

Upon this pig, (or THAT pig) you will sit

Got Your Goat

I suggested we take a picture with two goats sitting by the nice red barn. Zoe plopped right down and sat next to one.

Roman wasn't far behind.

Billy goats not so gruff

 Mina actually read the instructions and showed you how to hold your palm flat, so those little buggers didn't bite you. See, Roman's paying attention too.

 
Me, I didn't care for it much, but you two certainly didn't mind.

It is very odd to be so close to animals. Probably odder when they are nearly your own height. I don't think I'd be smiling at an animal that could look me in the eye.

cultural reference of the day

at the zoo with cousin Mina

Baby animals!

He's on his way....

Spring looks

Grandma Candy brought over a couple of new hats. This one is adorable on Zoe, but I think she was going for the sophisticated, mysterious look on this one.

Zoe's Tower

Or at least that's what she tells us.  Dad has been really busy these last few weeks in anticipaton of a job that's going on right about now (if I schedule this right). He did some building in the garage (and outside when the weather allowed).  Zoe saw this going up one day and declared it Zoe's Tower.

I like it, Zo. Why not?

She's got a surprise coming up very soon....

Somehow, it fits

Sitting on an old car seat in the garage. Somehow it seemed very....Daddy.

And better wit company. Drill bits? The fun never ceases. 

Happy Monday

Mr. Blue Eyes

The other weekend when we went to go visit Sister Helenette she commented on Roman's eyes. I still am a little "wowed" by them sometimes, mainly because they're so big. She agreed, but she said it was light blue color that really stood out. "You don't see that very often". And I guess that is true. Your Dad and I have green (ish) eyes. Your Grandpas have blue eyes (and I hope that's right, because that's what I'm remembering). But I also remembered Grandma Jane talking about her mother Vivian's vivid blue eyes. When I confirmed this, she said that you really noticed it later in life when she didn't wear her glasses all the time. Then I thought of the picture below, which Grandma J and Grandpa J have hanging up in their house and thought it would be a nice thing to add to this collection. And I'm going to think of Grandma D when the color of your eyes comes up again!

I'm sure I could come up with a million Grandma D stories (10 cent shoes from a rummage sale comes to mind...thriftiness didn't lose it's grasp as it went on down the line to me!). She was a good hearted woman with some interesting ways at looking at the world. It's one of those things where I was so shy and inner focused that I probably didn't know her as well as I should. I was more a tag-a-longer and an observer. But I have lots of memories of visiting her and Grandpa.