Easter.

Joshua

Caleb

Ally

Hayden

We've had a pretty big weekend.  It started with getting to go to a "grown-up" social outing at one of Ben's professor's "manors".  I've seen stuff like this on T.V., but had no idea real people live like this.  It was amazing.  The best room in the house was the laundry room.  Ben's favorite was the media room . . . something about a fur blanket.  

Sunday morning was filled with finding baskets, scrounging around for breakfast (or not), putting everybody's ensemble on and doing hair (or not).  We were able to take pictures BEFORE church and still make it on time.  Sunday school was very entertaining with "no coffee Ben" helping.  He was very patient as he argued over no more chocolate milk!  I stayed in Worship Care for church and Ben and the girls went to big church.  I moved up to the 3's which seems so much easier.  I must say though I don't know what these parents are doing to these kids.  They wanted  a banana instead of cookies.  I guess that means more for me.  Cookies that is.  After church, we zipped by the house for a quick change and to pick up Easter baskets for Nina and Pop Pop.  Then it was straight to Starbuck's.  I could sense the relief.  We went to Nina's for a rather quiet dinner(Pop Pop didn't have much to say and the Evan's family and Kelley family were MIA).  We hung around until the boys couldn't maintain the chocolate "buzz" and we headed to Wal-Mart for a weather radio.  

I must say I heard something this Easter that I don't think a parent should ever have to say to their child and I said something no child should have to say to their parent:

(P to c)  "If you have to dig in your crack to get it, don't put it back in their basket"

(C to P) " There are no brown jelly beans."

Easter Activities

We've kicked off our Easter "week" with several fun activities.  On Sunday, while Ally was at a Birthday party, Hayden and her cousin, Erin(daughter of my sister Robin whom I've written about several times) made an Easter house.  I have refused to purchase a gingerbread making house in the past but for some reason felt it completely necessary to buy a kit to make a bunny house.  I've lost brain cells over the years.  Or, I'm tired of fighting.  In my defense, it was on sale. 

Last night we were persuaded (ok, really just me, but Ben went along with it) to dye eggs.  If I were a smart person, I would have put the boys to bed and let the girls have at it.  However, I am more of a "let's ALL have this life experience together" kind of person, so there we were - 18 hard-boiled eggs, 6 different colors, a million stickers, 1 wax crayon, egg wrappers that don't work at our house, Hannah Montana egg holders, 2 dippers, 4 kids and 2 adults.  I prepared the area and made the executive decision to operate the camera.  Thirty minutes later we had 17 dyed and decorated eggs,  40 colored fingers and 1 broken kitchen chair.   We can now put a check mark next to "egg dying" on our list of family life experiences for this year. 

Our beautiful eggs!

It's all been true.

I finally saw it with my own eyes. 

He hasn't been "vacationing" 

every other weekend.  

He hasn't been just talking 

with his buddies for 2 and 3

 hours a couple of nights a 

week and some weekends.  

He hasn't been staying up 

until 4 in the morning 

playing the Wii.

He has really been in school at Vanderbilt getting his EMBA.  In fact, all his hard work came to fruition last night. He was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the international honor society for collegiate schools of business.  Only 10% of his class of about 5o people were inducted.  Quite an achievement for him with his crazy work schedule, 4 kids and a wife who speaks the love language of quality time!  

We're proud of you Ben!  

No more play . . . until the next one.

Ally is already talking about "signing up" for the next play.  We'll wait and explain to her that once in a play doesn't necessarily mean always in a play.  I think one of the cast members from The Miracle Worker is helping direct it - Kate Keller also known as Sam Musto.  I would love for Ally to be in a play with Sam.  And I think Sam really likes Ally.  She helped the girls decorate Ally's mirror on Friday for her birthday and helped make it a special day.    She had to perform at 9:30 and again at 7:30 and Ben was also in school on Friday.  But I think after opening the DS games, the new movies, the desk, the big batch of barbies, all her money, a "big girl" spend the night bag, her 7 figurine  and all the supplies for her desk it turned out to be a good birthday. 

Ben and I learned a lot about all this "play" business.  Here are a couple of lessons learned:

1)  You do not have to buy tickets to all the shows.

2)  Someone will get upset with somebody at some point.  

3)  It is a tiresome schedule to maintain . . . especially for the parents.

4)  Take a camera.

5)  Punctuality is not required.(Ben especially liked this one - me not so much.)

Otherwise, this was a really good experience for all of us.  I think Ben and I agreed that of all the activities the kids have been involved in(and believe us, we've been "involved" in many!) this ranks up at the top.

Here are some pictures from Saturday's show.

Her photo on the actors display.

Signing autographs for her many fans.

" I finally got flowers!"

Spring Break has ended.

It's over.  Spring Break has ended and we have bonded.  We weren't able to get away this year, so we opted for a relaxing week with a couple little "local" outings.  These pictures were from the Botanical Gardens.  It was a beautiful day.  As you can see, Ally and her 2 shadows played in the water.  The boys limited it to their heads, Ally decided it would be fun to get her pants wet.  Not too comfortable when eating lunch at Red Robin.  However, I must say, she didn't complain . . . just wiggled a little.  Each night was filled with play practice.  Hayden and Ben took Ally to most of the practices.  I got to handle dress rehearsal just in case Ally needed help with her costume.  She did fine.  I really just sat and watched and let Hayden run back to the dressing room a couple of times to check on her.  Opening night was Thursday and she performed like a star.  I really think this is her thing.  It's funny to watch the other actors, stage manager and director around Ally.  She just has that personality that draws people in.  Today she took her newly purchased, pink fuzzy slippers to wear before the show started.  Thanks Morgan!  They were a hit.  I will try to get a picture of her in her costume next week.  I'm still learning the ropes in all this acting stuff!  I did video her at rehearsal, but don't have the right "cord" to get it onto the blog.  I'll add that to my "to-do" list as well.  

I am a nut.

There is no doubt, I'm a crazy person.  Today was proof for the entire Legacy community.  I hope I  can do the events from this morning justice.  Here goes(I'm sorry, but it takes me a lot of words to get it all out!):

Last week during the rush of the morning ritual, Hayden casually asked if she could enter our dog Sadie in the Pet Club at school.  Seldom do any of my children have my full attention.  Usually I can pass it off unscathed.  However, my quick response of "sure, I guess" needed more of my undivided attention.  In the back of my mind, I was calculating the probability that out of 700 something students with only ?% having a pet, 1 pet selected a week we would either not get selected or have a little time buffer.  Not so.  We won.  If you want to call it that.  As you recall from my previous entry, I was sick all of Sunday.  The girls were sick half of Sunday into Monday. Monday morning we get a short little email from Hayden's teacher that said Hayden's name was drawn to bring her pet in Wednesday.  That's it.  Hmmm.  "Hayden, what exactly is pet club?  What time does she go and what does she do?"  "I don't know".  I send the teacher a short little email.  "What does this mean?"  I am to have the dog at school around 7:30 for her to be "showcased" on the Lion's network(a little tv program they run every morning with announcements, etc.).  She would be done around 8. Great.  I'm sure Ben can take care of this and still get to work at a decent time.  But wait, she looks horrible.  She needs to be groomed.  Oh, my goodness, what about her "other" problem?  I have to get personal here.  Sadie went to the doctor's Friday with an odor problem.  Yep, me and the boys were on it, rain and all.  The vet started at the head and ended at the, well, you know.  Diagnosis: infected anal gland.  Wanna know the test for that?  Me either.  So, back to my long story.  She has been on medicine and we were able to get her into the groomers for her day long, hand stripping.  I must say the groomer was very excited that Sadie was chosen to go to school and even said she would make sure to check the "other" issue and make sure she smelled great.  The groomer did a great job.  That brings us to today.  Well, almost.  Back to Ben being in charge of the dog goes to school thing.  Nope.  He just happens to have a conference all at 8.  Hmmm.  I'm seeing a pattern.  So we get up and do our morning ritual thing and we load up.  We arrive and meet our first challenge: crossing the road full of people dropping their kids off at school with 2 toddlers, 2 backpacks, 2 girls and a dog.  We make it.  The lady at the front desk greets us with a big hello and then looks for backup.  Smart lady.  The principal comes over and shows us to a holding room.  She says, and I quote," I'm glad you guys came, I didn't call you, I usually call the parents, but I didn't call you. Wow, you have a lot of kids."  Are you kidding me?  Um, who are you and why are you in charge of my children?  She tells us we can stay in there until they start filming at 7:55.  Let me help you with the math: it is 7:30, taping is at 7:55, that is 25 minutes of me, the dog, Hayden, Ally, Caleb and Joshua in a room with a desk and a chair.  Got any padding lady?  She turns to Hayden and says, and I quote, again, "Here is what will happen, I will introduce you, what is your name? Hayden what? Then I will give you the microphone and you can tell about your dog."  She exits.  Can I go too?  Later, she comes back and gets us.  Filming takes place in the AV room in the library -about the size of a closet.  I pop a squat outside the door.  She gets Hayden and Ally(Hayden very graciously lets Ally in on the filming)seated and then tells me I can come in or watch it on the screen in the library.  I'll watch the screen.  And lucky for me, it is  book fair week.  The boys were very entertained with all the books they could rip off the stands.  I did ask if I could get a copy of the program and basically was told no.  I have my own ideas of why, but I'll let you conjure up your own.  The librarian makes her way over to me.  She has her camera and wants to know if she can take a picture of the boys reaching for books for the website.  Yes, let's document this.  Anyways, Hayden does a great job.  I wasn't sure with just handing her the microphone and letting her go if she would be too shy.  And believe it or not, Ally sat quietly and smiled.  So the broadcast ends and the girls make their way out.  The principal asks the librarian if she can get a picture of the girls and Sadie.  Apparently, she didn't charge the batteries in her camera and is having difficulty with the camera.  As you can probably guess, Sadie is not sitting very still for the picture.  They keep trying to get her attention by calling her name, which in turn makes her want to run over to them.  The principal leaves and the librarian asks if we can do another picture.  I think she was a little nervous.  Finally, we get a good picture with everybody and the dog looking at the camera.   We run by Mrs. Him's room to let her see Sadie.  We return to the holding room and get our stuff.  The girls head off the their classrooms and I head off to find a really large coke.

Down for the count.

I lost.  The stomach bug got me.  The kids, however, had a great time making a snow women Mommy.  Unfortunately, because we like to share in our family (especially germs), the girls caught the bug later that afternoon.  Do I really lean like that?