A Non-Traditional Easter

Today was a wonderful Easter although not traditional. Because Michael was singing at all three services (one on Saturday night and two Sunday morning) we went to the Saturday evening and to also allot extra space at the Sunday morning services. It made for a VERY long Saturday night. But Sunday morning came nice and peaceful and the girls woke up to fun. While Daddy was at church singing, we dyed easter eggs (since we couldn't Saturday night) but are just enjoying them since the Easter bunny delivered his eggs - plastic style.

After Daddy got back from church, we took some of their Easter surprises to the school across the street and let them have their way with them (remote control 4x4 trucks). Amazingly, they did quite well. We returned to the house for a quick swim - well the 2 girls going all the way in and daddy sitting on the step holding Caitlin in waist high. After that, Daddy put chicken on the grill and we went to deliver some Easter lillies to some neighbors. Time got away from us and before we knew it, we came back to some "jerk-looking" chicken. So it was hot dogs, mac and cheese and oranges for dinner. No complaints from the kids!!

As I was attempting to upload pictures and blog this wonderful day, I was being summoned by Delilah. She came running in saying "Mommy, Caitlin has her hand in daddy's toilet." So off I went running down the hallway. By the time we got to the toilet, which Delilah said over and over that she flushed.... Caitlin was sitting on the seat with her legs in the water. The child LOVES water - guess since we didn't allow her to really swim in the pool, she decided to go to the next best thing (oh - cause I forgot to mention that when we took her out of being in the freezing pool for five minutes, she screamed bloody murder for 10 minutes straight!!)

Now, all three are asleep. Off I go to work on my second to last MOPS newsletter and enjoy some quiet time with Daddy. Thanking God for sending us His son to die for our sins!! Oh - and that brings up another thing from today - I don't think poor Mikayla could watch Passion of the Christ until she is at least 18. Poor thing was watching as I was changing channels this afternoon. A movie called Barrabas (sp??) was on one of the channels I flipped on - he was the one that Jesus took his spot to be crucified. And the moment we turned it on, all three were on the cross. Mikayla looked so sad and asked "Which one is Jesus?" I told her and then flipped the channel. Poor thing was about to cry - fortunately it was a 1960 movie and didn't have the graphics that the newer movies have.

Hope everyone had a blessed Easter! He Has Risen!!

Our little Easter bunnies (thanks Grandma!)

Caitlin in her Easter best

All three girls loving the spring weather!

Morning Easter Egg Hunt

Checking out the goodies...

Caitlin just wanting to ride in the Easter basket

A Day Trip to the Bay

Today, we decided to chance the weather and headed out to San Francisco to visit the Exploratorium. Big mistake!! There was an hour wait just to get in - however, because we had membership to a museum in Sacramento with visit rights to other museums, we didn't have to wait in the long line. But inside, we weren't treated any different. Still had to rub shoulders with all the other spring breakers. The girls enjoyed it and it would be nice to take them back when there are less people. After leaving there, we headed to the Jelly Belly Factory. Another big spring break/Easter visiting spot! But the girls had a blast in the cafe eating a lunch/dinner and then going shopping for belly flops. They didn't get to do the tour but didn't know they were missing out on it anyway. We will take them back another time when it isn't an hour wait for the tour.

Delilah doing what she does best - investigating how things work.

Watching the marbles go down.

Trying to scare Daddy with a skeleton

We think this is Goldilock's adopted family's chairs.

Our brief visit to the Jelly Belly Factory

Check out the posers!

Chuck-E-Disease??

We hadn't seen our friends for a while so when they invited us to meet them up at Chuck E Cheese - and the girls had never been there - we were excited to meet them. Of course, the girls had a total blast! And we used up a bottle of hand sanitizer.

Okay - so I hadn't been there for a while, but when did kids start asking strange adults for tokens and when did older kids start asking younger kids for their tokens???  Did that happen when I went there? I don't remember that. And I was completely astonished at the boldness.  Wow!!!  The funny thing is, I saw lots of little kids giving up their tokens to the older kids (that was why Mommy and Daddy kept a hold of our girls tokens)  :-)

Mikayla and Jasmyn on a rollercoaster simulator

Delilah and Caitlin in a HUGE rocking horse

Delilah on a jockey simulator horse

Caitlin not too sure about riding with Chuck E

The girls squeezed into the horse

Another rollercoaster simulator that puts the faces on a tv screen above the ride... COOL!

Caitlin thinking she is a big girl just running around the place.

Caitlin and Ms. Cindy

Mikayla going down the slide before heading out for the night.

Kindergarten Next Year

I am praising God right now and had to let everyone know.  My husband is not reachable to share this joyous news.  So I am sharing with the world.  (no we are not pregnant!!)

For those of you who knew... we were (or more so I was - but Michael was impressed) wanting the girls to get into the California Montessori Project.  It is a charter montessori program that doesn't cost except volunteer time (70 hours in the classroom for me).  Those not familiar with the program  - a quick overview is it is almost like a homeschool setting in a school.  The kids are doing things on their own level, their own pace and not being held back or left behind by sticking to a strict curriculum and time frame.  When we visited, kids were all throughout the room, laying on the floor doing work, sitting at tables doing work, even standing.  I just felt this would be beneficial for both girls so neither would be left behind if they couldn't grasp a concept or for either of them to move into more advance stuff if the concept was easy for them - and they wouldn't be bored.  

Only thing is it is a long day - 8:30 - 2:30 pm but they have past the nap time now so I think that because they are older 5 year olds when Kindergarten starts, is going to be extremely beneficial for them.  Tomorrow, after I drop them off to school, I will be taking Caitlin by to pick up the new student packets - WHOO HOOO!!!  I truly love paperwork when it comes to stuff like that.

We are BACK!! Here's what has been going on....

As the previous blog entry, the girls went in for surgery on March 13th. Delilah came out flailing her arms and yelling "I want food". So she was back to her normal self. Poor Mikayla was another scene. She actually took one plus hour to wake up but when she did, she actually was very sweet and loopy. It was the next day that the poor girl could not hold down food or water and then again on Sunday. She was given some medicine to help her nausea at the ER and she was able to drink again and slowly start eating food. Of course she wanted to eat sooner than she should on things, so it made it harder - and made for many meals of whining. It literally took her two full weeks to recover. Much longer than it did Delilah 2 years ago.

But not that the girls stuff was enough, I went to the doctor's the week following the girls surgery. I was so sick to my stomach - I couldn't eat or drink and had achiness all throughout my body as well as the worst headaches ever. A few days after my initial visit, the doctor called to tell me I had H.Pylori (sp?). Basically it is a bacteria usually in some food or water that eats the inner-lining of my stomach, possibly causing ulcer. (which is probably what I ended up with) But the diagnosis was such as relief as I have had nausea on and off for almost a year. I am now on a treatment regimen that has helped tremendously as well as mess up my taste buds, making things bitter - so coffee (except for a Starbuck's foo-foo drink) is not appealing any longer. I have turned to my daily morning tea and have actually enjoyed the detachment from coffee. I AM FREE!!!

Poor Mikayla - fell asleep crying due to horrible pain in her ear and throat (fell asleep at 6 pm and didn't wake till 7:30 the next morning)

So I am off my addiction - but I am starting Caitlin on it - Vanilla Bean Frappucino! And she loves it and did a little jig. Caitlin playing fetch with Popcorn.

Mikayla and Delilah wrestling... Mikayla won this one.
Caitlin watching them through her legs.

One of my favorite pics... Caitlin walked backwards to the dog bed, sat down, and cheesed.

The girls playing in their tent city ($3 brand new at a garage sale!)

The tent city, consisting of four tunnels, one tent, and one tee-pee, took up the whole playroom.

Mikayla looking through the mesh top of the tent.

Caitlin sitting outside of the tee-pee

Delilah playing the piano in the tee-pee

The girls taking a break for animal cracker snacks.

That is all the excitement that has happened (minus other irritating things at the home - but won't go into that). Michael is off next week for spring break and amongst doctor's appointments, we have some fun planned for the girls.