Happy Easter 2014!

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So Owen was up early with Tom as usual and told Tom that there was an R2-D2 downstairs. That’s one of the “eggs” we hid, and Tom knew he hadn’t been downstairs so was perplexed as to how he knew about it. So he had a talk with him about lying. But Owen claimed he wasn’t lying so Tom finally said “Okay, show me.” And Owen took him to the landing which overlooks the entryway…and part of the toy room where Katie’s changing station is…where Tom had, in fact, placed an R2-D2 on the corner in plain sight!! Mr. Eagle Eyes strikes again!!

Then, surprisingly, when we headed downstairs, he completely missed the egg on the windowsill on the landing…Katie actually saw it as she was coming down (in video).

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Owen sharing his eggs with Katie because we warned him not to grab all the eggs before she could see them!

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He loved the R2-D2 containers!

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She found about three eggs and then she was done—she was opening them and eating the candy as fast as she could!

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We tried to get a double bunny ear picture but it wasn’t happening. This was all we got. 🙂

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She wanted her bubbles right away!

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Dinosaur apron from Grannie Lin!

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Chocolate bunny and Lego from Grandma Marsha and Uncle Rob!

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Some of the eggs had barrettes and hair ties for Katie! She’s putting one on her wrist here.

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Owen REALLY LOVED his chick!

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Both kids ate a package of the Despicable Me gummies Grandma Marsha sent!

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“Open please daddy?”

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Now watch me as I try to shove all four eggs in my mouth at once!

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This is daddy laughing at how piggy Katie is being.

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A full mouth!

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“Bunny!!!”

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The aftermath!

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You can see her hoarding her Robins Eggs. 🙂

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Overall it was a great success! I think they missed a few eggs so they’ll find them throughout the day. And while candy and chocolate was their pre-breakfast snack, they didn’t do too badly!

Me three!

When I picked Owen up from school today, he asked where Papa and Grannie were. I reminded him they went home today and that I took them to the airport after we dropped him off at school.

Owen: But I don’t want them to go home!
Me: I know, buddy. I miss them…and Katie misses them.
Owen: I miss them, too—heh heh—I mean me three!

Trying to sell clothes to a resale shop

So, after Lin’s help sorting and organizing, I finally took two huge bins of Katie’s old clothes to the local resale place (Once Upon A Child). I was fully prepared to be outraged at the amount they offered me because I have seen others get pissy and I just assumed they would offer a pittance…but I wanted to try it at least once. So, I came up with the lowest number I would accept—$40, which would make each piece worth less than 50¢ (disappointing, but at least I wouldn’t have to deal with the stuff again). I even had Linda carefully pick out any stained things because I know that’s a big no-no.

So I dropped off the stuff and waited for the phone call. They called about 9pm to tell me it was done, but they couldn’t tell me my offer over the phone. So it was about three days before I was able to make it in. So I take a deep breath and go in. She brings over their blue box with a smattering of my clothes in it and says “These are what we could accept” and it’s literally maybe 1/4 of one box. I get ready to stifle my outrage at the offer…and she tells me $40.17.

Wait. What?

Yep, $40 for the tiny selection when I would have taken $40 for BOTH full bins. Needless to say I was shocked—AND THRILLED—but also extremely confused because I didn’t think there was anything wrong with any of it. So I asked why they couldn’t accept the other stuff. She said they don’t take blankets or socks (which I know was specific to my stuff) but then she went on about pieces missing from sets and stains. Okay, whatever. She may have just been spouting the generic company line…so when I got home we checked everything out again—just out of curiosity, mind you—with a fine-tooth comb.

Aside from the blankets and socks, we only found two pieces with stains and two things that were actually labeled as part of a set that didn’t have the matching pieces. But otherwise everything else was perfectly fine. Like footie PJs that were brand new, never worn, just washed (stuff Katie skipped size-wise). Or ones that were like new, definitely no stains, etc. Brand new onesies, etc. A perfectly nice dress that was in pristine condition that was NOT part of a set…?? And the best thing? Stuff I bought there a few months ago that was only worn once…and they wouldn’t take it back.

I just don’t get it. I mean, I’m happy with the money I got, but I am completely flummoxed as to why they wouldn’t take that stuff. The only thing I can think is they had an overstock of those items (though you’d think footie PJs would be hot since it’s the right season) and she just didn’t mention that. Sooooooo, I’m going to take it all back in a few months and see what happens. 🙂

Helping Grannie make apple pies!

I requested Lin’s apple pies for the freezer, so that was today’s project…and Owen was “helping.” Lin said he was very patient the whole time. 🙂

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Owen was playing with Stuffy (the blue dinosaur from Doc McStuffins) and was attaching him to the apple peeler using a rubberband as a safety harness.

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No, Katie. PLEASE not yet.

Grannie Lin told me this morning that she was in Katie’s room putting away clothes while Katie was still in her crib…and she watched Katie kick her leg up onto the side rail.

Uh oh.

The mattress is down as far as it can go…so now we have to watch her like a hawk when we put her down—and especially when she wakes up—to make sure she doesn’t get too antsy and try to escape.

Owen was 25 months old when he got moved to a big boy bed…so I’m really hoping she lasts QUITE a bit longer in her crib. At least until Tom gets home…and hopefully longer.

Fire truck field trip!

It was only outside to the school parking lot but it’s still considered a field trip. 🙂

The class got to see a real fire engine, walk through it, and talk to the firemen. He also got his own fireman’s hat (though I didn’t get a good pic of him in it).

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We were all asking him about it on the way home from the airport…

Grannie: Did they sound the siren?
Owen: No, you only do that in an emergency.
Papa: Did they shoot water from the hose?
Owen: No, you only do that when there’s a fire.

Well, he IS right. 🙂

Happy Early Birthday, Katie!

Her second first birthday onesie!

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Her birthday balloon and bib at the hotel for her party!

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Making faces with Papa.

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Amazingly, she didn’t dive into the cake.

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Singing Happy Birthday and big brother helping blow out the candle! (Yes, it’s a little blurry. I have a FAIL every now and again.)

Also amazingly, she didn’t make much of a mess. Yes, SHE got messy, but she ate the whole piece and none hit the floor!

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Her new suit and coverup from Grauntie Rose!

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Up and out completely on her own!

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She would have dove in had Tom let her.

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It was impossible to get all three looking at me at the same time.

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She kept trying to drink the water!

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She loved playing with Papa’s toes!

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Drying off with Grandma Marsha.

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Waiting to open presents!

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A fun game Katie had with some grandparents…

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Hotel fun with Papa and Grannie

We were on our way to the Ramada to go swimming with Papa and Grannie.

Tom (jokingly): We have to follow them—I don’t know where we’re going.
Owen: We’re going to the hotel, silly!

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Tom taught him “time out!”

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Playground at the hotel:

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He climbed up all by himself! Grannie was a nervous wreck…me, not so much. 🙂

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Daddy did most of the work but Owen understood the process.

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Tom waiting to surprise owen!

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In Grannie Lin’s socks to be more slippery for going down the slide!

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Then in her sweatshirt so he could more easily go down head first!

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Attempted nap time

Tom came home from work early today and surprised us! I’ve recently moved Owen’s nap from 1:00 to 1:30 (as he only sleeps maybe 1.5 hours anymore) so he was still going to be up when Tom got home.

Tom wanted to nap (since he was up at 3:30 this morning) but Owen wanted to be with him, so Owen promised to TRY and nap next to him. I was downstairs with Katie and heard activity so knew it wasn’t going well. Then Tom yelled down that he was getting the Xbox ready for Owen.

Later, Tom told me what happened. He said it was so cute because Owen was really trying hard to be still and stay quiet but he was a ball of energy. Tom was sneakily watching him and saw Owen just grinning and grinning.

Tom: Owen, what are you thinking about?
Owen: Grannie and Papa.
Tom: What about Grannie and Papa?
Owen: They’re at home.

And then he was intrigued by the ceiling (which has an octagonal cut out). So nap time was over. 🙂