Happy Easter!

 Happy Easter!!  Jesus has risen!

Ramsey and I were the first ones up on Sunday morning for church.  While Ramsey was eating breakfast, he couldn't help but find a few scattered Easter eggs throughout the house.  I reminded him that he had to wait until we got back from church and lunch - and for Connor!  It was difficult, but he made it.

We picked up Nana K from her apartment and went to Easter church celebration.  

Afterwards, we went downtown to a new place on Main Street to have Easter brunch.

It was a bit unconventional, but it had been such a chaotic week, I was thankful to not have to cook or do dishes.   And, we had plans to get back home to try to get the dock in the lake (the WIND has been horrendous this entire month).

When we returned home, the boys found the letter from Easter Bunny Harry.  

Once again, he'd set up a scavenger hunt for the boys.  And, once again, it was too cold and windy to have any outside hunting, so it was all indoors.  

Each clue was found in funny little places.  And, apparently when Harry was in the pantry, he about got buried.  I guess it's time to clean out the pantry.

The last clue got them to the office, where the boys found their baskets full of candy and presents.

Connor received only items to rot the teeth (and good thing he still has a great metabolism).   Ramsey received a Geode kit and two books from the Dog Man series (in addition to some sugary goodies).

Family Circus

Now, I don't recall the last time we were ALL together to go to the circus (due to where ever Connor was to be for the particular weekend).  Neverind, I checked.  We never have.  I do remember taking Connor many times and Ramsey at times, but never all of us together.  It's a first!

We went to the late Friday night show.  Ramsey picked out the light-up toys he wanted (Connor said he was OK and passed on the toys) and we headed for the bouncy castle.

Dad headed over to get popcorn and cotton candy.  :-)    Then, Ramsey rode the elephant.  Again, Connor said "I'm good" and watched on the sideline with me.  😂

Ramsey said he was quite scared up there and didn't care for it much.  He enjoyed it the last few times he went.   We forewent camel rides and pictures with the "circus unicorn".  

There weren't any lions or tigers this year, which was a bit of a bummer.

But, there were lots of fun acts; entertaining clowns, tricky dogs, clever horses, ladies who twirled in silks and ropes...  And then, there was THIS guy.  He truly was defying death.  He nearly fell a few times.  And once, when he faltered, he rode the bottom of the sphere down to the ground and pummeled into the audience.  It was nuts!  ...Pretty awesome though.

We did, however, leave right after intermission.   It was late and Ramsey'd had enough.  I would have stayed!    I'm already looking forward to next year.  ☺

That said, when we got home, the boys weren't quite done carousing yet.  

There is literally nothing I love more than a house full of laughter; it makes my heart smile so much.

Connor's Home!

 Connor is like a celebrity around here.  When he comes home from college, everyone is excited.  And Jango... well, Jango really has no idea what to do with himself sometimes.  😂

Kind-Of Playing Hooky

 Today, the weather was supposed to be REALLY bad; snow, wind, ice, fog, freezing ran.  And, when I looked outside, the roads were slick, the temps were freezing, the wind was nuts, and it was extremely foggy.  It was 6AM and I was up and awake for the day.  There wasn't a call from the school calling anything off, which I thought was odd. 

I don't know what it was, but something just in my gut said, "Let Ramsey stay home today."   I was worried about the roads and the weather.  So, I stayed up and let Ramsey sleep in.

Within a few hours, the fog had completely lifted, the roads dried up, and the wind wasn't awful.  My gut may have failed me on this one.  SO... basically Ramsey got sort of a day to "play hooky" from school.  Yikes!  When I was a kid, my Mom would let me do this so we could spend a day together doing something fun.  Those were the best days! 

Ramsey spent his day hanging out with Daddy (and me when I could get away!), playing Army Guys, light sabers, listening to his now-favorite band (Sabotan), and playing with cardboard boxes.  That's educational!! 😉

We did have one sad dude in the house though; Jango was glum because he had been blocked out of Ramsey's play area in the kitchen/dining area.  Ramsey had quite a spread of toys set up for various battles and what-not.  Jango had been unable to leave them alone.

So... hooky day.  Sorry, not sorry!

Improvements with Swim Lessons

 I know it may not seem like "a big deal" for improvements with swim lessons for Ramsey at Age 8.  But, he has always been quite tentative with the water (not a terrible thing when a small child is living on a lake!), but it also held him back from being a fluent swimmer.   

In previous years of swim lessons, he was less able to focus and learn true swimming techniques.  Really, most of what he learned was from us, while swimming in the lake - essentially "doggy paddling" with a life jacket.

The fact that he is now "showing off" and dunking his head under water and allowing his face to be in the water is quite an achievement for him!

He's now learning how to back float, front float, freestyle, and backstroke.

He needs to learn to keep air in his lungs so he stays afloat better, but he has started to blossom and is not holding back as he used to.

When formal swim lessons are complete for the day, it's off for a few minutes of "free swim"/play.  This is probably Ramsey's favorite part of swim lessons!

Ramsey told me that he would like to have his next birthday party at the Family Y.   Great idea!

Mystery Reader

At the last parent/teacher conferences, Ramsey's teacher asked if either Eric or I would come into the classroom to be a "Mystery Reader".    Eric offered me, since he says I am the more "animated one".  ha!  I was happy to oblige. 😊

 It was a secret we'd had to keep from Ramsey for weeks!  That was rather difficult, but we managed.

In the morning, there were clues given as to who the mystery guest was.  Of course, Ramsey knew. 

Apparently I was the first parent to be the Mystery Reader this year, so it was something new for everyone.   I took cookies and apple juice for the kiddos to chow on while I read.   

I chose two of Ramsey's and my favorite spins on fairy tales, "The Real Story of the Big Bad Wolf" and "The Stinky Cheese Man" (a substory of the book "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales").

The kids seemed to enjoy the books, though some of them admitted to having heard them before (but they noted they were still very happy to hear them again!).  

It was fun to meet the kids I hadn't had the pleasure to get to know yet.  Some were VERY chatty and outgoing.  And, I got a TON of hugs when I was there -  plus many requests for play dates with Ramsey.

Update:  The next day, Ramsey handed me this super sweet card that the kids made and signed.  Per Orion, I am "the best"!  (I knew I liked that kid!! haha!)

Reading to Recess - March

 Another successful "Reading to Recess" challenge for March!