Hippity Hoppity!

We kicked off a great Easter weekend with a visit from Aunt Vee beginning Thursday night. Shortly after Aunt Vee arrived, we went out for dinner where we could dine alfresco. Marin had Mac and Cheese, bites from all of our plates (you don't dare eat something and not let her taste it), and one semi-break down (I want to get down from this high chair and run around the patio! Who cares about the fact that people are eating!) luckily avoided thanks to a group effort to divert her attention.

Friday was another gorgeous day. Marin began the day at the park shortly after she woke up. I think she figured that if Aunt Vee was going to stay for a while, she better know where the park is. Later, we walked downtown, stopping in a few stops, and when Marin picked up a small purse and wouldn't put it down, Aunt Vee bought it for her and had her named embroidered on the front. Then, we met Daddy and Norah at the cupcake shop where Daddy and Marin split a red velvet cupcake. As if the day couldn't get any better- Auntie Molly, Uncle Bri and Ruby came by and we all went to Island Park where Marin played, and the dogs ran like crazy. When everyone was tired, and the dogs had jumped in the river and through enough mud to completely cover their coats, we walked home. Once we were there, the dogs had a bath, the adults had a drink, and Marin opened her Easter basket from Aunt Vee. And, after pizza for dinner, Marin slept long and hard.

The next morning Marin woke up well rested to find that (hooray!) Aunt Vee was still here, and (bonus!) Grandma and Grandpa were home! On special request, we all had pancakes together and heard all about Grandma and Grandpa's trip. After Aunt Vee left Saturday afternoon, we dyed Easter eggs- although we were really pushing it with Marin's nap, so Jason and I ended up doing most of the dying, while Marin slept and dreamt of eating them. Saturday night Marin headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's house while Jason and I enjoyed a delicious dinner out with Molly and Brian at our favorite local spot. After dinner we scooped Marin up, brought her home to sleep in her own bed, and thanks to sound proof plaster walls, laughed with Molly and Brian until Jason literally fell asleep at the table.

The Easter bunny visited our house, and Sunday morning after breakfast, Marin went outside to "find" her eggs that the bunny "hid" on the lawn. Marin gathered up as many eggs as she could carry in her hands until she couldn't fit anymore, and then decided to put them in the basket. The Easter bunny also brought Marin an Easter basket- filled with lots of goodies, including a life jacket, bubbles, puzzles, a pink glitter ball, bunny glasses, a new outfit, and a few water toys to play with in the yard this summer. I was especially surprised to see how well that Easter bunny knew Jason, because when corned beef was on sale at Costco and Jason bought 5 lbs (about 3 more pounds than I thought necessary, and about 10 pounds less than Jason wanted to buy) wouldn't you know, that the Easter bunny brought 9 more pounds for him in a basket! (translation: Jason went out and bought himself more meat, then put it in a basket on the lawn and said that the Easter bunny brought it).

After baskets, and a lovely Mass where Marin carried her Easter purse on one hand, and her child's rosary on the other, and was very well behaved but a little antsy; our family joined us for dinner- our first holiday hosted in our new home. Along with a soft purple bunny, Marin found really cool bubbles in her basket from Aunt Lindsay, and watched in amazement as she and Aunt Katy and Uncle Jake showed her how they worked in the front yard. At dinner, Marin happily polished off lamb and ham and orzo with roasted vegetables, and asparagus and carrot cake AND cookies. And didn't manage to spill a lick of it on her darling (white) Easter dress from Grandma. I know Jesus' rising from the dead is a wonderful miracle, and I considered the unscathed white dress as a bit of a modern day miracle.

Everyone helped clean up and then we opened Easter baskets from Grandma and Grandpa. Marin loved all of her treats- and at one point tried to put on all of her new outfits at once. She also got books and stuff animals and a new pair of shoes plus other goodies that she would pull out of the basket and then parade around the room. Jason and I also got some Sanibel goodies in our basket- that Grandma Bunny is very generous!

Marin ended the day by talking to Pappy on skype to show him all of her new tricks. And, after she was in her jammies, she fell right to sleep and slept for just over 12 hours.

The cheesy thing in the mall might be scary looking, but it turns out that Easter bunny isn't too bad after all. What a great weekend. And as I said yesterday, we are thankful for our faith, for our friends, for our family, for the miracle of Easter and the spring season... and also for Lent being over, so I can resume eating sweets.