Birthdays, Bunnies and way Behind

Do you ever feel like things just happened yesterday and then realized yikes.... I haven't written a post since January.  So I guess blogging really isn't my thing.  I knew that going into it but somehow felt like the skies would open up and magically I would have like 12 extra hours a day to frolic and write of my lovely family, my hopes and dreams and the beauty of each day.... no really.  Any one who know my precious family knows that there is barely enough time to take a shower in our days let alone spend time with other lovely, only on Facebook or Pinterest, ideals of all that one should do as a mom.  So I'm a little late.

We celebrated Dylan's 4th birthday in February.  The weeks leading up to his birthday he was so excited.  All he wanted was an Angry Bird birthday.  He didn't care what presents he got but he know that it must be an Angry Bird theme.  He was very particular how he wanted the cake and kept checking to make sure that I was making it how he wanted.  Then he would praise me "Good job Mommy."   Looking at that sweet little face I couldn't believe that he was turning 4.  He's my baby and on his birthday I looked at him and somehow in a moment he went from a baby to a stinky little boy.  The kind of boy who tried to pick things off of the birthday cake and eat them when no one was looking.  The kind of little boy who demanded the Red "Angee" Bird then proceeded to stab it in the head with a fork.  It made me smile, I love seeing him do little boy things.  With 2 big sisters I wasn't sure he was ever going to do anything but play dress up and drive the barbie around in his dump truck.  But I have to admit, it made me sad.  When I was holding him that night I looked at him and said "you'll always be my baby."  Something that I have said to him since he was a baby.  And then it happened.  He looked at he with those wide blue eyes and said "I not your baby.  I'm a bog boy."  Little did he know that those words were a knife that cut straight through me.  He had always looked at me, held me close and said, "Mommy I'll always be your baby."  It was as if those words confirmed what I already knew was true, my sweet baby boy was now a big boy.  Before I know it he will be heading off to Kindergarten and waving goodbye as I leave him to begin a new adventure.  Then in a blink of an eye, my baby will be heading off to college.  But for now, he's not too big to snuggle with his mommy and tell her he loves her and I treasure every minute of it.

I don't know what happened to the month of March.  It was as if it never existed.  I think the weather was so warm it was as if we just skipped it all together and moved on into April.  My babies decided they wanted to go swimming in March.  We were already outside so I said sure put your feet in, knowing the water was still freezing, and within 5 minutes the crazies were jumping off of the dock into the lake.  The first few times I stood at the end of the dock ready to fish them out knowing that as they disappeared into the water, the cold would take their breath away and they would need to be rescued.  But time and time again their little heads would pop up out of the water and they would be smiling ear to ear.  Then the smiles turned into giggles that no one could resist.  I love to watch them play.  They are just so carefree and full of joy that it makes my heart melt.  Between work and the to do lists, we grown ups forget how to let it all go, forget the what ifs, and just jump up.  So what if it's cold, its all worth it.  I think that's one of the million reasons why God gives us children.  To remind us what it's like to give our burdens and worries to Him and to live the life that he designed for us,  securely knowing that He is in control and will pull us out of the water if we need it.  I pray to be more like my kids.  To live in the moment, letting go of the little things, trying new things that may be scary but worth the risk and finding joy in every moment.

Then alone came Easter and all the fun that goes with it.  The girls love dying Easter eggs.  They are both so artistic and this year we attempted to use Kool Aid to dye the eggs.  It was really neat but can't said that it worked exceptionally better than regular dye but the kids did love it.

We went to the annual Easter egg hunt and the library which the kids always enjoy.  They are in 3 different age groups so it's rough but Layla has her moments of such kindness that she said she didn't mind if we missed hers to take the little kids.  She was so proud that she was a big kid.

We also went to the Easter Carnival at church.  The kids always have a great time at the carnival and got to get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny.  Layla in true 8 year old fashion pronounced that that wasn't the real Easter bunny... he must be where he lives preparing the candy for Easter the next day.  The bunny at church was "just some guy dressed in a costume" but she didn't care it wasn't the "Real" Easter bunny.  Davis in her stubborn must be right fashion protested for hours that the bunny was the REAL Easter bunny then they proceeded to convince everyone why they were right.





Jamie had to work Easter this year (Sigh, Frown, Huff) so it was just me and the kids Easter morning.  The girls were kind enough to stop hunting eggs to pose for a good egg hunt picture so that I could get the video camera out to get some egg hunt footage for Jamie to watch.  Dylan on the other hand was full out speed demon, refusing to slow down for one moment.  I remember the days when the kids would get one egg, stop to open it and have a celebration about the candy, eat it then move to the next egg.  Not this year, the competition was fierce for who could get the most eggs in thier wagon that the Easter bunny brought for them.  But the girls were so sweet to  Dylan and shared their eggs so that Dylan could have as many as they did.  They have such great moments where they are such great big sisters, other times not so much :)

We then hurried off to church then to mom and dads.  Along the way we stopped for the always beautiful, always disasterous photo session at the front enterance to their neighborhood.  I don't know what makes me think that an 8 year old, 6 year old, and 4 year are going to kindly smile and cooperate on cue to get some pictures in their Easter clothes.  I am always optomistic, with bribery in place, and think that this year will be the year that it takes 5 minutes, we get great pictures and are done with it.  In usual Carter family picture fashion, it took 30 minutes, LOTS of terrible pictures and drama outbreaks, but in the end they came through with love and smiles.  After a wonderful time at grandma and papa with Bradfords we packed up and headed to Jamie's parents to cap off our day with another egg hunt and some relaxing time by the pool.  CRAZINESS but always worth the fatigue and work to see those beautiful smiles.