{easter fun}

Our Easter celebrations have been spread out over the past few weeks, but I really wanted to make sure we fit everything in, and because wasn't sure what the end of the month would be like.

A couple of weeks ago we colored eggs, and while it was rather an informal affair, the kids loved it. It's funny how they're personalities come through even with things like coloring eggs.  Ryan knew exactly what he wanted to do, and had it done very quickly.  Kate wanted something fun, and wasn't afraid to experiment.  Emma was the total perfectionist, asked a million questions about the colors, and took awhile to decide...she wanted pink.  :)  Henry was my little scientist, and colored and re-colored his eggs at least 12 times.  They ended up being the favorites of the night...a little like dinosaur eggs. He was VERY proud. Jack was only interested in the green color, and finally did one blue at the very end.  He was focused on his mission, and completed it.  For the first time in years, we actually dyed hard boiled eggs! Usually I use raw eggs, but I've never had a three year old named Henry, either.  I shouldn't have worried--he did surprisingly well, and not one egg was dropped!

Easter baskets arrive at our house on Saturday, and that's when we do our egg hunt as well.  We like separating the "fun" from Easter Sunday, so we can really focus on the actual meaning of Easter on Sunday. I think it makes it easier for my kids to separate in their minds as well, and it's always worked really well for us.  So...last night was our big flashlight egg hunt.  This was a new thing we tried last year, and it was such a hit that it was requested again this year. I was happy to oblige--I think it's really fun, and the eggs are faster to hide.  :)  We did baths, got jammies on, and watched a movie until it got dark.  Then there was the traditional treasure hunt to find their baskets, and the three older ones raced around the house following the clues.  The boys had fallen asleep on the couch during the movie (it was their bedtime...), and were still trying to wake up so they missed out on the hunt.  They found their baskets in the bathtub in the playroom bathroom, and they were a huge hit.  Our baskets are pretty simple---candy, a few fun outside things like jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, and bubbles, plus a book for everyone and a new movie for Ryan.  We distributed flashlights, then headed out to hunt.  Kate was done first--in record time, and I wasn't surprised a bit.  One-by-one they finished up and sat a the picnic table to open their eggs and eat the loot.  

Yep-a late night with lots of candy involved with early church in the morning, but hey, you only live once, right?  :) 

{introducing miss caroline}

Caroline Elizabeth was born at 12:44pm on March 20, 2013.  She weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces, and was 21 1/2 inches long.  She came with a double chin, chubby cheeks, and the cutest little face you've ever seen.  

 

 

Because of two past c-sections, and the fact that I had been carrying twins both times, my doctor confirmed at the beginning of my pregnancy that I would be delivering via c-section at 39 weeks, unless I went into labor on my own before that.  The risk of pre-term delivery was higher this time around, since my girls were born at 34 weeks, and boys at 35 weeks.  Even though their prematurity was due to the fact that they were multiple births, once your body has been through early labor, the chances go up that it will happen again.  

My lovely and amazing parents came the third week in February to stay with us and help me with kids and house, and with Rick still gone over 100 hours a week or more, it was perfect timing.  I ended up going all the way to 39 weeks, and I honestly believe that it was in part due to the fact that I was able to rest so much more than I would have otherwise.  My dad has taken on the kids, and entertained the boys everyday. He's currently putting our new (and huge) play set together in the backyard, and let me tell you, it's quite the undertaking! They've gone on a million trips to the park, snake-hunting adventures in the woods, packed lots of lunches in backpacks, ridden the trolley, been to the library and story time, ridden bikes and scooters all over the neighborhood, and more.  My mom has been the laundry queen, and with five (now six) kids, that's a job in and of itself. They've both taken on ballet, piano practice, soccer games, bath time, bed time, homework, taking and picking up from school, making meals, packing lunches, and so much more.  I really couldn't have made it through it without them, and I'm so grateful for everything they've done.  We are really going to miss them when they leave next week! 

It was wonderful to have them here while I was in the hospital. I ended up needing to stay in the hospital longer than usual--five days--and it was really nice to be able to have Rick with me each night.  Because I wasn't able to take care of the baby much at all, someone was with me at all times.  My mom came three days in a row and stayed all day, bringing with her our favorite movies to watch.  When she was 4 days old, Caroline had already watched Pride & Prejudice (BBC version), and all of Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea!  It was so fun to have her there with me, and it made the experience so much more bearable.  Rick and my dad stayed at home to man the fort, finish the boys' bunk beds, and set up the crib.  They were super busy, and made it all happen.  All of them are super stars!!!

The kids came up to see the baby and me when she was just a few hours old, and it will always remain one of my favorite moments.  They have been anxiously awaiting her arrival for a long time, and finally the time was here to meet her!  The look on their faces when they saw her will stay with me forever--it was so sweet. They each held her, and each had to take a turn feeding her.  I could tell that I was going to have plenty of helpers once we got home--they love their baby sister!!!

{Seeing the world for the first time...}

 

{First Visitors}

{Going Home}

This picture was taken the morning I went into the hospital--the fab five for the last time!!

Now there were six...

 

  

Every seat filled!!! 

This little baby girl is absolutely adored by us all, and we are smitten!  ♥♥♥♥♥♥

{rodeo: texas style}

I started hearing about the Houston rodeo when we moved here last summer--nine months before it was to begin!  I decided then and there that we would it become one of our new Texas traditions, and yesterday we were able to experience it for the first time.  

Since moving here, we've applied the cliche "everything's bigger in Texas" to just about everything around us, and this rodeo was no different.  It's held at Reliant Stadium and Reliant Park, which is where the Houston Texans play, and it IS the largest rodeo in the US.  This rodeo is a BIG deal--it spans three weeks, has millions of visitors, and hosts major performers--this year alone it was Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Mary J. Blige, Martina McBride, George Strait, Toby Keith, Demi Lovato, Styx, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, and more. I would have loved to have gone to a concert this year, but not this late in the game, lol.  I can't wait to go next year, though!  

We headed down as a family yesterday, and we were excited to have my parents with us.  There is SO much to do there, you really have to pick and choose what you want to do the most.  Since I was 11 days away from having a baby, we weren't even sure how long we could stay, so we made a list of the things we wanted to do first, and started there.  

Yes...we started with the food.  Can you say FOOD?  I can't even explain to you how many vendors and restaurants were set up there, and the array of food choices was almost staggering.  I really haven't been to a venue that large before, but it was fun to look at all the options. We ate a yummy lunch, and then headed off to see all the animals in "Agventure" and "Kid Country".  

There were animals of all kinds, and you could get up close and personal to take a look at all of them, including babies that had just been born.  The kids were in heaven, and it was pretty exciting to walk around such a huge area with so many people and so much to look at. 

We also had to go on over to the carnival, which was seriously the biggest carnival I've ever been to in my life.  This was no local carnival, that's for sure!  Once again, we were bombarded with the smells of popcorn, cotton candy, turkey legs, BBQ, and snow cones, in addition to the sight of millions of blinking lights from the rides, and the sounds of laughter and carnival games.  Kate thought she had died and gone to heaven, and all Henry wanted to do was ride the ferris wheel.  The ENORMOUS ferris wheel.  They all chose the rides they wanted, and we we went from ride to ride so they could try them out.

What do you follow up great rides with?  Treats, of course!  :)  Cotton candy and giant snow cones were the kids' choice, but Rick and I went for something a little more...decadent.  They also offered deep fried anything and everything, so we decided to try the deep fried Oreos and a deep fried Snickers bar.  WOW.  Let's just say I couldn't eat one everyday, or even once a month--I think once a year is plenty--but they were both delicious.  Once I have the baby, I think I'm going to need to run 10 miles per Oreo I ate, and I'm so glad I don't actually know how many calories were in it, lol.

We had wanted to go to the actual rodeo as well, but it was already late in the day, and I was ready to head home.  We had church super early the next morning (8:30am church, plus Daylight Savings Time = 7:30am church), and the kids were showing how tired they were. 

I'm just glad we could make it at all, because I wasn't sure we would be able to, with the timing of the baby being so close.  We loved it, but we also have a list of things to do and try next year...a concert or two, mutton bustin' (they all want to try it!), the rodeo, and maybe deep fried cookie dough.  :) I can already tell it is going to be a much-loved family tradition!!

{Henry was fascinated by this pig!  There were two people in there, rolling him over, patting him, and trying to get him to stand up. Apparently, they will sleep all day if you let them, so they make them get up several times a day to get their circulation moving.  It was pretty funny to watch this process, but he finally got up!!!}

 
{Branded!}

{Learning about the cotton gin}

 

 
{Kate and Rick are somewhere up there.  Kate loved it.  Rick didn't. :) }



{Henry's Ferris Wheel!  Good thing he had Poppy to take him, because I couldn't go, and Rick was having no part of it.}



 

{Deep fried Oreos}

{Deep fried Snickers--Rick ate this in three bites!}

{This funnel cake was gone in seconds...YUM!}

 

 

{Long day finally catching up with these boys...}

 

 

It was really so fun, and the late night (and early morning) were worth it!