Bases Loaded with One on Deck

Easter Morning

 

Easter Egg Dying 101

Well this year, thanks to Martha, we were able to pass up all those egg dying kits they sell in the stores and create some unique eggs of our very own.  We knew going in this would be a learning year for us, with the goal being that we'd maybe a few we could save from this year to add to the really nice ones will make next year.  When we have enough eggs, we'd like to make an egg tree of our very own. Here are a few of the lessons we learned.

• We chose many designs, but only picked one day to do the eggs.  I think next year during each week of Lent we will choose one design each week, and spread it out over a longer period of time.  
• Rubber bands, and letter stickers were the boys favorites.
• So we could save the eggs, we dyed them raw, then very carefully poked a small hole in the top and bottom of the eggs so we could blow out the contents.  This is a pretty disgusting process.  It's also a very delicate one, so don't get too attached to your final product, you may lose it in the end.  Also, pace yourself or share the work.  I did 8 and felt like I had personally inflated all of Nena's 99 luft balons.
• Lace did not work that great (at least not the cheap kind from Walmart)
• Stickers do not adhere to cold eggs. 
• Dry eggs throughly before removing rubber band, stickers or any other type of applique you might have used.  If you don't the colors will run together.
• When using food coloring, make sure you use the color directions for egg dying, not icing, otherwise you're smoky blue will come out very purple.

Honestly this was the best year we've had dying eggs.  The boys really got into creating different designs, and we are all looking forward to next year.  

A Happy and Blessed Easter to all!

 

Two Brothers

My sister's biggest with her littlest!  

She has 9 more children of various sizes sandwiched in between.

 

7 Quick Takes

 

1. Made my supply list for Easter Egg dying next week.  It includes lace, rubber bands, double sided stickers, glitter, vinyl adhesive stencils, various widths of tape, bee's wax and rubber cement.
2. The car is done, we are hoping to be able to pick it up tomorrow.  Unfortunately Kent forgot to call to let them know we couldn't make it by 5 tonight, so hopefully the body shop people gave the keys to the service desk people.  It's a good thing baseball starts later out here, I can't imagine going into the season with only one vehicle!  And it will be nice not to be stuck at home next week during Easter Break!  
3. My nephew turns 18 next week, this means my sister will have two adult children.  I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around this fact.  Makes me feel old!
4. For some odd reason I feel like I need to buy Philadelphia Cream Cheese whenever it goes on sale, just can't pass it up when it's $.89.  Funny thing is we don't really use cream cheese, and I now have 3 bars sitting in my fridge, so I've decided that our Easter dessert will be cheesecake. 
5. Finished "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" today.  Absolutely LOVED it!  I found myself going back to happily linger over the pages when we were done with each chapter.  I think the boys were pleasantly surprised as well.   Looking forward to "Through the Looking Glass".  
6. Michael saw some Mallard Ducks on the creek today.  He now wants to go to Cabela's and get a duck call.  I told him to just grab a loaf of bread, it's much cheaper and we don't have to drive 40 miles to get it. I don't think that was the answer he was wanting to hear.
7. Gewurztraminer, fun to say, good to drink.  You should pick up a bottle the next time you're at the store.

If You Open it, She Will Come

And Sit

 

And Sit Some More

 

And Sit

  

Sometimes she'll move some bottles around

 

Other times she might stand

On occasion she will sip her milk

 

If it's been a hard day she goes for the Mike's

 

But mostly, she just likes to sit!

 

7 Quick Takes

1. We're still a one car family right now.  Annoying for the most part, but it has taught me to make do with what we have in the house, especially where food is concerned, so I'm not making unnecessary trips to the store during the week.  Turns out this is a HUGE time saver.  Every cloud has its silver lining....
2. The weather here has been absolutely beautiful this week!  The boys have been taking turns entertaining Catherine outdoors during school time, which means its been nice and quite indoors. Unfortunately we are headed for cooler weather again, but it was certainly nice while it lasted.
3. Lego has come out with board games.  I am really hoping they release Creationary in stores by Easter.
4. Catherine and I are going to New Orleans in May for a girls weekend with my mom, aunt, and grandmother.  I asked Kent what he wanted me to do for he and the boys food-wise while I'm gone.  He looked at me like I was insane.  Either this is still too far away to be doing any kind of food planning, or they have no intention of eating food at home, seeing as the snack cart lady at the golf course should be able to supply them with plenty of hot dogs and soda.  I'll ask again in April.
5. There's a big snow mobile race that comes to Lake Geneva every year.  We are the final stop of the tour.  The race is this weekend, the resort is packed with people, and there is very little snow on the ground. Apparently they can use wood chips if need be.  Kent and the boys have tickets to go, it should be interesting. 
6. Michael has taught Catherine to say "Stooooop!" when I start to sing. 
7. There is only 5 more school days left until Easter Break!  I really hope the week goes by quickly!   

Technically He's British

Maybe it's because of all the time I've spent in Texas, where they know how to treat brisket, that I find myself every Saint Patrick's Day trying to understand the mindset of the Irishman that took a perfectly good piece of angus beef, brined it for days on end, then threw it into a pot of bubbling water and proclaimed, "Mmmm....boiled meat!" 

Kent happens to love this Irish delicacy, Michael plugs his nose as he eats it, and I'm convinced they must have also had horseradish sauce (scroll down to bottom of recipe) back then.  This might become a regular condiment in our house.  I betcha it would go really well with fish and chips, which I'll make next March 17th, to celebrate St. Patty's true heritage. 

Future Writing Assignment....

It's Completely Irrational!

Today is 3/14; therefore, we shall celebrate all things Pi.  Very fitting for us since Matthew is working on finding circumferences and the area of circles in Math right now.  

 

7 Quick Takes

1. We are officially half way through Lent (actually half way and a day).  This means that in 2 weeks we will be off for Easter Break.  I am soooooo ready for this!
2. We've been a single car family for 5 days now.  Kent's car should be ready on Monday.  I pray there is no delay.  He has promised to stay off his Blackberry, so hopefully there will be no more "ditch diving" issues. 
3. Spring is in the air around here.  There is one small little patch of snow still left on the ground.  The boys are still wearing their snow pant and boots though. Apparently they are great protection when splashing through mud puddles. 
4. I am contemplating Kombucha. If only to see what it tastes like.  And I definitely need more niacin. Lots more! LOTS!!!!
5. Every Easter, I always say I'm going to do something different when it comes to decorating eggs, and then every Easter I find myself at Wal-Mart on Good Friday picking through whatever PAAS kits they have left. I'm not going to mention just how many times we've done the Sports Fanatic Kit, it's way too embarrassing. This year I've planned ahead. We'll be taking a course in Egg Dying 101.  Very simple ideas, and not too girly, so I know the boys will participate. 
6. Matthew starts baseball again on Sunday.  He's had almost a full year off.  He had to try out for the Majors (the 12 year old league) since he's only 11.  They had 17 spots open, and he got one.  
7. I've decided on "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" as our next read aloud.  We started this week. I was actually going to save this for Catherine, but we want to watch the movie, and I have this rule that you must read the book first.  The boys are not happy!