Easter 2011

Yes, we did celebrate Easter around this house.  We also celebrated Easter at my sister's house where I left my lil camera that I had taken pictures with on Easter morning and didn't retrieve it until yesterday.  So we'll just pretend this post happened a couple of weeks ago.
To kick off the Easter celebration we participated in a couple of Easter egg hunts.  The first one was at our church where baskets and kids were flying at the word "GO".  I don't think that Maya got hit by this one but it was close.  Even if she did, it didn't leave a mark and we would never know otherwise because she is one tough cookie.  Unless she is seriously injured or in big trouble she doesn't cry. The other hunt was at school and I didn't take my camera...

Happy as a clam to be sitting next to her daddy.  She loves that he has started going to church with us.

The bunny showed up and left this pile of goodies for Maya.  She went straight for the Magic School Bus World of Germs kit.  She is ever so excited to get some nasties growing.

Maya loves critters! (stuffed animals)  She prefers smaller ones that she can hold in one hand easily.  Bananas is the little monkey in her left hand.  He is super cute and she takes him everywhere.  Speedy is the little hamster in her right hand. (they are Ty Beanie Ballz. just FYI) The Easter bunny knew how much she loves Bananas and found him a friend.  Maya could not be happier about her new round buddies.

Several attempts were made for a family pic without much luck.  I really hate myself in pictures but I'll share this one anyway.

We didn't color eggs this Easter but I found this video on the old blog from Easter 08.  Check it out! It is oh so cute and I did shed a tear watching and listening to that tiny baby's voice.
Hope your Easter was grand!  Like Maya says, "Mom, Easter is not all about eggs and bunnies, you know?"

The "Jolly"

Our back yard is the rain drainage system for our neighborhood.  Yep, nice, I know.  It's not something we or any kind of developer decided on.  This was God's creation.  You see, we live in the arm pit or elbow of our road.  The road runs by the front of the house and then curves around and goes by the side also.  It's kind of hard to explain but if you've ever been here you know what I'm talking about.

When it rains hard we get the run off from the road coming from both the front and the side down into the "jolly".  Our back yard is not a real steep incline from the woods to the house but there is definitely some elevation change. Therefore, the water runs into the yard and flows down into the woods and into the gully, or um, "jolly" as Maya so cutely refers to it.

In the woods there is a big 'ol cliff that the water runs over creating a waterfall that is oh so fun to play in.  But getting down there is a bit of a challenge.  It's steep and I would guess a 15-20 foot drop over the side of the cliff.  And the water only runs over when it's been raining hard enough for our yard to be said drainage system meaning that its wet and muddy along the sides of the gully and not so easy to traverse. 

Now, don't think that just because it's slippery and muddy and not all that warm that I'm not gonna put on my most loose fitting and tread-free Cr0cs and escort my daughter, one handed because the other is full of flowers that she has picked along the way, down to the fun of falling water at the bottom of the jolly.  After all, she did just say,"Mom, let's go explore and enjoy nature".  Yes, that is exactly what she said.

This stinker is so full of sass these days.  Not in a bad way really, but just this; hand on hip, smirky face I'm the princess of everything attitude.  She mostly saves this for us and is pretty normal outside of home, mostly...

She tried to stay out of the water but it was more than any 5 year old could stand.  So we danced in the drips.. 

..and splashed in the puddles.

She found this wonderful little "stage" as we were making our way back out of the jolly.  She did put on a little show.  Fisher was not going to be left out of all of the pictures.  After all, he was on his first hike after his surgery and wanted everyone to know he was back to his old self. 

Dad was waiting for us when we emerged from the woods, camera in hand and jealous that he hadn't been home in time to explore and enjoy nature with us.

What I Learned this Week

How dang exciting is this??  A carnival! Yes, I said carnival!
My friend Julie over at From Inmates to Playdates hosts this fun lil gathering every Tuesday and I threatened to participate many moons ago. So, without further ado, this is what I learned this week in no particular order or significance.

*If you are away from blogging for a bit it's not so easy to sit down and get back at it.  But when you do it is so much fun!
Maya was on spring break two weeks ago.  Don't think for one minute that I would be able or desire to sit at the computer and not devote my undivided attention to the one who I don't get to spend nearly enough time with during school.  Neither she nor I would have much fun with that. Not to mention that she thinks that anytime anyone is using the computer she believes it should be her.  Then I was sick as a dog and busy on top of that last week not leaving myself much time or again, desire to sit here.

*When your daughter's birthday falls so closely to Easter and Mother's day finding time for a birthday party is a little difficult.

*When you're 5 and you have cousins with birthdays close to yours, you can kinda ride in on their birthday party train and pretend it's yours too.

*When you're 5 there is a lot more to a birthday party than just having the family over for cake.

*When it's your 5th birthday and your mom leaves to go away for the weekend with some of the "ladies", Dad will probably be more upset than the birthday girl.

*The Women of Faith Conference is AMAZING! Spending the weekend with a bunch of wild and crazy and above all Godly women that I love is a blast.   Even when or especially when there are things hanging from the rearview mirror that should be neatly folded and packed in MY bag. HA!

*Having a fever at the age of 40 is the pits and I don't know how anyone can function like that.

*Wednesday night is a great time to go shopping if you have to go to W@l-M@rt.

*Granny was one hot lady when she was cooking Sunday dinner on the wood burning cook stove in August. (more on this later)

So, what did you learn this week?  Leave me a comment or even better, link up at From Inmates to Playdates and join in on the fun and leave a comment there too!