Decorating Cookies

We found the coolest cookie decorating kit at the grocery store the other day.  10 sugar cookies, a piping bag of icing, and a little container of sprinkles - perfect for us!


The girlz had a great time decorating their cookies.  But we all agree - eating the creation is definitely the best part!!

Hob Nobbin'

There was a break from the norm today - I represented the Evil Empire at the State Of My Local City luncheon.  I haven't been able to attend this event in recent years because it was held in the late afternoon.  But lunch time is easy!  So for the first time in quite a while, I got to wear my Big Girl Costume!


When I woke this morning, I had in mind exactly what I was going to wear.  I only have one Big Girl Costume, so there really isn't much choice.  Everything went as planned until I pulled my suit pants out of the closet.  It's been so long since I wore them, there was a line of dust and some weird creases from the hanger.  I tossed them into the dryer and they were looking snappy 10 minutes later.


The event was great, and the Glitter and Sparkle Show State Of My Local City Review was entertaining.  I did some Hob Nobbin' with the local city leaders and even saw a few people I haven't seen in a while.  It was fun, but I'm glad to be back in my Evil Office.


Knowing it will probably be at least a year before I wear my Big Girl Costume again, I took a picture of myself in the mirror.  My Evil Lapel Pin and Evil Name Tag have been censored, for obvious reasons.


I think I shine up quite nice!

Unfortunately, Cassidy would disagree.  I had a brutal meeting schedule this afternoon and ended up having to walk to the bus stop in my Big Girl Costume.  Our conversation on the walk home went like this:

Cassidy: Mommy!  Why are you wearing those clothes?!?

Me: Because I had to go to a super-fancy meeting today, and it was very important to look professional.  Don't I look professional?

Cassidy: No. You look like Daddy.

Nothing like a good dose of brutal honesty to keep me grounded.

Happy Easter!

What gorgeous Easter weather!  A perfect day for beautiful Easter dresses, no sweaters needed.


We've had a tough day, but I'm hopeful it'll improve once Campbell gets up from her nap.  The girlz got up extra-early this morning and went downstairs without waking us up.  As soon as we heard kitchen drawers slamming, we sprinted downstairs but it was too late - we'd already missed the "OH WOW!" moment.  Disappointing.


When thinking about what to put in the baskets this year, we decided we'd forego candy since the girlz get more than enough candy at all the Easter Parties.  I'm happy to say they were so excited about their Easter Baskets, they didn't even notice there wasn't one piece of candy to be found in either one.


Both of them had several meltdowns before we even got out the door to church.  I'd hate to see what we would've had to deal with if they'd been sugared up!!


I had Sunday School duty this morning, and traded off one set of charged-up kids for another.  We picked up steaks at the grocery store after church and I'm keeping fingers crossed for an easy afternoon.  It sure would be nice!!

This is what was left of the cupcake and carrots after the Easter Bunny came through.

Cassidy's Basket: DIY Build-A-Bear, Blendy Pen/Magic Paper set, Barbie movie, Squinky-type animal toy, NO CANDY

Campbell's Basket: DIY Build-A-Bear, Plum Pudding doll, Strawberry Shortcake movie, Squinky-type animal toy, NO CANDY

Matching Easter dresses... so sweet!

Easter Activities

As we do every year on Easter weekend, we ditched all our regular Saturday morning stuff in favor of our church's Easter party.  I like to think this makes Jesus happy.


The girlz had a ball doing all the fun crafts and activities, they ALWAYS do.  They especially loved the egg hunt, and they both did really well with it this year - no poorly-timed meltdowns, and Cassidy even found one of the golden eggs!!


We made Easter cupcakes and dyed eggs at home this afternoon.  The girlz are excited that the Easter Bunny will be visiting our house tonight, and I've set out their outfits for tomorrow.


It's been a pretty fun weekend so far, even for this Easter Grinch.

Campbell making a sparkly cross craft

Easter tattoo!

Another Easter tattoo!

 Campbell hunting for eggs

Cassidy found a golden egg!!

Dying eggs this afternoon

Easter cupcakes

Cassidy left an Easter cupcake and some carrots for the Easter Bunny right in between their empty Easter baskets.  She felt it was the best possible set-up to ensure the bunny didn't miss anybody.  Strategery.

Easter Buckets

Mama and Papa brought Easter buckets to the girlz the other night.  Always thinking ahead, they chose buckets with sand tools instead of baskets.  This way, the girlz get all the treats AND get new sand tools for the sand box!


Cassidy was beyond thrilled to find a pink Zhu Zhu pet in her bucket.  She's been asking us for a Zhu Zhu pet for years.  She finally got smart and asked Mama and Papa!

Campbell was excited to find a chocolate bunny in her bucket.  We let her take two bites and then put the rest away for another night.  About 30 minutes later, she figured out where we'd put it and had eaten about half of the bunny before we noticed.

Last night, we let the girlz loose on the front sidewalk with the ginormous box of sidewalk chalk Mama and Papa brought.  Our sidewalk is now properly decked out with flair.

I think this may be the World's Largest Hopscotch Board!

Thanks, Mama and Papa!

Easter Party #1 of 3

We participated in Easter Party #1 of 3 done yesterday - Big Girl School!  One of the things I love most about Big Girl school is that it's very much like school was when Sergeant Sexy and I were little, before Political Correctness ruled the world.  The kids have Easter Parties and Christmas Parties, and they're actually called Easter Parties and Christmas Parties.  Love that.

Mrs. H entertained the kids while we were getting the food ready

Hunting for eggs!

I took this picture on the way home.  Look at all those buttercups!!

I Have Writer's Block

So I'm just going to share some cuteness.

The Calm After The Storm

It was only three years ago that I wrote the "We Survived The Tornado" post.  The tornado three years ago came straight through our immediate area.  I drove right through the outskirts of it, wondering the whole time why tree branches and wads of pink insulation were swirling through the air.  Idiotic, I know.  The only excuse I have is that I was suffering from a debilitating syndrome known as Pregnancy Brain.


A bad line of storms came through yesterday evening and left another mess behind.  A family at our Cheer/Gymnastics gym lost their home.  A dear friend of mine, the Matron of Honor in our wedding, teaches at a school that suffered monumental damage.  There were fatalities.  The devastation is heart breaking.


The skies were black and menacing last night.  And today, they're crystal blue and cloud-free.  It's so strange that we typically get such beautiful weather the days immediately following horrific weather events. I honestly believe Mother Nature is Bi-Polar.


We took advantage of today's weather, and spent the afternoon on the farm.  Tonight we'll say special prayers for our friends and neighbors who suffered losses last night.  And hopefully there will be an opportunity for us to help clean up.

Ready to feed the animals!

Mooooo!

Peeking into the chicken coop

Dropping feed through the fence

Enjoying the playground

Ice cream afterwards!

Monkey See, Monkey Do

And when we got home, we kept right on playing!

What a crazy weekend... so wonderful and awful at the same time.