Camera Woes.

Well, it seems that I've been absent from the blogging world for weeks now.  Not by my own choosing but my camera.  It seems that my camera is broken.  In the past five years, I've gone through three cameras.  I think it's a little bit of wear and tear because of how much I use them and also a little bit of misfortune (like my camera plunging into to the ocean last summer).  Chris and I are contemplating going for a bigger camera...perhaps Canon Rebel?  I love taking pictures.  I feel like an accessory is missing when I don't have a camera with me.  Hopefully my blogging will be back soon with some pictures of my favorite subjects!

Surrounded by Beauty

During Oliver and Adelaide's school vacation week, the weather was abnormally warm for April.  I knew the beaches would be packed during the day, so one morning we decided to head to the beach right after we had breakfast.  It was still fairly early, about 8am, and we were completely alone at the beach close to our house.  I grabbed an iced coffee on the way, we picked out some shovels and pails at Walgreens and we had everything we needed for an early morning adventure.

What I wasn't prepared for was the breathtaking beauty of the morning.  I grew up near the ocean and I think it is something I often take for granted.  Let me tell you, I didn't take it for granted that morning.  The sun was shining, the water was calm and the temperature was perfect.  It was a moment.  A special moment.

 Oliver and Adelaide didn't need much more than their shovels and pails.  I just need to mention here that Adelaide has her sandals on the wrong feet again.  Most of the time, I just let it go.  She'll figure it out someday.

 Look at this day.  Completely magnificent.

We must have made at least twenty sand castles that morning.  I was the designated water-filler-upper lady.  Every time they needed more water, they handed me a pail and I was happy to oblige.  There was some serious sand castle action going on and Oliver and Adelaide could not have been happier.  We dipped our toes in the water (a bit cold), collected some shells, watched a bug and just savored every minute of that beautiful day.

Nonna and Papa Time

I try to tell Oliver and Adelaide as often as possible just how lucky they are to have two sets of grandparents who love them so much.  The relationship they have with each grandparent is very special and unique.  I think that Oliver and Adelaide know that time with Nonna and Papa usually involves some sort of adventure! 

A few weeks ago, we met them at the Ocean Explorium.  Oliver and Adelaide really enjoyed the different sea animals and the 3D Earth that was rotating.  

 I would never have guessed that Adelaide would be completely fascinated with the sharks and manta rays but she is always full of surprises.

 Before heading down to the Cape to spend the night, we stopped at a delicious Portugese restaurant.  The second I took a bite, I looked at Chris and told him that this was the type of food I would crave a few weeks later.  Well, I guess I was right because I am still thinking about the chicken mozambique with potato "chips" on top.

The kids spent the rest of the weekend being silly, doing some planting and enjoying the swingset and time with Nonna and Papa.

It was a wonderful overnight to see two of our favorite people!

Egg Pizza

For Easter, Mike and Carolyn gave Oliver and Adelaide a little kit to make egg pizza.  The kids were really excited about this project so a few days after Easter we got to work on our pizza.  

This project was Adelaide's dream come true.  One of the things she really loves is using her hands.  Her preschool teachers tell me that she spends most of her free time at the Floam table just feeling it and making things with it.  She could not hold herself back when the ball of dough was placed in front of her.

 Then, while Oliver was working on rolling out the dough and I was helping him, I look over and see that Adelaide has completely greased her hands with a stick of butter.  The butter was everywhere!

 Including in her suddenly greasy hair.  Yes, that is butter in her hair!  This look makes me smile because she has this funny look on her face, as if to say, "What?  Isn't what I'm doing normal? "

 While the cookie baked, Oliver worked on the frosting and I washed Adelaide's hair.

 We decided to turn our frosting into a purple color and then decorate with some pink frosting, jelly beans and M&Ms.

It was a really fun project that tasted delicious too!

Home Depot

A few weeks ago, it was time for the monthly Home Depot Kids Club project.  Once a month, O and A go there and work on a project.  This month, it was bird feeders.  They both had a fun time.  Their collection of pins is growing.  Oliver has four and Adelaide has two.  Because this event was right before Easter, the Easter Bunny even paid a little visit.

Easter

This Easter was my absolute favorite holiday that I have had yet with Chris, Oliver and Adelaide.  I have really enjoyed every other holiday over the past four years, especially because of the people we have spent them with, but this Easter Oliver and Adelaide were at such a good age to really enjoy everything without having to worry about naps, grumpiness and over-excitement.   

We went to the family church service and they did great.  Over the past two years, I have wondered (and stressed) about when/if they would ever be able to sit through an entire service.  Normally they go to church school, but once a month there is no church school and they join us in church.  Sometimes they are pretty good during the service and other times they are restless.  The past few times, they have been really wonderful.  Oliver even tried to sing along with some of the hymns on Easter!  Also, there was this sweet little boy behind us that made all of us chuckle during the service.  The priest was talking during his sermon about how Jesus died and was risen and the little boy said, "Wait, what?  Jesus died?  When did that happen?"  Very cute.

 After church, we went to my parents house for Easter dinner.  This year there were 20 of us, including 7 children.  Oliver and Adelaide were very excited to see Lorelai.  The second they walked in the door, Oliver and Adelaide started acting so silly!

 Lorelai looks adorable with her new bangs.

 Before dinner, the kids headed outside.  It wasn't a warm day but the weather didn't stop the kids from going outside to play.

 Last year, we did an Easter egg hunt for the kids but this year I decided to do a scavenger hunt.  There were eight clues for the kids to find.

 It was SO much fun to watch them run to find the next bunny after every clue.  All of the adults had a good laugh at how competitive Oliver and Preston were (even though really they were all going to get a prize).  At one point, they were both holding onto the handle of my parents closet in the kitchen because they were so determined to be the first one to open it up.

 The final clue led them to a cooler on the back porch where the bags of treats were for each one.

 The girls immediately pulled out their bunny glasses and put them on for us.

 For Easter dinner this year, the kids sat at the end of the table and seemed to really enjoy being with all of the adults.

 We had the opportunity to skype with Mike, Carolyn and Gabriella.  The kids were really excited!

 Oliver and Preston ended the day playing soccer with my dad and Chris.

The day was filled with fun, laughter, great food and lovely conversation.  Oliver and Adelaide really enjoyed Easter.  On Monday, Oliver said, "Easter was really fun, wasn't it mommy?"  I gave him a big hug and said, "Yes, Oliver, I have to agree that it was a pretty special day."  It really was a holiday that will go down in the memory books because it was a day filled with many beautiful moments.