Easter 2014

The Tennessee portion of the family arrived on Good Friday, and the whole family attended a little Easter party at the Country Club on Saturday afternoon.

My girl was grabbing eggs by the dozen.

Check out YaYa in full action photoging pose.

It's like she works for National Geographic or something!

I whispered sweet murmurs about an Easter Bunny into G's ear.  I even tried to tell her not to be afraid, that her momma once rocked that Easter Bunny costume as a 13 year old who would do just about anything for $50.

Including sweat her rear off in an Easter Bunny costume, whilst being antagonized by bratty children who pulled her tail.

I'm hoping that costume has been cleaned since '92.  

All of my efforts to calm Lady G were thwarted as soon as she got within 2 feet of those buck teeth and heavily blue shadowed eyes.

Caroline was amused as she wait for us to be seated.

And there it is!

A good swift kick to the ovary!

My darling sister caught this beautiful moment.  I need to submit this to someplace that takes submissions of ovary kicks delivered while trying to avoid costumed people.

We were ready to hunt.

After G learned that the bucket was not for fashion.

She was off!

She did have some help.  

Her parents trailed along behind her, ready to knock other children out of the way.  

YaYa had a heavy piece of equipment at the ready, in case a child tried to snag a plastic egg from G. 

Aunt Katie helped too.

Then that bunny showed up again.  

Despite my service as a former Easter Bunny, I was not given the coordinates of the golden egg.  

Talk about disappointment.

Saturday was also Bob's 66th birthday, which apparently means a day that my 19 month old drinks Starbucks iced tea.

That cake was amazing.

No joke.

On Sunday morning we were up bright and early to make it to 9:00 mass.  

We posed in the mulch.

That's a good idea.

We arrived at 8:55 and were promptly seated in the second pew.

The second pew, people.

That's where they put the fools who can't arrive early enough to not take center stage.

Oh my stars.

I immediately started to pit out that little silk shirtdress I was sporting.

Well, Jesus Christ is risen today, friends.

And he smiled upon my li'l nugget and kept her calm during mass.  

Jesus and a whole lot of Cheezits.  

YaYa and Bob with their darlings in matching dresses.  

Here are the girls with their baskets of goodies.  

As usual, G was stunned into breathing only through her mouth.  

Caroline's other cousins came too for the hunt, along with their parents and grandparents.  

Nolan and Caroline really had a size and intellectual advantage and swept the yard.

Gracie and Ava are exactly 13 months older than Genevieve, although she is the same size.

They are petite, like their momma.

Those little twinsies are smart.

One of them went for the same egg as G, and G started caterwauling.  Ava or Gracie picked up the egg and kindly handed it to G, as if to say, "I get it.  You're bigger than me, but something's different.  You're like giant BABY." 

It was so funny.

Oh, and we normally keep a Yorkie the size of a large marshmallow Peep crated on the front porch for all of our holiday celebrations.

You just have to love that little Cece.

We had such a wonderful Easter! 

Spring Allergies and Other Excitement

I'll start by sharing my woes.  Last week I returned to school from spring break and spent the entire week with runny eyes, a runny nose, and a lovely cough.  Spring hates me.  By Friday I threw in the towel and stayed home.  There's only so many times that your nose can drip on your sweater while talking to a colleague before you decide to not show your bulbous red snoz in the workplace.

Boo hiss.

I met my loves at the post office on Tuesday after school.  Trinity walked in like a boss.

G worked the blue carpet and that greeting card area like a boss.

I nearly had an anxiety attack due to her socializing and running. I fear postal workers, by the way.  I wasn't sure how my daughter would be received with all of her antics.  The lady that helped us was a doll.  You see, we are planning a family vacation, and passports are in order.

Our wee one was the only family member lacking the appropriate credentials to leave the country.  

I've always maintained a current passport, as I find it vital to be able to leave the country at a moment's notice.  

Conspiracy theorist, anyone?

I'm embarrassed that it is taking an actual trip to get one for this lovey.  

Our friendly postal lady waved Grumpy Cat as G sat on a large US postal box to get her picture taken.  It was hysterical.  I can't wait to share the picture when we receive it.  

G has taken to traveling like this.   

Speaking of the post office, we had a special delivery on Saturday from Aunt Shirley for Easter.  

Genevieve's collection of soft animals grew by one.  She also tried to put on her new outfit.  

Thanks, Shirl!

Since I was housebound on Friday, I Nasalcorted and Advilled myself up for an outing on Saturday.  We visited the Indianapolis Museum of Art, which is always a favorite of mine.

They had Robert Indiana pieces on the lawn, in addition to his usual LOVE sculpture.  G climbed all over this one, jungle gym style.  Then her highly educated parents read the sign, "Please Do Not Touch."  

I never met a rule I didn't follow.

Lord how I swooped in and scooped up my monkey baby in a heartbeat, while frantically scanning the lawn for security guards with billy clubs. 

No security in sight!

We were safe.

She then ran on towards the fountain.  

Trinity took her in to see the interactive children's area, where they participated in some Light Bright activity.

I was in charge of watercolor impressionism.  I have to admit that I have never painted with the Lady G.  That will be changing henceforth.  

Our most verbal child approached everyone we saw and pointed at her new shoes and said "kitty."  

She's a prodigy, our Genevieve.  

We moved back to the lawn for Daddy-Baby wrestling.  

Our day was complete after my first trip to Brics, an ice cream spot in Broad Ripple.  My taste buds were compromised, but I could still taste creamy.  

Delicious.

G had vanilla.  

This morning we attended mass for Palm Sunday.  I always loved waving those palm fronds around as a kid, and in Sunday school we would tie them into crosses.  I wish I could remember how to do that.  

G was geared and ready to roll in her new dress from Abby and Papi.

Palm frond waving and hallelujahs can really wear a baby out.  

Final Spring Break Post

One of my spring break responsibilities was to take Genevieve to the pediatrician for her 18 month well baby visit.  We went on Thursday, so she was way closer to 19 months at that point than 18.  She was all smiles and claps in the car.

She started to recognize the place as we sat in the waiting room.

The wheels started to turn for a window escape.  

And cue the tears!

As soon as she saw the nurse the crazy hysterics started.  

Her dear YaYa snapped this picture.  I admonished her when I turned around.

"But she just looks so cute!" 

That was my mother's response.

She did look cute and the whole thing was over very quickly.  

Our next stop was to Shelby for a haircut.

G fed her baby while waiting.

A mother's work is never done, even at the beauty salon.

 No tears this time.  She was focused on combing her hair.

And also YaYa's hair.  

She had forgiven her already for that unfortunate photo session from earlier.  

We concluded our lady day with a trip to Von Maur.  Genevieve conned my mother into purchasing these shoes.  

Yep, those are kitty shoes.

She refused to take them off.  

G was rewarded with a Von Maur Princess sticker.  

We couldn't have indulged that child more unless we had gotten an actual kitten that day.

I thought about it.  

Then I remembered the temperamental  teenager was brooding at home.  

My mom brought her home after a week's vacation with my parents.  The family is back together!  

5 Nights with Abby and Papi

Last Thursday I drove down to Lexington to drop Genevieve off to stay with Eddie and Patsy.  I wish I had been aware of the major construction on 65 that had us sitting STILL for an hour.  Lucky for me, I had just turned G to face forward in her carseat and I had a whole season of Sesame Street on her iPad.  Crisis averted.  

When she awoke from her nap at Abby and Papi's house, she immediately visited with the ducks.  

Abby bought her a new raincoat, and she was all set for the rainy weather in Kentucky.  

There were popsicles consumed

and Genevieve took her first selfie.  

She had snacks on the couch with her own lumbar supportive pillow. 

They went shopping and G picked out a new dress for spring.  

She strolled.  

She met a very tiny UK fan who was more than excited about Kentucky's win over Louisville. 

On Monday Abby ventured out solo to take Genevieve to the Kentucky Horse Park.  She loved the horse show.  

Sweet Abby thought the grand finale would be for G to pet a horse.  

She forgot that eventually the petting would end.  And G would lose her mind.  

She flung herself on the ground and reverted to crawling.  

How embarrassing!

Abby let the fit run its course.

That is usually effective.

It was this time as well.  She finally got up, walked over and climbed in her stroller and went about her business.  

It was the only small moment of drama the entire trip.  She did great.  Abby and Papi did great.

They had a wonderful time.  

It was the longest that Trinity and I have been away from her, but it was so worth it.  

We all had memorable trips.