Easter

The past 3 Easters in the Gerichs household have been monumental. 

Easter 2009:  We found out we were pregnant.
Easter 2010:  We heard Sydney giggle for the first time. 
Easter 2011:  We are home.

See what I mean?  Monumental.  We were finally home for a holiday- which of course meant we were surrounded by loved ones, entirely too much food, loud talking, kids running, bellies buldging and love.  It was awesome. 

We didn't really have Easter this year- we had an Easter season.  It all started with this cute little girl and her cute little cousin dying cute little Easter eggs at Grandma's house.  Sydney was all business and preferred to shuffle the eggs with her hands instead of the spoon.  MJ preferred to use the spoon and hated when he got color on his hands.  He'd smile for the camera- look at us when spoken to, etc.  Sydney...was...all...business.  Love that girl and her one-track mind. 

"No, MJ.  I just finished that one!  Leave it alone!"

"Sydney!  Use the spoon like THIS!  Quit using your hands!"

Those eyes.  Kill me.

And this is what it looks like when a 16 and an 18 month old dye eggs.

Next came a big surprise.  A chirp-chirp, peep-peep, POOP surprise.  My darling Mom will do just about anything for the perfect picture/photo shoot/candid capture...you get the point.  Apparently, purchasing 5 chicks falls into that "anything" category.  The "ducks" (as Syd called them) were a lot of fun.  She wanted to pet them, but had no interest in holding them.  MJ wanted to hold them but would then quickly throw them off of him.  I just wanted to avoid the poop. 

"No fair!  Sydney gets to hold one!"

Follow the leader?

"Whaaaaa!!!  I wanna hold one!"

Showing a little chicky love.

 The Easter weekend brought some much missed visitors.  Robby's 3rd oldest brother, Steve, and his 3 kids came down to see us.  We hadn't seen them since July, 2010 so it was a much welcomed reunion.  The kids were so cute together.  Sydney took an immediate liking to the youngest, Melanie, and even tried to give her unsolicited hugs, kisses and touches on the "Noooossse!"  She played chase around Oma's kitchen and watched closely as William manuevered his Nintento DS. 

Hanging with the cousins.

Trying to cuddle Melanie.

While at Oma and Opa's, Sydney got to go to her first ever egg hunt.  Wow.  There are some intense parents.  It's as if they missed out on egg hunts as a child and have to make up for it.  That sounds mean, and it's probably true- but when you have a 1-2 year old (and are in the 1-2 year old roped off section) there is no reason you should be holding your child, holding your child's basket and furiously picking up as many eggs as you possibly can.  WHY?!?  What kid that age needs 80 eggs full of candy?  I digress...sorry for the rant.  To avoid the mad dash that I saw forming when the whistle blew, I picked up Sydney and ran to the very end of the field so that SHE could pick up eggs...so that she could slowly, methodically and with much thought and precision, pick the very ones she decided should go into her bucket.  She made it to FOUR until the herd of crazy parents trampled her.  The best part about it?  Each egg was filled with generic brand peppermints.  Hope those parents enjoy the 160 mints they get to now eat because their kids don't like them.  It was fun- and so super cute to see Sydney get excited about each egg that she picked up, and even more excited that she got to carry them around in the perfect Sydney-sized basket. 

20 seconds into the hunt.

25 seconds into the hunt.

30 seconds into the hunt. 

After 2 huge dinners, 5 easter baskets, a day full of love, loudness, family and fun, we smiled at each other.  It's good to be home.