Happy Easter

Well we have had an 'egg finding' filled weekend. Maddox has gotten to hunt for eggs OUTDOORS ( thank goodness for a break in the cold rainy weather) 2 times in the last 48 hours and she has definitely figured out the technique. Yesterday afternoon ( after waking her up from her morning nap which turned out to not be such a good idea...oops) we headed to church for the annual egg hunt. Normally it is out at the church acreage south of Davenport but with all the rain this year, they decided to hold it at the actual church grounds. She had a good time and got lots of eggs. In fact I think she was probably just happy to be outside and running around with the kids....the colored things that happen to end up in her basket were just a little added bonus. The eggs at church are filled with candy.....which she really hasn't had yet....so Eric and I have stashed away the chocolates and starbursts etc and have been enjoying them ourselves.....don't tell Maddox. Then this morning the Easter Bunny came to visit Maddox here on Judge Road. He brought her play-doh, crayons and coloring books, finger paints, bubbles, sidewalk chalk AND big girl silverware. I have to say she was primarily interested in the play-doh, immediately wanting to open the container, sort of forgetting about the rest of the basket ( ya live and learn .....LESS IS MORE Easter bunny!!) But, Eric and I coaxed her into looking at the rest of the stuff. Then we had blueberry muffins for breakfast and headed out for our own Kies egg hunt. She did really well again, obviously remembering what she had done the day before and set out to collect all the eggs. The Kies family Easter bunny must have been clued into the 'no candy' rule as the eggs were filled with money, which she really has no idea about. But, Eric and I are trying to get her in the good understanding of her MADDOX ladybug piggy bank and interested in putting money in it ( surprise surprise right....??:) She took two pretty good naps today ( still doing really well in her big girl bed just waiting in there for us to come and get her when she wakes up...crazy isn't it??) and we played A LOT outside with the bubbles and the sidewalk chalk. Her latest word ( that I can remember right now...it seems she says a new one every few hours ) is WALK. She does not like to be carried around and wishes to WALK everywhere with a very pronounced K sound. Eric mowed the yard for the first time and Maddox even took a ride on the mower, although I think she was just as happy running around the yard as she was ridding the mower. She even figure out how to BLOW bubbles today instead of just popping the bubbles. Tonight we had a nice family Easter dinner pork loin, homemade mashed potatoes, broccoli and cheese and scalloped pineapple for dessert. Maddox did a FANTASTIC job using her new silverware and even ate from a plate...making clean up a BREEZE ( hmmm wish the Easter Bunny had brought that silverware sooner). She still is a bit uncoordinated but the new silverware definitely helps. This week, and last, Kim has been on vacation so we've been lucky enough to have Grandma Jean come to stay with her. Maddox has been getting very spoiled.....!! She has one more day with Grandma Jean and then it is back to reality on Thursday....but I'm sure she is missing her buddies. I finally got the last of the 'borrowed' clothes washed up from my friends who have so graciously given us their baby boy stuff.... and BOY do we have a lot. I think we are definitely set for the entire summer and probably well into the fall. He already has more than Maddox had before she was born!! I see the Dr. this Friday for a checkup. Just feeling big and tired......and ready to not be pregnant. About 6 weeks to go.....!