Easter and More

First - this picture has nothing to do with anything else in the post, but Carson likes to climb into our coffee table sometimes. It usually holds his toys. So I let him eat his snack there one day. He was so excited and looked so funny in the coffee table.

My Easter post may be a little delayed, but I had to give my faithful followers a chance to savor the last post. We celebrated Easter a week early with Karl's family since his sisters were in town. There was a big Easter egg hunt in the back yard. Normally, I lay the smack down and slaughter everyone - we're talking dollar bills here, but I decided to let everyone else have a chance this year and spent my time helping Carson find eggs. He immediately loved the game and would put the eggs in his basket. It was fun to take him around and find the little eggs. We also did some egg dyeing. Carson was a little over zealous at first and threw an egg into the green dye...which then splashed all over Karl's mom...oops. She had a greenish tint after that...which I think just made her more festive. After the mishap though, he would softly put the eggs in the dye. Carson devoured all the candy the Easter bunny brought him...which is probably more candy than he's had in his life put together. He got a cute little book called "Fifteen Animals" which he loves. It's about a boy who had fifteen animals and they are all named Bob - but there is a tune to the song so we sing it as we read it. He loves that book.


We also did a little family celebration on the true Easter. Karl and I hid some eggs in our house and filled them with Cheerios. He loved this hunt just as much and was so excited about all his "snacks" (what he yelled every time he found an egg).


Here are a few pics. The one with me is obviously not my best, and yes I had just rolled out of bed, but he looks so cute with his cheeks stuffed with Cheerios and his feet crossed.

Below are two rather long videos - but I figure you can hit stop whenever you get bored. For my parents - who will probably watch the whole thing several times - you get to hear his sweet little thank you somewhere towards the end of the first one.

I feel I should blog the famous Kasey Easter egg hunt story that Karl's family will never let me live down. Preface - I'm am not very sporty nor am I competitive. When I tried to play soccer in 5th grade I would give the other team the ball in order to maintain fairness and also avoid getting kicked. Karl's family is very good at both of these things - sports and competition. So before my first Easter egg hunt with his family - I was totally pumping myself up in my head. "C'mon Kasey. You can do this! Don't try and be fair...try to win!" I figured I would have to give 150% to equal their 100%. I just kept picturing them all having 25 eggs and I'd have 2. So Karl's parents shouted go and I tore through the house like a wild animal. I was pushing, grabbing, using trickery, etc. Only about 15 minutes into it did I realize that everyone else was just there to have fun...and they were all thinking I was crazy. I ended up with a ton of eggs. To this day they all joke about their scars from that hunt (I guess emotional and physical). So now I take it easy on the hunts, but they will never let me live it down.


Carson has started crying in the car because he wants our sunglasses. So I took the little sunglasses he has and put them in the car. He'll wear them the entire drive. He puts them on and then says "Cute". Every time I do a head check to change lanes and see him out of the corner of my eye, I start laughing. He is too funny back there with his shades. I took these pictures with my phone so they are not great, but I didn't have my camera.

More exciting adventures to come soon - as they are so plentiful in my non-boring life.

THE GOLDEN POST!

I am happy to announce that this post is my 50th post, and thus my golden anniversary (with my blog). What an amazing ride it has been. My blog and I have definitely had our ups and downs, but through it all...I love this blog just as much today as the day I started it. I can't wait to experience the next fifty posts. Sniff Sniff, Tear.

So I've been trying to work out a lot more lately. It is something that I have such a hard time putting in my schedule. I've been getting up at 4:30 and heading to the gym before work. It makes traffic a lot lighter so that has been nice. But some mornings that snooze button is way to appealing. Saturdays have been really great. I drop Carson off at the Kid's Club at the gym and then sweat like never before. I find I push myself a lot harder if I take classes. I'm not sure why, maybe it is peer pressure or maybe I'm just having more fun. When I work late nights though - working out just doesn't happen. I've decided there is no easy way to fit it in.

Today I did a step class and then a lifting class (2 hours - thank you very much). I know I'm not in the best of shape but I feel like I can hold my own. There is something I have to address though. There are several 70 year old women taking these classes with me, lifting the same amount of weights as me, and lasting just as long in the cardio class. Also, they took the yoga class before the step class (I saw them in the room before the class let out). Also, as I was leaving after my two hours - thinking I was going to die by the way, they stayed for the stretching class. Maybe they have a lot of free time but I cannot believe how in shape they are. And how not in shape I am. I feel like I should be dancing circles around a 70 year woman. It's definitely motivating and you have to admire them. I just felt like clapping for them after the class. I hope I can keep up with a moderately in shape 25 year old when I'm 70.

I took Carson out to run some errands today - which is not his favorite activity. Carson likes to be a free bird so sitting in carts and looking at boring things drives him bonkers, which leads to whining and melt downs. So I try and run errands very prepared. I make sure he's eaten, I give him "run outside breaks" in between stores, and I try and find things in the stores for him to look at. He did really great today and I didn't walk away wanting to pull my hair out which is nice. We were taking a play outside break in front of Bed Bath & Beyond and Carson discovered some puddles - yes it rained today, so nice. So I was showing him how to jump and stomp in puddles and he was having a grand ol' time. Then he got in the cart and we went in the store. Some lady came up to me and told me that I was a good mom. I almost burst into tears. I think I'm a good mom and I feel like a do a pretty good job, but it was so nice to hear. Obviously Carson is my first kid so half of my rearing decisions are based on educated guesses (they always say the first kid is the guinea pig). I'll tell Carson about this lady someday when he is shouting "It's not fair" and slamming his door shut. Oh wait, is that a dramatic girl thing? I grew up in a house of 4 girls so I don't know what boys do when they think something isn't fair. Hmmm...we'll see (again, guinea pig).

As I said above, it rained today. I love when it rains - I feel cozy and inspired. Weird feelings together, but that is how I feel. I wish it rained a lot more. I would say once a week is good, maybe twice. I miss it so much. Someday rain...someday you and I will be together again.

Not much new for Carson (sorry mom and dad). I do have a video of him making a mess though. Or maybe I should say Karl in this case. I've always been a pretty patient person, which I try to apply to parenting every day. I do consciously make an effort to relax though. My mantra is "what's the worse that could happen." So as Carson makes messes, I try to grab the camera instead of freaking out. As seen in the video below - what's the worse that could happen. It was me spending less than 2 minutes cleaning up...I'd say it was worth it.

Thank you for attending my 50th anniversary. Please don't forget your party favor as you head out the door.