Eggstravaganzoo 2013

Meeting the Easter Bunny after Bunny Breakfast :)

 

 

I was so excited at the beginning of this month to receive the email from the zoo about their Easter events. I booked the "Bunny Breakfast" on the spot, and couldn't wait to take Anna Claire for some zoo-themed Easter fun. In most respects, the "Eggstravaganzoo" did not disappoint. In others, we were disappointed and will likely plan differently for next year (we forgot our umbrella and they were out of pancakes by the 9:30 breakfast, so no pancake bar for us).

 

 

 

 

We call this her "What you talkin' bout Willis?" face.

3 year old egg hunt at the zoo

After the hunt, kiddos took their eggs to redeem for a prize pack.

Brushing the goat at the petting zoo.

They had eggs like this one throughout each exhibit with food inside to entice the animals.

I promise this looks worse than what actually happened. She's just getting up, so don't have to worry about the poor goat.

Funny Things Anna Claire Said This Week

"Daddy, are you going to blow a secret?" (Daddy, are you going to smoke a cigarette?)

"Pop, me and Daddy toot sometimes. It's really funny."

"Mommy, can I have Stanley and Kitty's eggs since they don't have hands like us?" (She explained they can't peel the eggs since they don't have fingers.)

"This isn't a dress, Pop. The skirt isn't attached."

Well...the coast was clear!

I left AC  in the family room by herself about 2-3 minutes while I was getting her bath ready.

I walked in on Anna Claire with her mouth full of something and hiding an almost empty container of gummy worms.

I said, "Anna Claire Averitt, did you sneak all those gummy worms?" 

She replied, "Well...the coast was clear!"

Easter Egg Hunt at Red Barn

Everybody say "Happy Easter!"

On your mark, get set...

Go!

...and they're off!

With wind chill, it was 34 degrees out! Brrr!

"Look at how many I got, Mommy!"

Warming up and getting ready for lunch after the hunt!

Sweet baby chicks hatched this week. So exciting!

St. Patrick's Day Parade

The St. Patrick's Day parade in Erin has become a tradition for us. When Miss Krista, Anna Claire's teacher, invited us last year, we were so excited to have an event to help make this holiday fun and meaningful for her. Nothing really happens here in Clarksvegas for kids for St. Patty's.

The parade kicked off at 11:00, and Erin is about an hour drive for us, so that meant leaving the house at 10, and missing Saturday gymnastics. (not a worry- we can do a make-up class Tuesday).

When we got to Erin, we called Krista who let us know there was not really a choice of where to park. Police were directing parking, and directed us into a massive grassy parking area. We had to drive around and wait in traffic for a bit, but finally got creative and found a spot.

With no cash on hand, thinking a parade is a free event, we decided to be creative when walking Anna Claire by the carnival and food vendors. Besides, we go to a couple of free carnivals identical to this one during the spring and summer. I saw no need to blow big money and wait in long lines on something we will do in a few months for no cost and little wait. We reminded her that she wanted to see the whole parade and then go to Subway for lunch. This satisfied her, with her green bag in hand, ready to score some parade candy.

We finally got to our usual position in front of the courthouse by 10 after 11. There were so many more people at this year's parade. And lots of big kids. I moved us down a bit so Anna Claire would not be bullied by big kids like last year who took all her candy.

Or so I thought. The girls she sat near were about a year or two older than her, and they hoarded all the candy just as bad as the teenagers last year. I may have made a commit that I knew they would hear, and after that they started letting her get some and even giving her some of theirs. I think sometimes kids just don't think. They are just in their own little world.

The candy giving was pretty sparse compared to next year. So if a couple of cars drove by and Anna Claire didn't get candy, she would start to pout and whine. I just kept encouraging her to stay near the front and get in there. By the end of the parade, she was keeping up with the big kids getting candy.

She was super-excited to give a firefighter driving a fire engine a high five.

At the end of the parade we made our way back to the car, excited about our Subway sandwiches. Anna Claire matter-of-factly let us know she would have a ham and cheese with Lays potato chips and a chocolate milk. She LOVES Subway.

On the way back from Erin, Larry asked to stop at Hilltop market. We ended up finding the yummy bread they used to serve at Charlie's Steak House. He was so excited. Anna Claire also got a "special treat" for being a good girl. 

When we got home, I was really mad at myself for avoiding putting sunscreen around her eyes or not putting sunglasses on her. Sunburn all under her eyes! Poor baby!

Aside from the the sunburn, we had a great day with perfect weather. Nice time spent as a family.

Anna Claire's Going to be a Big Sister!

First ultrasound...so it begins!

 

 "I can share my toys with my baby!"

Anna Claire is excited to be a big sister, but also, as you might expect, needs occasional reassurance from us about how this will affect her world.

I'm afraid she really wants a little sister, so we have to remind her that we aren't sure yet. That it could be a girl or a boy. I will be anxious to see how she reacts regardless! 

I am very hopeful that we have an excellent big sister-in-training. Anna Claire has started asking to do many more things herself, from putting on her shoes, to unbuttoning her coat, to brushing her own teeth, to making her own sandwiches.  She has also become Mommy's little helper, happily getting anything I ask for, and bringing me blankets, snacks and pillows just to be sweet. What's been the best is that she is starting to clean up her messes herself.  

I am thinking 4 years apart is the perfect age difference!

 can share my toys with my baby!"

Rich the Science Guy!

We have taken Anna Claire to the Red Barn Book Fair every year since she was in the Chicks class, and always to rave reviews.  Last year was a luau. The kids got leis as they came in, and the Red Barn and teachers were decked out adorably.

One year was a pajama party, and from that year on, the pajama element stuck. At least for my kiddo. The Book Fair is usually from 6:30-8pm, so it's about the only way I can manage for her to go, having to be at school at 6:30 in the morning. We eat dinner and bath beforehand, so we can put her straight to bed after the fair.

This year was a science theme which was awesome! The best yet! In fact, if I had known how cool it would be, I would have taken her for the entire show. We arrived at about 10 past 7, so we only got to see a couple of tricks, but they were super fun!

Fun with Dry Ice
One of the activities was for each child to take turns putting their hand into the "smoking cauldron." It had a bit of dried ice in the bottom that created the smoke effect.

Anna Claire told me she was brave to put her hand in the cauldron!

Rich had them blow into the cauldron and the room filled with smoke. Cool!

Book Fair Selections

After the dry ice show, we went to browse for a few minutes while Mr. Rich got ready to make silly putty with the kiddos.  Anna Claire's sweet friend Maggie was there. She loves superheros, and chose a fitting book for herself:: Power Rangers. Of course, then, Anna Claire wanted Power Rangers too. She is so NOT into superheroes, that I found it funny. But she insisted that this would be one of the two books she was allowed, so we are now proud owners of a Power Rangers book at our house. Her second selection was more like something I'd expect my child to pick out: Peppa Pig. She will really like that one.

Larry read Power Rangers to Anna Claire for her bedtime story, and he said there were so many references made in the book that only someone who watched the show would get, that it didn't keep her interest. We question if she'll ever ask it to be read again, but at the bargain price of $3.99, maybe she got some of the answers she was looking for as to why boys are so into Power Rangers at her age.

Silly Putty

As promised,  Anna Claire got to make her own silly putty, and take it home. No need for me to explain how to make it. Let Rich tell you....