basket hunt

We love Easter in this household -- from the lovely church service we look forward to each Spring, to the festivities we celebrate at home.  This year, we opted to search for baskets early in the morning, and to hold the grand event -- the egg hunt -- later in the afternoon.  Though the Easter Bunny did hide the baskets, it's the later search that is most exciting (because the Bunny leaves the treats for Daddy to hide, and he knows all kinds of insane places to keep the children -- mostly Gwennie -- looking).

ladybug lady

M: Baby Cinq is my friend -- he would never hit me.  He's not a wild Cinq -- he's a good Cinq!

M: Mama, you're my sweet little baby.  [Pause] You pretend to be a baby. [Tackles Mama] I got you, baby!

M: I not broke it.  I will be really pareful.

Gwennie: Greta, don't cry -- big kids don't cry.
M: I'm not a big kid! I'm a baby!

sass/lass

springtime spirits

Casper: Oh, Linus is laughing at Gwendolyn -- what a coincidence! . . . Daddy, what's a coincidence?

C: [showing off his lego minifigures] And this one can shoot fire out of his crotch.  Isn't that amazing?

living lovey

M: I was trying to sleep, and then I was naked.  I'm naked right now!

M: [talking for her animals]
Alligator 1: I need you help!
Alligator 2: What?
Gator 1: I need you help. Come right after you lunch.
Gator 2: OK, I come right after lunch.
Gator 1: Thanks, bye!
Gator 2: Bye bye!

Jennifer: Tell Daddy he's the best around.
M: You're the best around, Daddy. You too, Mama. Both of you are best!

M: Can I have my teats [treats]? I'm really sorry, Mama. I'm really sorry, Daddy.
J: Why are you sorry? You're sorry that you got mad at me when I put them in a bag?

Easter light

Time for our annual Easter portraits! (Which, now I think of it, aren't so different from our weekly portraits.)

tramphead!

dramatic construction

the terrific three fabulous four

This evening, the children gave their performances from Fine Arts Friday, the arts and culture program they've been active in over the past semester.  This involved theater and music, as well as an art exhibit.  And there were refreshments.

I'm hung up on ya, baby. You're gonna be the receiver of all my love. It's a good connection. Hey, put that booth down!

 
M: What are these buttons? Pearly buttons? I need to count these pearly buttons. 1-2-3-4-5-6!

Jen: There's watermelon for you at the table.
M: Watermelon! What are we waiting for?

M: I think my sister sad.  Can you open the door?

M: Daddy, will you rock me in the rocking chair? Mama, you can do jobs and work on Daddy's 'puter.

M: [sick earlier this week] I need to rock in the rocking chair now.

sous chef

Like her father, Gwendolyn has become very interested in culinary matters, particularly in baking.  She has been making banana muffins when the family can't finish the fruit before it gets soft, and has since graduated to more challenging projects.  This afternoon, with a little of my help, she baked a sweet yeast bread (actually an adaptation of the cinnamon roll, cooked in the oven, complete with crumb topping and a glaze).  I'm hoping that I'll be out of a job before too long.

unresistable

These two are the best of friends. Casper's always good for some consolation when Greta huts herself on the tamp-a-bean.

C: Could we just play a random game that we made up the rules to?  Like we go to different countries to fight monsters, and when we beat them we get a gem the color of the monster? Or we could play PurTrivial Suit! Or -- are you thinking what I'm thinking? We could play them both together! And the gems are the pieces from the board game! And you have to get the Golden Ruby, then you win! It could be called "Trivial Pursuit Adventures!"

(Naturally, we've been playing this since Casper suggested it, and Linus and Gwendolyn are also big advocates.)

C: I drew this picture with dotillism!

Jen: Beat that boy with his sock.
C: Poor sock!

C: For me, blue candy is, like, unresistable -- I have to eat it!

M: I need to go find my Toffee and my Tito! (That would be Casper and his stuffed dog pal.)

photographette

puppetmaster

Margaret: Puppet shows? I love puppet shows!

M: It's a-me!
Daddy: Who? Mario?
M: No! Ketta!

M: Can you put your camera down on the stump? I want you to throw me on the tamp-a-bean!

the friendliness of the long distance runner

Gwennie's got a great deal of athletic talent, and she loves running and active play.  She recently proposed that we sign her and her brothers up for a race (which culminated in an all-you-can-eat ice cream party at the local creamery).  Unfortunately, this didn't work with our family schedule, so she's planning something equivalent -- a chance for the family (and, we hope, some friends) to get active and then (after a suitable time has elapsed) all enjoy some frozen refreshment.

her highness

M: Why did we drop off my kids? [when her siblings were at karate and she and Mama went shopping]

M: Please please Mama go back I want my daddy go back please! [after stopping by the Library for a quick visit, then having to go to pick up the siblings from karate]

M: I never coming back!

M: Want Gwennie get my pillow.
T: How many pillows does Gwennie have?
M: 1-2-3-4-5-6.
T: How many pillows do you have?
M:1-2-3. [pause] It's not enough!

When playing with a Bender toy, Margaret speaks for it in a robot voice.

M: Ah! I need to put on chappie! But I will be really pareful!  [and then another time] I will be really pareful! A dinosaur is a good thing to be really pareful with.

green

L: Somehow I don't believe you that we're having another baby.

chairies

Todd: Do you want some goldfish with your sandwich?

M: No -- I want some 'picy cheetos.

T: Oh, we don't have any of those in our house.  How about some veggie straws?

M: I don't want any of those -- I want 'picy cheetos!

Maybe it's that she's getting close to three, but Greta's had many more freakouts (like this exchange led to) than she has in previous months.  It's the curse of the 2 1/2 year old -- they're full of wonder, but the lack of control makes them prone to difficulties.  It's a little exhausting.

M: Can you open this [candy] for me?
T: I don't think you're allowed to have that first thing in the morning.
M: But . . . but . . . but . . . Mama said so!

M: I like salty crackers! [I think this means saltines?]

M: Night night, Daddy.  You go do your work, then come back and check on me?

suavity

Casper: I collect rocks! . . . and money.