Easter travels!

We got out of town just in time! 

I had decided to head down to the balmy, sunny, southern part of the province for Easter weekend and was originally planning to head down on Good Friday morning. Instead the littles and I loaded up and left right after school on Thursday. Boy, am I ever glad I did! It had been snowing/raining off and on during the day, and was really starting to come down as we pulled out of the driveway, but it cleared up before we got to our first (and amazingly enough only) stop in Red Deer! Smooth traffic, dry roads, really good passengers, and we made really good time; despite Monkey alternately telling me to drive faster because she wanted to get there sooner and telling me to "stop breaking the driving rules" by going too fast. And in my defense... I wasn't going all at fast! 

Colouring Easter Eggs

But we arrived in Vulcan and Amma's house before dark. We saw some deer crossing the highway, lots of singing along to the music that was playing, and no one slept at all!! We attended the Walk of the Cross on Friday morning, helped move some of Amma's furniture around with Uncle K and Aunt C, and had a pretty good visit. Saturday brought a community egg hunt. It was so sunny! Cool wind, but none of the rain that had been forecast for the weekend. After discovering Easter baskets and going to the service, we pulled out of Vulcan and made our way farther south to see my parents. 

My oldest sister was hosting supper and there was an egg scavenger hunt for all the grandchildren. It was a loud supper and lots of running around for the hunt, and there were of course a few blowups, but the cousins had so much fun together.

Easter goodies on the trampoline

The next day most of the cousins came over to make bunny buns. They are a sweet dough rolled to look like a bunny with a glaze. And they were so tasty! I've made them before, but not in years. So yummy! Especially still warm from the oven!

Roads were pretty clear driving back home Tuesday. It had been snowing overnight in Edmonton, but the roads were dry the whole way up. And when we arrived there we found that someone had wonderfully shoveled our driveway and sidewalk! 

Laundry and back to school the next day. The weekend so far has been busy too. Swimming lessons and a visit with a couple of hubby's cousins, home for cleaning. I am such a mean mommy. I put everyone to work to with tasks and chores and it went pretty well! Once the livingroom was clean there was an impromptu dance party (because, let's face it: is there a better kind??)

We woke up to a white world once again with a snowfall warning in effect. So, guess who is getting everyone to put snow boots and and remove the cold fluffy stuff from the driveway? Yup! This mean mom! 

Side note: try saying "fat fluffy flakes" three times fast. It's not easy!!

Baby Bear!

We've been contaminated! The flu hit a few houses in the neighbourhood last weekend (after Sergeant's busy birthday party), and we were hoping that it would have missed us completely, but alas. It did not.

Friday evening, after 10 extra 8-9 years old children left the house and detritus was picked up, we had our visitors we were expecting arrive. Poppa and Grandma made the trip out for a few days before Hubby was scheduled to leave, it helped that it was Spring break for the kids too. We kept busy; going to the waterpark at the "big mall", checking out Cabela's (always a favourite for this crew), going to the library, and showing where the kids' schools are. It is really heartwarming to see the grandparent relationships grow, and I love the unique bond that they have with all grandparents in the family tree.

Poppa and Gandma left mid week for more visiting down in the south part of the province, and we spent some family time going for walks and filling bicycle tires, and just enjoying our little unit until it was time to go to the airport.

The crew did a good job with the goodbyes. Some tears and hugs before and after, and transition to Daddy being away is what it is, but that's normal.

We were able to invade some friends' afternoon to get some general funk out, and then everyone had a bath or shower before bed. The next day, I wanted to start on the right foot, so I plugged in to school first thing in the morning while the Littles had their "morning Netflix". We went to work, did lots of house cleaning, made root beer floats as a reward, then they got to watch Mary Poppins so I could do some more school.

Then the flu hit. Girlie started first thing in morning, then Smarty got hit hard. Monkey decided she couldn't be left out, but Sergeant was grateful to not join that group! So yesterday we stripped beds, did more wash, and stayed pretty low key. Appetites were more or less back to normal for supper, too. Hooray for a quick bug!

It's been fun getting pictures of Baby Bear from Hubby. Monkey insisted that he go with Daddy too, so I made him a hat to match Hubby's so he could be camouflaged with the rest of the troops.

 He was making himself comfortable in Hubby's new, temporary digs, listening to the birds and wildlife outside. Making friends too  below is Bentley the Beaver who lives with the group.

Baby Bear went to church this morning and this evening, and I'm told behaved very well through the services. I'm glad he wasn't disruptive!

Since today has been so incredibly sunny, we walked. We walked to and from church this morning, we walked to a park this afternoon. I have loved the sun, even with the cooler wind. Just about all of our snow is gone, and the puddles are nearly dried up too. I am looking forward to the grass turning green again and being able to wear flip flops again!

That sums up our week. School, laundry, movies. Gearing up for routine to be back tomorrow with school and preschool, and noses back to the grindstone.