It was a fun Easter Morning - the kids enjoyed candy and a few toys in their baskets - and one of Jack's little gifts was a Mickey Mouse Pez dispenser . . . with additional candies as well . . . but in Jack's way of making everything more hillarious - he comes over, a little annoyed and says,
Dip marshmallows in melted butter (and look - I used an egg coloring dipper - it's pretty handy!)
Roll the buttered marshmallows in cinnamon sugar
Cut Pillsbury crescent rolls into squares
Pinch seams closed and put the marshmallow in the center
Wrap the marshmallow in the roll - make sure all seams are totally pinched and sealed - or the marshmallow will melt out of the roll during baking.
Cover the dough with melted butter.
Roll dough in cinnamon sugar again.
So Saturday night I set up a stool in the kitchen - and begged Harrison to be a good sport while at the same time bribed Jack with a big Airhead (candy) . . . and I cut their hair. I got a set of clippers and told myself to just go slow and start with a longer extention . . . cuz you can always go shorter . . . so I'm pretty happy with things - I got Harrison and Jack done . . . but I'm procrastinating Aidan - he's more wiggly and less bribe-able! I do hope to get better and better - at least in knowing how to cut them individually - they both have some strange hair patterns and cowlicks - if anyone has suggestions as I learn this, let me know!
So Aidan's limp continued and worried us enough that we decided to have his leg checked again - another set of x-rays and another no-break diagnosis . . . today he's doing great and seems to be almost back 100% - but that day we were back in the Dr's office, I was worried - again it was during his nap time and he was going to need snacks and toys - so I did go a bit more prepared, knowing we'd be there F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!!! Fortunately, at one point, he did fall asleep in my arms - a VERY rare moment!!! My kids have all been pretty good at going down to sleep (as long as they were in a crib). We'd just put them down with a kiss and walk out - made for a little less enjoyable day at church - when rocking them to sleep would have come in handy - but instead, they'd fuss fuss fuss because we didn't just have a bed to lay them in - anyway, it was a very rare and sweet moment. Not often have I had the chance to just hold my sleeping baby (after infancy) and it was so calm and peaceful. A moment just for us - He's a snuggle bug and I just love him - with a little sadness in his growing up - it just goes so fast!
So not only is it obvious to me that my children are growing up in the last frontier - it's also obvious that they are growing up in the age of technology - even more than Dan and I did - Jack and Dan were setting up a board game - Trouble . . . as they put the yellow pieces on, they assigned a player to that color, then the next and the next - until they realized there were no red pieces . . . so Jack says, "The computer will be the red one." I can only laugh and attribute it to our new Wii Family Game Night - with all the old board games - and if you need another player, well the computer will be the red one, I guess. Man is he cute!!!
A week ago yesterday (Saturday) we had our first ash fall in Anchorage. Our lovely Mt. Redoubt (which I call a wart because of it's nuisance in keeping travelers from vacationing! I'm not bitter or anything!) has been spurting a bit here and there for a few weeks - and we were able to steer clear here in town - but we finally got our share. I was out in the afternoon doing errands w/ Jack - bank, etc . . . and we stopped to talk to some friends we saw on the side of the road - she was stressed and trying to get her 3 daughters back home because they were getting ash fall at the park. That was the first time I noticed it . . . by the time I got home, it was obvious - there was a slight white coat on parked cars. There were small particles on the inside of my door from having the window down - it was a bit strange. When I got home, we quickly put away the random items the kids had left outside and felt the ash like a little snow flurry . . . and went on as if we were still going to our token office dinner - the booby prize for those of us not soaking up the sun in Vegas . . . we did end up going to dinner. We arrived at the downtown mall as they were closing everything down - stores were shutting their gates and security guards were directing teens to the exits. The restaurant remained open however, so we enjoyed a fine dinner commiserating with other BHB employees void of tans and relaxed, massaged muscles. After dinner we went back out through the mall to our car . . . have you ever been in a dim, empty mall before???? A bit creepy . . . Dan strengthened his role as comforter when he pipes up and says, "Nothing good ever happened in an abandoned mall!" Great - thanks for reassuring me all's well!!! Fortunately, we didn't see so much as one security guard - Got to our car and drove home. This photo was taken the following day - don't know if it's as obvious to those who didn't see the before and after, but the ash cast this dingy gray over the snow. It wasn't the bad situation it could have been - or that we were braced for - fortunately the ash particles of that day were too large to cause lung damage - so all in all, a blessing. It did give me a glimpse though of the possible fear of natural disaster - Dan was a bit more thoughtful when it came to leaving the kids w/ a babysitter during a potenitally stressful situation. Me . . . I was excited to be out - and curious to see first-hand the effects of the testy volcano.
I just thought this was cute . . . his cut is almost totally healed - and his eyebrow is almost grown back in from being trimmed with the bandage - but he's sure a cute little bug! A bug who needs a haircut!
Really - if this little tornado wasn't so darn cute . . . and love-y . . . and hillarious . . . and sweet down to his toes . . . and compassionate . . . and imaginative . . . and friendly . . . and humorous . . . I'd have shipped him off a long time ago - but I just can't live w/out my little Jack Jack - there's something special about this little kidd-o, I'm tellin' ya! He DID have those jammies on correctly to begin with - what do you think he was going for here? Hoochie? Middle Easterner? Psychotic sports fan? Who knows - but when he comes running in giggling and obviously anticipating your reaction - it's the cutest thing on the planet!
Oh, I'm SO not foolin' w/ you today - these are really my fingers. I have the worst and most persistent cracks this year than ever . . . probably because I'm always handling paper - and working more w/ my hands - sometimes 7 out of my 10 fingers are throbbing with open cracks - that's when the slightest bump makes me want to cry - OWCH!
