Easter Eggstravaganza

This past Saturday, the Suffolk Parks Department, hosted their annual Easter Eggstravaganza. The park is less than a mile from our house, so we were there right at the start to enjoy the festivities. Nicholas met the Easter Bunny while looking at a fire truck, and for some reason, he even sat with the Easter Bunny for his picture (unlike Santa, who he won't even go near!!) He enjoyed playing and having fun. Mommy was ready for a nap!

Well hello Mr. Bunny!

I love to crawl through these blow ups!

Is there candy in here?
Yep, here it is!

Mommy wanted it, I swear!

Whee!

Our 2008 Easter Photo!

Lounging...

Here are some pictures from just hanging around the house. The electric went out last weekend so we had to watch our evening shows on the portable DVD player. Nick loves to chill with his daddy, and we sometimes eat our afternoon snack outside in the afternoon. Isn't he looking like a little boy now or what?

BPL Easter Egg Hunt

Yes, my feet are as big as they look!

We always host an Easter Egg Hunt for our block- this year, it was quite cold! But, the kids had a blast. Nicholas was OBSESSED with his eggs and his candy. We could not get him away from it. I think he is going to love Easter morning this year more than last.

Nick's First 3rd Birthday Party

Nicholas got to attend his first 3rd birthday party on Saturday. His best buddy and neighbor, Bryce, had his party at Color Me Mine, a pottery painting studio. It was Nicholas's first experience with this kind of art project, so he picked a mug to paint for Daddy (of course). As you can see, he first got frustrated but eventually just had fun painting away! He got to sit next to the birthday boy as he blew out his candles, and Nicholas enjoyed his blue cupcake tremendously (we are not sure why he was eating it with no hands and just his face, but it was funny!). What a day! Hope you adjusted to the time change as well as Nicholas!!

Nicholas and Bryce

Getting frustrated waiting to start

Picasso beginning his project.

Daddy helping to finish.

No hands!

Cake and paint all over!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!

Nicholas loves letters. Big letters, small letters, spelling words, you name it. It is his favorite past time. His favorite book is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault, and Lois Ehlert (thank goodness I taught elementary school, right?) He has been playing with the book and matching all the letters to it. So, I made him a tree for our door so he can put his magnetic letters up the tree himself and make them go boom, just like in the book. He was very excited about it when he got up this afternoon! Here he is playing!

A Silent Night

Nicholas asleep in his bed last night (the flash makes it so bright!!)

Well, Nicholas didn't take a nap yesterday without his pacifier, but I was really expecting to be up a couple of times during the night reminding him that he doesn't need his paci anymore. When we got ready for bed last night, we had to remind him that we gave the pacis to Baby Will... but he wasn't upset about it at all and fell right asleep without any protest. In fact, Nicholas slept from 8 PM last night until 8 AM this morning without a peep. He didn't even mention his paci this morning until we told him we were so proud of him for being such a big boy for not needing it. So, I think our transition went smoother than we hoped. If there are any people out there still trying to get rid of the paci, don't worry! Just make a Sassy Bear and your kid will be just fine!

Nicholas's First Intervention

Why don't they invent the "Paci Patch," something fashioned along the same lines as the nicotene patch for smokers? It would be a must have for parents like us.

This morning, Nicholas gave his two pacifiers to Baby Will. It went really well. He kissed them goodbye before we dropped them in boiling water to sanitize them. Then, off we went to our friends' house where we handed them right over to Baby Will. After all, at this point, he was more excited to play with his friend Anna than be with a baby.

Yep, the pacis are in there.

"I'm ready, let's do this!"

"Here are my pacis Baby Will!"

We then proceeded to Build-A-Bear, which isn't at the closest mall to us- we had to drive 45 minutes to get there. He did a great job picking out a suitable bear to take to bed. Here is how the experience went:

"Stuff my bear lady!"

Pressing the button to stuff his bear.

They put a heart inside the bear. Nicholas is making a wish on the heart.

Kissing the heart before he put it in the bear.

Cleaning and brushing his bear.

Paying for his bear with the gift cards everyone sent him.

However, his new favorite word (and don't ask me where he got it-- it has to be one of his TV shows) is sassy. So when asked what to name his new bear, who is wearing a football outfit at this point, he insists upon Sassy. Mathew complied beautifully with a frown on his face.

Nicholas and Sassy, the football bear.

Nicholas pushing Sassy around the mall.

After we got home, we proceeded as usual to get him ready for his nap, and he asked for his pacis. When we reminded him that he is a big boy now, he gave his pacis to the baby, and he has Sassy to take to bed, he proceeded to ask if we could get the pacis back. We told him that we couldn't and the look on his face was one of terror. So, it is now 3:07 PM and we are still waiting for Nicholas to go to sleep for his nap. It is going to be a long weekend but it had to be done. At least he isn't crying, right? So someone out there- create a Paci Patch. It would be oh so much easier!