Hello Spring!

Thursday I turned in my major paper for my Masters and breathed a huge sigh of relief. With the exception of a final oral exam, I'm done. I actually can't believe I'm writing these words.

This weekend has been really special. After turning in my paper on Thursday, DH also had some good news. He got his tax return in the mail. We finally knocked off our first entire debt payment in "the Mission" which was our family loan and boy did it feel good. If Winter was all about getting back on track. We're there. I also got my first paycheque with my raise. This is an increase of about ($150) per pay. DH also had his first Saturday overtime shift of the year this weekend. In the finances department things are pretty great.

But I realize a lot of my recent blog posts have been focused on debt reduction and finances. That wasn't the only thing special about this weekend. We've spent a lot of time relaxing, reconnecting as a family, and resuming life in general. We didn't have any plans with extended family this weekend so it was just us and it was nice.

In my absence, DH did a good job of making sure we were all fed but we've been seriously missing quality home cooked meals. Thursday night I went to the grocery store and stocked up on groceries. I've been cooking up a storm all weekend and we've been feasting.

We've also been enjoying the nicer weather. Yesterday B and I washed all of the salt off my car while N napped in the afternoon. We washed it the old fashioned way with a pail of water and a couple cloths. B also learned how to ride his bike without training wheels this weekend. Took him 2 days and he is now zipping around. There is something to be said for readiness. We tried last summer since he was so good with his training wheels and he wasn't quite there yet so we let it go. I feel the same way about toilet training and alphabet writing. Pushing it before the child is developmentally can be more discouraging and challenging for both the parent and the child. This year he was more confident and determined than ever.

We put the trampoline back up in the backyard too.

And even got to starting a small outside project! - New house numbers (in progress) and a new doorbell ($25). Over the next couple of weeks once the weather gets a wee bit warmer we'll be painting the garage and front door.

Oh yeah.. and the bunny dropped by.

Happy Easter!

Simple Easter

This year, some of the things included in the boys baskets were:

- Books (Board books for baby, Berenstain Bears and Curious George for the big guy)

- Matching spring pajamas

- Cute pool noodle soaker guns (maybe N can use his next year if B hasn’t broken it by then)

- Bubbles for the big guy

This year I bought nice Easter baskets that we will be able to use year after year. We also use fillable plastic eggs – medium sized so that we can fill them with mini chocolate eggs, cars, stickers, etc.  This year I also bought large-sized eggs and filled them with bells, and egg shakers for the babe. Like Christmas and most other holidays, we try to have less emphasis on sweets and on stuff altogether. 

We visited DH's family on Saturday and did the big Easter dinner. I didn't bother doing anything fancy for dinner for just our little family on Easter Sunday and no one seemed to mind. 

A Low Key Different Easter

This year Easter weekend was different for us for many reasons. Firstly, being in the last month of pregnancy and having a quick birth first time around - not to mention at 35 weeks 4 days - I cannot travel anywhere remotely far and the in-laws live about 2 hours away so that family get together was crossed off the list. My mother who lives close by went to spend Easter weekend with her partner's family in Montreal for the weekend so no getting together with them either. Secondly, Ryan was offered overtime work both Friday and Saturday so it was just B and me both days. Thirdly, we've had people come to view our house every day since it was listed for Sale last Wednesday so the cleaning and vacating of the house has been the central activity of the past few days.

I must say, it was kind of nice to be just the three of us today on our last Easter as a family of three. This was also the first year B really took an interest in Easter and its activities. We didn't go overboard. I got the idea from Dreena Burton's Easter post to buy some larger plastic eggs and fill them with goodies, both edible and non-edible. The key attraction to these was that they are reusable and that they are large enough for a toddler to efficiently find. Also, the emphasis wasn't as much on the sweets. 12 eggs were enough for this year. The hunt was also limited to the living room only. When our children get a wee bit older I would love to do an outdoor hunt with them. B was thrilled and it was amazing watching our little guy run around looking for these eggs and take such joy in finding each one. I had hoped to get around to fun things like dying eggs (done so nicely by this lovely lady) however, being in the final stages of this pregnancy, I've been focusing on getting things ready for the arrival of the new babe and also on preparing for B's 3rd Birthday next weekend just in case we get some baby action this week.

Happy Easter!

There were plenty of new developments this Easter. Brendan sprouted a second tooth and the first one is growing like mad. He climbed his first stair at my mom's house and he started blowing bubbles into the water during his bath today.He was spoiled with gifts from family. Mommy and daddy got him some new bibs. Bigger ones. He wont eat from a spoon often anymore so we needed the bibs with the food catcher. We tend to get him practical gifts for every occasion because we figure he isn't old enough yet to really get it and he enjoys the wrapping way more than any gift we give him. I guess this will probably change next year! Also, a couple weeks ago, Ryan's sister sent us a carload of toys her kids no longer play with and therefore our original Easter present idea of new toys - he seems bored with the old stuff - went out the window. Brendan wouldn't go down for a nap at all at our Sunday Easter Lunch with my family so inevitably this happened....I know I know...Valentine's bib!

On Saturday we went up to Muskoka to Ryan's parents place to celebrate with his family. The weather was gorgeous and we enjoyed a bonfire outside in the afternoon and a lovely dinner. Ryan's sister brought bubbles up. Brendan really liked them and we enjoyed dying eggs with Ryan's nieces. We had some sleep issues here too.. both in the morning and afternoon Ryan or I had to take him out for a car ride to get him to go down for his nap. Guess it was all the commotion.

All in all...Easter was a hit with this little boy!