Easter Benny

Yes, Grandpa Jim gets the credit for that one-though I hope no one ever calls him Benny.  In fact, when we were home in December a bagger at Safeway, Ruth, told me repeatedly how I should call him Benny.  I told her his name was Ben or Benjamin and and she told me that was "too bad."  Her blue eye shadow was "too bad."
Ben's first Easter festivities began this weekend with our neighborhood egg hunt.  Ryan and I have volunteered in the past, but this year Ben had swimming lessons so the boys made it just in time for the beginning of the hunt.  The hunt was a success as usual and what takes weeks to prepare was over and cleaned up in twenty minutes.

 

Taking notes on the Hunt for next year

 

Ben's Special Egg Hunt Prize from Sherilyn

We spent the rest of Saturday afternoon buying plants and planting and doing yard work.  Ryan also finished and baked croissants-yum!  Ben laid and played in the yard while we planted and worked.  Saturday evening while we were relaxing on the couch Ryan talked about how great it was to have Ben outside playing with us.  He talked about how he wasn't prepared for how much joy Ben would bring to us and how such a simple thing made him so happy.  He perfectly stated what I'd been thinking all day.
The fun didn't stop Sunday for most of us.  My ulcer was acting up and out of control so I did my best to put on a smile and make it through the day.  I tried to send the boys alone to the EB photo op at the YMCA, but burst into tears at the thought of missing it and drug myself out of bed.  Said photo op was also right in the middle of nap time so there were no smiles to be had.  I would say tolerance was a strong theme for 2/3 of our family at the event.  
We hurried home to finish preparations for dinner with friends Ken and Tracy but sadly I couldn't bear the thought of sitting upright for another 2 hours and we postponed our dinner date.  Part way through Monday I'm feeling at least 50% better and looking forward to some more Easter photo ops this weekend.

 

Sooo ready for a nap

 

Clearly not impressed

 

"Look at all the eggs that kid got!"

 

Done!