Easter Saturday

We celebrated Easter on Saturday this year. The weather was beautiful and we spent most of the day outside at Nana and Papa's. The yard is materializing out of the melting snowbanks and we're getting the lay of the land. There's a lot of grass for the kids to play on and explore (and also for Nana to mow). The patio area along the side of the house (facing the shop) is a perfect place to sit in the sun. Cailin spent a lot of time with us there, playing with her Easter presents (and Jellybean's as well). She got a Fur Real puppy in a purse and Jellybean got a baby tool pouch. Cailin loves them both.

The grandkids got a kid-sized bench for their sitting convenience and Cailin absolutely loved it. She sat on the bench beside Papa and chatted him up. They played in the kiddie car and raced around the sidewalks. She had such a great time.

I didn't realize how much water would be on the lawn and Cailin soaked her boots through in short order, but refused to go inside. She helped Papa break up more of the snowbanks and spread the snow around so it would melt faster. She especially loved it when he would pick up a lump of snow and smash it on the sidewalk to melt. There was fits of giggles coming from the yard while they threw snow around. Cailin hikes around and keeps herself fairly busy in the yard, but is never far from Papa.

Of course Bailey got to come too, and we spent a lot of time walking around the yard exploring and checking things out. Once Cailin's feet were too wet and cold to continue, we went in the house for a snack. Then we set up the new stroller and went for a walk with Nana. Cailin got to wear her ladybug slippers since her boots were sopping wet. Bailey was so happy to be outside walking. She sniffed tracks and had a wonderful time. We were startled by a wild chicken crashing around in the bush, which was kind of funny. He looked like he wasn't all that smart. Bailey didn't even notice him. That doesn't say much about how observant she is.

At any rate, sun was shining, the birds were singing and along the side of the shop, grass is growing:
Real, green, delightful grass. I'm so excited that the snow is almost gone and nicer weather is finally here. The trees are also starting to bud, and the pussy willows are out too.
We walked down the road for quite a while, then turned back and headed for the shop. Cailin wasn't quite ready to go in, but since she was wearing slippers, we didn't allow her to get out of the stroller. She talked Papa into taking her for a ride in the Ranger with Nana. The three of them scooted around having a great time. Ryan got the Rhino out and Bailey and I jumped in to go for a quick ride. Bailey wasn't sure what to think at first, but once she was able to stand a couple feet in my lap, she loved it. She relaxed and rode like a champ. It was a lot of fun.

That lasted for all of three minutes. Ryan headed out for the field. Now it stands to reason that if the lawn (the grass covered lawn) is as wet as it is, that the field is not going to be all that dry. Sure, the top layer looks dry-ish. But under that dry-ish looking stuff is mud. It didn't take long for the Rhino to sink in deep. The whole while I was saying things like, "Do not go in the field! Turn around! Get me out of here! Don't get me stuck!" and such like phrases. Alas, Ryan's brain secretes the chemical that drowns out nagging wife speech.

He put out a splendid effort, but after an eternity of slogging back and forth, we became high centered and really stuck. The mud was deep, and soupy. And also airborne. Clumps of mud flew through the air and I watched in slow motion as they landed on me, in my hair and on Bailey. She didn't think anything of it, but I was wearing my new maternity jeans. Not to mention those were the only clothes I had since I hadn't considered getting stuck in the soupy muddy field an appropriate Easter activity.

Papa pulled up to the edge of the field to watch our progress. I'm sure he took pictures. Cailin was very concerned that we were flinging mud around and had Bailey on the Rhino. Once in a while I would hear a little voice calling, "Mommy! B!" as she got more concerned.

Ryan maintains that I dropped an F-bomb while the mud was flying. I vehemently deny this, but the a-hole word may have slipped my lips once. Or twice. I freely admit that. I absolutely refused to get out of the Rhino wearing my nice running shoes and new jeans. The only way we were getting out was to use the winch. But what to winch to?

Papa provided the answer by letting out his winch and Ryan had to slog through the soup with his winch line to connect them. Bailey was scared of the noise the winch was making and started to wriggle on my lap. Thankfully the winch lines were long enough to meet in the middle and with a little effort from both machines, we started to move through the mud. With a sickening slurp noise that only mud can make, we moved closer to freedom. Once on dry ground, I jumped out of the Rhino with Bailey to comfort Cailin. She was glad Bailey was alright, but distraught over all the mud on Daddy's Rhino.

I was not so happy about the mud on my clothes. Or in my hair.

At any rate, a few borrowed clothes and everything was alright again. We had a delicious roast chicken dinner and apple pie for dessert. It was a fabulous meal. I was glad to get my freshly washed jeans back after dinner since they have a fancy stretchy waistband in them. Very important for the aftermath of Easter dinner. Comfort is everything.

We sat around after dinner, content and fairly tired after a day of playing outside in the fresh air, walking, getting a mud treatment and being very full. Cailin was getting sleepy and everyone decided that she would love to have her first sleepover at Nana and Papa's. She's never had a sleepover before, so naturally I was a little reluctant, but there's got to be a first time for everything.

So we packed up Bailey, said our goodnights and headed home. I was not entirely impressed with having to brush mud out of my hair before going to bed.

I woke up at eight the first time, thinking I had to get up and get ready for the day. Then I remembered that Cailin was at Nana and Papa's and I didn't have to get up anytime soon. I fell back asleep until ten! I got to take my time cleaning up for the day. I got to load the dishwasher without help. I had a hot (decaf) coffee with toast and looked over a decorating magazine at breakfast. It was a nice quiet morning. Not that they aren't usually fairly quiet; it was just so nice to take my time and enjoy not rushing around. I made up an Easter basket for Cailin with stuff I bought last year. I put some jelly beans and Mini Eggs in the hollow eggs and it was good to go.

We packed Bailey up and went to the carwash. Not a typical Easter Sunday activity, but relaxing nonetheless - that is, until Bailey reminded me that she doesn't like the laserwash by having several wheezie attacks in the backseat. Then we stopped at Safeway for gummie vitamins for Cailin and a snack for us.

Once we got to back out to the farm, Dad and Ryan took my car completely apart and cleaned it from top to bottom. They also tried to buff out the newest scrape in the door with some success. I'm still cheesed with how many scratches, scrapes and nicks there are in that poor car's paint. But with their efforts, it looks almost brand new again. They also torqued the wheels since they changed out the snow tires yesterday for the summer ones.

Bailey and I went on a tour around the yard waiting for Cailin to wake up. Eventually she did, and off to the house we went. Cailin was happy to see us, more so B than me I think. We had a snack and back outside.

We walked around the property, Cailin holding the end of Bailey's leash and me holding the middle for security. We figured we'd get the stroller out again and go for another walk down the road, but once Papa had the Ranger out, Cailin went for a ride and wouldn't get out. So we left her with the boys and went for a walk ourselves. Bailey had a wonderful time again, sniffing tracks and drinking out of the ditch.

We were gone longer than anticipated, and everyone was in the house when we got back. We had leftovers for dinner and watched the hockey game.

It was a wonderful fabulous Easter weekend and I'm so glad we could spend it with Nana and Papa in the beautiful weather. Is this a good time to mention how many chewies Bailey ate over the weekend and how bad the resulting gas was? No? Alrighty then.