Happy Easter! We had a wonderful weekend. Gary had off work on Friday and we had a wonderful day. My dad tries every year to get us tickets to opening Day. I think I've only missed a couple since the ballpark opened. This year we had seats out in right field and then, the Lord moved mountains and my dad actually got his work's season ticket seats in the FRONT ROW! It was amazing! We drove up to Cleveland and went to the Pierre's for a couple hours visiting and playing and we left the kids with Hannah. Thank you so much for watching them! The kids had a wonderful time playing with all new toys and Grace napped well which I hope helped Hannah out. Watching 4 kids under 5 must have been overwhelming at times! We got to the game in time to see some batting practice. I had several layers of clothes on and took in my double coat as well as some blankets and umbrellas. Gary had on his huge Tribe coat with all kinds of stuff in the pockets. Snacks for me, my chap stick, garbage bags, phones... i don't even recall what else. I was so relieved when they let us in with the umbrella's. The website said you could take them but i thought sure they'd still confiscate them. So we got in and just stood at our own seats for BP! Joshua's friend Kathy and my dad each got a foul ball! It was just amazing. I tried to make friends with the ball boy and i was truly concerned through the night as the temps dropped that he'd get ill. It didn't' help though since he only got one ball and it did not go to me. oh well. I enjoyed the opening ceremony watching for the people in charge which reminded me very much of Lori several years ago. We also got to see OSU's spring band. I was impressed and can't imagine what it would be like to see their football band.... The game we got to see was a good one. You fans reading will know that halfway through the 5th, Tribe down by only one, the tarps came out and hours later (over 3 i think) the game resumed and we lost miserably. Gary and I sat through one full hour of rain delay and then left. We had to get the kids and drive all the way home, it was FREEZING and we were more soaked than we realized. That hour was actually wonderful. We were cuddled together in the rain under an umbrella, front row to see nothing but just peaceful. No one wanted a drink or a pacy. No body needed their pants changed or wanted to run and crash into the walls. We didn't trip over cars and tracks and dishes and Little People. It was loud b/c they play the music so stinking loud, but it was nice. Just a break. Had i thought of it sooner we'd have gone over to tower city and had a quick dinner instead of sitting in the rain like idiots! :) We left and went back and visited with the Pierre's a bit, then went home. I was glad we didn't stay longer. Good call Gary. Saturday morning was the egg hunt at a park in Alliance. Steph had told me about it and really wanted the kids to go. There must have been 500 kids there. it was organized by age groups so we got there, realized i did not grab the bags so we had to call Gary and Steph to stop back home and get a couple. they almost missed the whole thing by then b/c they had to park so far away. i stayed with Grace by the 2 and under part and Gary went off with Tyler. Gary and steph made it and Steph stayed with me, Gary went with the boys. Grace was SO cute. For her age they just had the eggs spread out on the grass on a hill and we could take them out there with us but only the child could touch the eggs. There were lots of kids screaming in terror and their parents screaming over them "get the eggs! get the candy! pick it up!" it was madness. Steph and I kind of blocked off a little section and sheltered Grace so she could get a few. there were so many kids there i only let her get like12. some kids were getting entire baskets full. yet another area where my kindness will make my kids suffer. She wanted to open them as she found them but we finally got her to put them in her bag. she went SO slowly and then all of a sudden it was like the light bulb went off and she bent down and got three at one time and looked at this other kid like "back off!" it was kind of cute since she didn't yell or anything. anyways we felt that was a enough so we went back down to the parking lot and i saw Gary coming towards us carrying Tyler who was tightly wrapped around his neck and I knew immediately it did not go as well for him. I guess for his age group (3&4) the eggs were in a baseball field spread out and the parents were NOT allowed to go out with them. i guess Tyler bent down to pick one up and couldn't get it in the bag and he just got scared and ran back to Gary. He didn't want to go back and we didn't force him. So i just put grace's eggs into two piles and let them open them. Tyler's friend Marta from Indiana was in town and her mom and grandma had brought her. she got like 40 so they gave Tyler some of her candy. I kept saying it was enough b/c i don't even let them eat candy! it was very sweet of them to share though. :) The eggs were taped shut which was very annoying. we opened them there in case we got a prize (we didn't) and recycled the eggs (i have plenty!!). then the kids got interviewed by a reporter and we went to McDonald's for hot chocolate. Tyler seemed fine and even with several chances did not wish to go back and try so we let it go. Trust me, he still LOVED egg hunting at home so he's not scarred for life. :) So after hot chocolate i was to meet my mom at the mall, she was waiting for me and i was supposed to meet her there but then at the last minute Gary decided we could all go, eat lunch, and then he'd take the kids home and i could shop. so that's what we did. it was so much fun to get to see the kids a little more but then have time just me and my mom. she bought me a maternity swimsuit for vacation. it was so much fun to just walk around with no strollers and no 40 pound diaper bag on my arm. :) inf act i had no purse! I had my phone in my pocket and my wallet in my coat pocket because gary had to take the diaper bag home with him! haha! After a short rest we did the cake and decorated it, i vacuumed the whole house, put away some last minute things, washed way too many dishes, cleared the kitchen table, we decorated eggs bathed the kids and watched a tv show with them and put them to bed. WHEW! Gary took care of half of bathtime, and of getting the table moved and brought up the extra chairs. We went to bed around 10 and I was exhausted. Good thing Easter didn't come around week 8 of this pregnancy b/ç at that time i could barely function! The morning went very smoothly and we were all dressed and ready and in the car ON TIME!!! The kids looked SO cute. I hope to get photo's downloaded soon to post. My mom got some good shots too but it'll be months before i get those. ;) My dad and Aunt Toots met us at church. As did the Bush's, Josh and Pap. It was a wonderful service but when we went to pick up Grace she was crying. She cried the whole way home!! Apparently I forgot to pack her paci which was the absolute end of the world. She's teething and I think just needed a nap. We got home and Gary rested with her and held her for a little bit while we got the lasagna going. My mom had gotten them gifts and given them the day before, but on Sunday they got baskets from my dad, Gary's parents, pap AND us! It was madness! I got some video but kept losing the camera so i don't have many photos. We also did an egg hunt outside which I got video of. The kids were so cute. They had about 10 helpers telling them where to look. :) We got some pictures outside (yes, in the cold) and then went in and it was about time to eat. Everything came together really well and we all sat down at the table to eat. It was nice. I wish everyone would have been able to come but we had a wonderful time with those who were here. Shortly after dinner the crabby princess got her nap. :) Pap left around 2, and my dad & aunt toots shortly after. Lia got here around 2:30. my mom left at 3 and they left about 3:30. so then it was time to get grace up and we were SO ready for a nap!! we just laid around and let the kids play all evening. Now that i see it's been raining for 3 days I wish I'd have changed them and made them go outside. Gary's on spring break so he stayed home all day Monday and we rested. We also watched a lot of Jerhico. The show is addicting! It's a good mix of story line for me and suspense and mystery for Gary. The side affect of such a show is that Gary went to Aldi last night (after a full day of work- isn't he the best!?!?) to pick up a few things and bought out half of the store! We do try to have a stockpile of food but seeing him come back and forth from the car about 5 times was just too funny. Once we got it all put away it really wasn't that bad... also considering how little shopping i've done in the past 2 months. Today is Wednesday and I"m 12 weeks! I'm starting to feel human again thank the Lord! God Bless!