Easter Weekend

We had a busy weekend! Rosemary's third birthday was on Friday. I told a friend that I have no problem with Rosemary turning 3 years old, but I can't wrap my mind around the fact that I've been a mother for three years now. Time flies when you're tired out of your mind.

My bellydance studio had its final studio party Friday night. The owner is jumping the country to fulfill her dreams of being a world traveler (you can and should follow her adventures here). I left Senpai home with the girls and headed out for one last shebang with this wonderful community of dancers. Had too much fun to take a single picture. Whoops.

We held a party for Rosemary on Saturday. Heading into March, I wasn't sure how we would celebrate the Cupcake's birthday. I didn't want to put the effort into a big party, and didn't want to try to do some event outside of the house either. A lot of my reluctance to plan for anything came from the uncertainty of whether or not anyone would even come. It was Easter weekend after all. And what business does Easter have being at the end of March anyway? I remember Easter being around the end of April when I was a kid. I'll answer that question later. I finally decided to take the leap and plan a little party. Send out invites, see who comes. If it was just one or two kids, that would be just fine. I was pleasantly surprised when three families RSVP'ed, giving Rosemary five friends to play with. It was the perfect amount.

We threw a Peter Pan party.


She can't wear this costume enough; absolutely loves it.

I made the cake. It was a gluten-free box mix that I frosted with marshmallow frosting.


Poppy was adorable as Tinkerbell.


Senpai broke out the Captain Hook costume when it was time for the pinata. And man, that thing was impossible to break!


Party guests!
 
When asked, one of the party guests knew the answer to why Easter is when it is. He said that Easter is always scheduled on the first Sunday following the first full moon following the Vernal (Spring) Equinox. You tell me Easter isn't a pagan holiday, ha!

Moving on, Sunday was Easter, of course. We started with baskets in the morning.


When Poppy went down for her nap, Rosemary went egg hunting around the backyard with her new Peter Pan doll, an Easter gift from Oma and Grandad.



Gosh, she looks so much more grown up now than she did last year.

After Poppy woke up we got them together for an Easter photoshoot.



Love these girls.

My Girls

Senpai uploaded some pictures from his phone on flickr and I wanted to share a few of my favorites here. 


I love this picture. Grocery shopping feels so much more complicated with the two of them, but this picture makes it look like we enjoy ourselves in the process.


This one is interesting because it may not seem like it, but all four of us are in the picture. Can you find us?


Here we are! Senpai is on the outside of the glass door taking the picture, Rosemary is obviously hanging from the door, and then Poppy and I are approaching the door from the inside. I'm sure you could have figured it out on your own, but I really wanted to trace us in Photoshop. :-)


We keep getting snow up here. Poppy was not impressed. Rosemary keeps talking about going outside and playing "snowball."


40º with an icy wind, perfect day for an Easter Egg Hunt. Brrr!


Our little Pixie.


And the Dreamweaver.


*◊~ Good night ~◊*

Easter-riffic

First, you should know that I started having preterm contractions on Wednesday (a full moon), at only 28 weeks gestation. I drove the 20 miles to the hospital at night, in the rain, to be monitored and medicated. You can't come early, Poppy, this is too early... The doctors sent me home with contraction stopping pills that I'm supposed to take as needed. So far, I have had to take two doses every night. I don't consider that a good thing, but I am quite glad to have the medicine.

Now, on to Easter! Because of the early labor scare, Grandad drove up from Florida. He'll be here for a while, hopefully until Poppy is born which will also hopefully not be anytime soon. The upside to the craziness on Wednesday is that we got to spend Easter with him. We're looking forward to having Oma join the party when Poppy arrives.


Saturday, we went to a local farm for an Easter Egg Hunt. It was R's first time hunting eggs (she couldn't walk last Easter!), and she did it like a pro.


The farm had chicks, bunnies, and ponies on display.


Such a sweet picture: Senpai and Cupcake holding a bunny.


Senpai put an egg in her basket and she figured out the rest from there. My big girl!


Today, Easter Sunday, Senpai took the eggs R had already found yesterday and re-hid them around our yard.


She's off! (Look, proof that Grandad is here!)


Found one!


The victory sippy cup.


Happy Easter, everyone!