To celebrate, we kicked-off the Easter Season with the first egg hunt of the year. Not that it's monumental to have an egg hunt, but honestly, it turned out to be a great way to celebrate a two-year-old birthday. I'd recommend it. Who knows - we might have an egg hunt for future birthdays, even birthdays in August and September. Why not? Eggs would be really cheap that time of year...
I'm not much of a baker. I cook dinner nearly every night, but we don't really love to have baked goods in the house. It feels like the kids get plenty of treats throughout the day (our kids are social butterflies, and these days, every day is an excuse for a party). Plus, Landon and I are pretty impulsive. Fresh cookies don't get to stay in this house for long, and those fresh cookies had to go SOMEWHERE, so you can imagine where they go. So I've started a trend. I make-from-scratch their birthday cupcakes. This was my second attempt at very berry strawberry cupcakes - I'm getting better at it. Fresh strawberries in the icing. Freeze-dried strawberries in the cupcakes. The kids helped me make the icing on Saturday morning, and we all iced them together (that explains why they are not artistic... or maybe it's that they'd look like my 3-year-old helped me decorate them even if she didn't). My philosophy is that by the time they are old enough to discern whether my cupcakes are good, I'll actually be pretty good at it. I REALLY don't get much practice. The flour that I used to make these cupcakes was (I'm pretty sure) the flour I purchased to make Cora's cupcakes in September...
Uncle Shew and aunt Erin always send a Target gift card for the girl's birthdays. Over Christmas, Uncle Shew went wild when he realized that the kids hadn't actually been picking out the toys bought with the cards. Message heard! Quinny and I made a ceremonial trip to Target yesterday, just she and I, to pick out a new toy.
There were several front-runners - a stuffed Mickey Mouse as big as her; a plastic shopping cart full of fake food - but once Quinny imprinted on this Our Generation doll, the story was over. That's what she definitely wanted.
After Target, Quinny took a nice long, nap and we finished our party prep. Our big plan was that she'd wake up around 3, we'd get her dressed, then let her open the presents from us and family, with us all ready for the party at 4.
Quinn woke up with an epic Terrible-Two-Tantrum. So we were a bit delayed getting to open pre-party presents, and even when we did, Quinn was a big contrary about the whole thing.
With about 15 minutes to go before the party, we'd gotten about 3 presents open, and decided to stack the presents on the TV stand (up off the floor) and open them Saturday night post-party or Sunday morning. So going into the party (all outside) there were some opened presents and some unopened presents in the living room. There was also some wrapping paper left on the floor, although most of it had been bagged up. Keep that stack of presents in mind - it comes up again later in the plot.
We headed down to the basement. Cora spotted the huge box of eggs on our way out to the party.
Landon and I spent our Friday night baking cupcakes and stuffing eggs. Honestly, we didn't spend more than we would have on goody bags for the party. For goody bags, I always like to buy a couple of nice stuffers so the bag isn't all candy (e.g., like playdough). But we bought mostly cheap-o eggs with a few fancy eggs thrown in, stuffed with toddler friendly candy (is there such a thing). Super easy.
I took a picture of this cheese board. Landon made me laugh with these labeled cards. This party was the furthest thing from a fancy party. I even crossed hot-dog sauce and slaw off of the menu, because it felt like too much trouble. No dips on the table. Just hot dogs with buns, ketchup, cleveland mustard, veggie straws (a kiddie version of chips, if you don't have kids), and smore flavored goldfish. That was it. Then while baking, I found the cheeseboard and cheese knives Jill sent me for Christmas this year, and Landon had plans to grab Whole Foods coffee beans on Saturday morning anyways, so we decided to grab some good cheese for the adults. While we were setting up, Landon came down with these labeled cards... and suddenly the whole thing looked fancy. And it turns out our kids also couldn't get enough of the cheese.
I did not let them take off like this (how dangerous) but they looked so cute all cuddled up and ready to go!
Quinny with Elizabeth Rankin.
Cora's friend Lilly from Miss Aimee's came, too. It was fun to see Quinny with her friends. So many of Cora's friends have younger brothers that that's often who she plays with, but she has some really close friends from school.
Cora and Quinn immediately tore into Lilly's present - a wand with wings. Perfect! They loved it!
Melissa arrived with Olivia and Jamison -
I love this hug!
All lined-up and ready for the Easter Egg Hunt!
Before the egg hunt, we set up a table to decorate bags for eggs. Lunch bags painted with markers and covered with stickers. Super easy.
Front row: Lilly Grace, Addison, & Tanner (in the next pic, Elizabeth took Lilly's place on the front row, and Olivia perched between Addison & Tanner).
Second row: Calvert, Quinn, Presley, Jamison.
Third row: Cora, Gauge, James, Sean, Annalisa, Kate, & Maelin.
(Samual, baby Luke, and baby Juliet didn't make the picture)
What's in the eggs??? CANDY!!!
And, they're off! Kate & Presley realized that there were eggs hidden closer to the house for the little kids. Those girls were egg finding experts!
For a party activity, it seemed to work really well. No one had to wait there turn, we threw out a ton of eggs (about 240) so everyone got plenty, and the really little kids were happy-as-punch to even find 2 or 3 eggs. Plus it gave us an excuse to get everyone on the stairs for a pic - which I've sometimes forgotten at parties. While the mom's lined the kids up for the pic and to wait for the hunt, the dad's ran out and "hid" the eggs (we gave the instruction to not really hide the eggs - we didn't want to find eggs in our bushes 10 years form now!).
Quinny getting some help with the hunt from Maelin's grandma.
Annalisa's first egg hunt. Last year, Quinn was walking at Easter, but Annalisa is 4 months younger, so wasn't quiet egg hunting yet (if I remember correctly).
Lilly found eggs under the stairs.
Tanner.
Quinn & Jamison.
Elizabeth & Olivia (coincidentally in the same shirt).
Juliet is only 8 days old (there with Lindy - only 8 days post-partum). Lindy has twins exactly Cora's age - one baby must feel so easy that she's juggling this baby no problem. I completely forgot how little Juliet was until she started crying and I heard that sweet sweet newborn cry.
The pics of Quinn blowing out the candles (that wouldn't stay lit) are on Landon's phone - I'll insert later. Quinn took one bite of her cupcake. That was it. I hope she appreciates all this strawberry cupcake effort someday.
Quinn and Annalisa saying their goodbyes.
How long do you have to be friends in order to be "old friends"? I remember when I realized Erin was pregnant. We hadn't seen each other in a couple of months (it happens with toddlers), and we were both standing in the back of the Cathedral with cranky toddlers (James and Cora). She was holding James, and when she set him down, the bump was obvious. We made the pregnant eye contact - I was nearly a bigger disruption than Cora I was so excited.
I love this hug.
Lilly Grace liked the cupcakes!
Quinn didn't eat a cupcake, but she still managed to catch a sugar-high. Quinn broke into a candy-infused dance to celebrate this egg find right here on the driveway. She was wild. Hopping and spinning and running back-and-forth.
Quinny wasn't very into the egg hunt during the hunt, but afterwards when the kids were distracted and playing with other things, she went on a super-sly-stealth hunt for eggs - checking in bags that she found around the yard. Here, she shelled Presley's eggs stashed in the wagon. The candy was wrapped, so I don't think she got any here... but she sure acted wild about the fruits of her hunt. She was so excited.
Saying her goodbyes to Olivia...
And Tanner...
Kate proud of the fruits of her hunt - a TON of eggs!
So back to that stack of presents inside. While we were cleaning up the party, Cora went inside to play with Addison, Kate, and Presley (all 5 or nearly 5). These kids play together a lot, and Cora loves to be their tag along. People were in-and-out the whole time or sitting on the porch swing with food and platters, but I was outside the whole time saying goodbye with Quinn to her guests. That stack of presents didn't look all that wrapped to start with, because half had been opened right before the party.
As people were leaving, Cora came halfway down the front steps where the gifts from the party were, and asked when we were coming inside to open all of Quinn's gifts from the party. Quinn's gifts from the party were all perched midway up the front porch stairs.
Presley was standing next to me on the driveway.
Cora: When can Quinny open these presents?
Me: In a few minutes - we're going to say goodbye to our guests and pick-up first.
Presley: Cora already opened all the presents inside.
Me: What presents? (I didn't really get what Presley was trying to say until Cora's accusation gave it away).
Cora: (having a caniption fit that kept her from getting her words out) Presley! Presley! You weren't supposed to tell my Mommy!!!
I had to try really hard to not laugh.
Sure enough, I went inside, and this is what I found. Quinn's presents mailed from family, half-opened all over the room. I could see why no one noticed what they were doing (I'm sure she had a little help). The stack wasn't very neat, and there was already some paper on the floor.
I tried to keep a straight face as I tried to make Cora feel guilt about opening all of Quinn's presents. She explained that Quinny didn't even want to open them before the party so she had to see what was in them. "Don't worry - we didn't play with them!" she said. I was trying to lecture Cora, but every few minutes had to cover my mouth to hide my smile. She was so stinking cute standing here pouty and refusing to feel guilty about it.
Quinny was completely unaffected by the opened presents.
The girls went back to playing with the toys. Kate, sitting in the doll high chair.
I let Cora open the snap-on Minnie set from Mia and Papaw. Both girls love it!
Opening presents after the party.
Quinn loved her set of purses from Aunt Feather. Quinn does like purses.
Cora picked out a Nemo bath toy for Quinny. Pull the work in its mouth, and it's tail swims to catch the worm. I forgot about wind-up toys - Quinn is the perfect age for those.
I thought Quinny looked so cute all day - especially from behind. Look at the chubby little baby contour of her legs. I know that baby fat will melt soon and she will look less and less like a baby this year. I've enjoyed Quinn as a baby so much.
On Facetime with Aunt Feather. You can really see the dirt on her face here.
Our neighbors Calvert and Samuel brought presents for both Quinn and Cora. Both girls had hollipop suckers on the top of their packages. Cora LOVED hers (I think it was her first old-fashioned piped candy sucker)... Quinn took a few licks and handed hers straight to me. I wasn't disappointed - I love those old candy store suckers, too!
Quinny starting to crash in Daddy's lap.
A family picture: Aunt Feather, Daddy, and Quinn.
The final gift we opened was the perfect bedtime story, given to Quinn from the Groebers. A few weeks ago after dinner at the Groeber's house, we gave all the kids a bath there together (pictures exist, but decided not to blog, since the 2 Messals and the 2 youngest Groebers are all in the tub together. Someday when Cora and James are graduating from middle school together, that picture will be submitted to a slideshow... too cute!). We had the girls are dressed for bed, and Cody read the kids this book for bedtime.
What a great story - it's an instant Messal family favorite. The story is about a wooden doll (like Pinnoccio, but it isn't Pinnoccio), and he struggles with his imperfections and is jealous of other dolls. He meets a doll who always seems happy and at peace, and the lesson she teaches him is that she visits the Old Doll Maker Eli everyday to remind her that she was wonderfully and specially made and that she's exactly as the dollmaker intended her to be. It's by Max Lucado, titled "You Are Special".
When Landon read it to the girls last night, Cora asked, "Who made you, Daddy?"
Wowser. Wonderful moments.
Wonderful moments all day long.
