Easter 2012

I was actually dreading Easter this year. Another holiday that Chris would not be home for. We don't have to go to that many places just a family get together at my moms but I was still kind of dreading it. Not because I did not want to see them but because I had to go through this, another holiday just Audrey and I without Chris.

But moping around miserable all weekend was not a conducive environment for Audrey so we made the best of it! First off the weather was beautiful all weekend! So we decided to color eggs outside... cuts down on the mess in the house because we are to the age where I just let Audrey do them completely.

Green for Daddy!

Finished project!

Then there was a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny! Our neighbor dresses up as Santa and the Easter bunny for schools and nursing homes so he always stops by to see Audrey. She is starting to get used to him. Maybe because he always has goodies!

Lip Gloss!!

And a traditional Easter egg hunt from Donna!

Audrey insisted on this container. She said she can fit more eggs than in her basket. Smart kid!

Easter Morning baskets!

When we were little our Easter baskets were always hidden and that was part of the fun Easter morning. Chris on the other hand never did that. It is so fun putting two family traditions together as families become one.  This year she was hysterical looking everywhere saying, "is it in here?" But I made it easy and hid it in her room.

I just put it on one of her chairs and covered it up.

Audrey got her first big kids bike this year also!!

I shoved this in her basket!

Just out of bed after she found her basket

Not so sure and pretty chilly outside!

So we checked out our baskets and then got dressed to come outside!

 Candy coma here we come!

But I couldn't keep her inside anymore so we through a sweatshirt on and headed our to try the bike out even with jammies on... hey, its Easter who cares!

She needed a new bike. She was trying to ride this old tricycle from last year and with the warm weather I figured Easter was a perfect time for a new bike. But as I put this thing together very early on Easter morning (pretty proud about that) it looked so big! I thought crap, there is no way she is ready for this. But it is perfect!!!

And after a little help with the peddles she had it figured out :) Again, this mad me cry. One, because she is so big and riding a bike. But more because Chris was not here to do this with her. What a big milestone a bike is! I assured Chris these training wheels would not come off for awhile but we all know Audrey and I am sure they are off by the end of the summer. I know he misses her so much and I know he would have given anything to be with her yesterday. He feels like he is missing so much  and I try to tell him how many things he will get to enjoy over the rest of he life. But sometimes I am sure that is no consolation.

So for hours we spend Easter morning outside playing thinking about Chris and putting off getting dresses to go to our obligations.

While everyone was putting pretty little Easter dresses on their daughters mine was playing in the sand and the dirt. I wouldn't have it any other way!

But eventually we had to wash the dirt off of her and get her dressed to go to Grandmas. And of course their were baskets for her from Aunt Ann & Uncle Andrew and Grandma with more candy and toys!

And that pretty little dress was no more... Outside playing she goes!

Purple bubbles who would have thought!

Playing with the boys! With the dogs the grass is scarce at my moms right now so those pretty white shoes did not last long. That's okay she will NEVER wear them again.

And of course Audrey thought this bunny was hysterical!

Over all Easter was a success. There was a late evening meltdown on the way home, check out the I Want Dad... post. But other than that we made the most of Easter as best we could without Chris home. In the last few years Chris has missed every holiday at least once including Audrey being born because of his military obligations. So by now you would think that I would get used to it. You never do. I had one little meltdown as we headed out yesterday but otherwise I kept it together because I knew I had to. My brother made one comment about Chris (making fun of him, just how my family is) but it was in front of Audrey and she took it really hard and began to hysterically cry. Most people don't understand why you have to walk on egg shells around Audrey when it comes to Chris. She takes in everything you say but does not understand and process it like we do as adults. She will be fine I am sure that she will pull through this fine although it may be hard now, come September when Dad get home she will be just fine! Happy Easter!