Easter photo collection

Dylan just had her birthday two days ago, but since Easter came first and I have a billion Easter photos, I thought I would update you on our last few weeks through an Easter photo collection. Here's what the Rhodes family has been celebrating...

Dyeing Easter eggs at home, a week before Easter. I had high hopes to use "natural" dyes, but just didn't have the motivation when it came down to it - so we again went with Paas.

Sitting with the Easter Bunny at the Easter Egg Hunt at Cantigny Golf Course in Winfield. We went with Grandpa Warren and it was PACKED. There was an actual "hunt," but it should have been called a grab - it was mass chaos as HUNDREDS of kids and parents fought for eggs in the grass - ridiculous. So, I have no pictures of that manic 2 minutes.

Cousin Michaela with Dylan, dyeing eggs again at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Winfield. Dylan was attached to her hip.

Cousin Eli and Noah doing the same. Noah was obsessed with this process.

My dapper little boy enjoying some outdoor time on the deck with family.

Auntie Susie and Noah decorating Easter sugar cookies. I think Noah ate a few sprinkles... :)

Opening her Easter basket - and hugging a chocolate bunny. Now you see how the last week has been with the Easter candy.

The official Rhodes family Backyard Easter Egg Hunt. Dylan was WAY into it.

Noah was WAY into it as well! Here cousin CJ lends a hand pointing out some well-hidden eggs.

Look at these proud Easter Egg hunters! They both got lots of eggs. And the fun was not over. They wanted to then hide them for ME to find! So while everyone else went inside to open their eggs and check out their loot, they ran around the big backyard and hid them (mostly in plain sight) for me to have a turn. They didn't even realize candy was in the eggs - and it didn't matter to them - THIS was the fun part!

Good clean fun

If you have a front-loading washer, and ever want a really exciting activity to do with your children that also gets things clean, try washing stuffed animals! I am ashamed to say I have not washed their stuffed animals...umm....ever (unless one got peed on or thrown up on or something of course).

So, a week or two ago, we went around the house and chose some friends to throw into the washing machine. What fun that was - Dylan would have thrown in our whole house if I let her.

Here is the fun in action - they stayed here for so long I had to peel them away to eat dinner. They could see them going ROUND and ROUND and getting SUDSY!


Simple pleasures.

Pillow covers

My wonderful, amazing, talented sister, Lara made me some covers for my pillows on my plain couches in our front living room. They look totally awesome and make the room look so much more interesting. I'm posting them here for mainly her benefit, but I also like the picture of the kids, who I told to go pose by the couches for Aunt Lara...and this is what they did - very THEM.




Thanks Lara!!

Preschool Part Two

See, I knew there would be a part two before it even happened.

Yesterday the director of a city waldorf school in nearby pilsen, called to chat about Dylan possibly going to preschool there next year. It's a long shot - probably out of our financial reach, and we don't even know for sure that we'll be here, but I really like the idea of this school, and I SO wanted to make a good impression.

If you don't know anything about Waldorf education look here. One key element for this post: they are anti-screens (tv, computer, etc.) in early-childhood development.

So, this wonderful woman calls me on the phone at 3:30 - a volatile time at our house when no one took a nap. We are playing with playdough, and I had to abruptly stop and talk to her. In hindsight, I should have excused myself from the conversation and told the kids I needed to have 5 minutes of important mommy time. But, instead, I just left the table and went to go talk.

Dylan starts yelling in the background - nothing terrible, but just lots of embarassing NOISE.

And then she comes storming to me and yells at the top of her lungs, "I want to play a computer game NOW!"

Whoa. Not only is she yelling at me, which is just not acceptable, but she is (shuddering in shame) asking about computer games while I'm talking to the waldorf lady!!!

We're not even screen people. Yeah, she gets one show or equal time on the computer per day, but that's it! It completely mortified me, but was so perfect at the same time. Served me right for trying to impress anyone with my parenting...over the phone or not.

Preschool Part One

Dylan is almost four, and she is very ready for preschool. A year or so ago, I tossed around the idea (in my head mostly...and checked out a few library books) of homeschooling. Not for long term, but for a couple of years possibly - especially if we were in the city when she starts kindergarten. Don't get me wrong - that still might happen - and so I'm not ruling out homeschooling completely. But, I'm beginning to see how interested Dylan is in school. She loves her art and ballet classes, loves Sunday School. She loves following directions (even mine - so other adult's are even more desirable). She asks me sometimes why she doesn't go to preschool. And while I don't regret one second for keeping her out of school this year, I think it's time for her to start something this fall.

So, the search for the right school begins. It would help if we knew exactly where I should be looking. Alas, I can't obsess too much or make too many plans. I just have to wait and see where life takes us. And wherever she ends up, she'll (I'll) make it work.