Don't you hate computers sometimes?  Ours exists to make us crazy.  I know it's alive.  I know it hangs on and starts to behave only when it perceives Woody's threats to throw it out and replace it as credible.  It has been a while since I've posted because it's been a while since the computer behaved.  This is Easter.  Much has happened since then that I look forward to posting about later.

All dressed up for Easter morning. 

See those veins sticking out in the middle of my head?  That's because we are already 10 minutes late for church but aren't you supposed to get photos of your family on Easter morning?  We still have a very long day ahead and it just made me stressed to start it out behind.  Will...he looks annoyed too.  Hope..."hurry" is not yet a word she recognizes.  It's not a word her dad recognizes either.  Okay, it's been weeks, Leigh Ann...time to get over it, right?

After church we headed to Bobbi's for the Maglinger celebration.  There, we had a more traditional Easter egg hunt.

So glad that the girls don't yet see it as a competition.  Easter egg hunting still went smoothly without any fighting.  Fun times and many cute pictures that I didn't have time to edit/post.

Next stop, Grammy and Pappy's house.  There we started the tradition that we have long held at Christmas time of clues.  Clues are way fun.  You hide clues that eventually leads to your stocking or in this case Easter basket. 

Hope did really well.  Since she can't read, we helped her with that but she found the next egg by herself.

Then finally the clues led her to her basket.  In my day, Easter baskets were a few eggs filled with candy and a pair of sunglasses.  Now, it's a regular jack pot of toys and candy that cannot fit into any actual basket.  The sunglasses are still there, though.

Poor Wilbur.  He wants to participate.  Next year kiddo!  (he did get a basket...no sunglasses but a basket nonetheless.
So, later if the computer still behaves, I'll post the other happenings in the Maglinger household.  We have 2 new teeth, a sitter, an eater, a bike rider, and I'm sure lots of other fun things to talk about.  Plus, Will is 6 months so I have to do an official update.  Jessica Hall is taking our family photos on Friday so maybe I'll finally be able to change that family picture at the top of my blog that has been there for literally 3 years.  See ya then!

Dugging

By far the hardest part of having 2 kids is the Mommy guilt.  I never feel like I'm dividing my time well.  One child can manipulate me to make the time she wants, she can ask for what she needs and communicate her wants.  On the other hand, she is the oldest and sometimes gets over looked by well meaning baby lovers.  The baby is helpless and undemanding.  He cannot communicate his needs or wants, but on the other hand he is by nature of being a baby more high maintenance and receives more attention at times.  I say all this to say that yes, I've noticed that I've been posting Hope activities and not Will activities.  I'm short on Will photos because I'm an imperfect mother who struggles to divide her camera's lens appropriately! Pray for me.

Now, on the the real post: This past Friday night we had a huge rain.  Saturday morning was cloudy, relatively cool, one of a very few days with no plans on the calendar and therefore perfect for getting out to work in the yard.  Hope was thrilled to get to go "duggin."

She actually was very helpful at times pulling weeds in the flower beds we were clearing out.  Our neighbors turn out to be yard freaks.  They are always out there fiddling or working with their yard.  We felt like slackers so I'm glad to get started.  The warm spring has me confused about when to plant.  Isn't Derby weekend the gold standard for planting in KY?  Anyone with a green thumb know what we should do this year?

Hope has real gardeners gloves.  That is the only reason this little princess is willing to be holding a worm. 

Well just lay in in, girl!  One of my most vivid childhood memories is playing in the mud.  I made countless mud pies and mud tacos (mud that you put in a big leaf and fold like a taco).  It was neat to see Hope doing what I used to love.  I don't remember ever being dirty, though.  I'm sure I was.  Hope...she really was.  I've yet to tackle washing those jeans.  I'm just intimidated.  They are in the laundry room soaking in the Shout.  Pray for me about those jeans, too!

Ice Capades

It was 88 degrees here today.  Whew!  That's gettin' kinda hot.  Last weekend was hot too, and that's actually when we went on this little escapade.  Ice skating.  Now that's a fun random Saturday activity for the family!  Owensboro's newish ice rink is actually pretty nice and when you have a free pass, it's also pretty cheap! 

I was worried they wouldn't have skates small enough for Hope.  Ahh, but they do.  I've said before how I love all things miniature.  Miniature ice skates are just too much!

See her matching fleece and hat and mittens?  It was too warm all winter to wear them so I was very glad to have a place to prance them around on my little lady!  Hope was full of confidence as she stepped out on the ice.  Where were these crates when I was a kid?  If you haven't been skating in a while and don't feel confident, don't be ashamed.  I saw lots of adults using them too.  They just stack them 4 high instead of 2 like Hope has.

The confidence quickly left and I was afraid we were not going to be at our little ice adventure very long.

But then an idea went skating by and we decided to try it!  Wee! Faster Faster, Dad!  In case you weren't sure if Woody was a good dad or not, please know he was crouched in this position for 2 hours pushing Hope.

We like the ice again!

Finally she is ready to venture out again! 

There were a few accidents and bumps to the bottom, but she finally got the hang of it.  I'm so proud!  Woody said he didn't have to make her try, she just decided on her own that it was time to try.

While this tired back could sure use a break after all that pushing, there is no sitting on the crates!  The little skater rink police were quick to tell Woody to get off his crates.  Come on Parks and Rec, it's a plastic milk crate!

Woo Hoo!  Look out Michele Quan!