Happy Belated Easter!!

I had hoped to get a post up yesterday, but never got around to writing it until last night:).  I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!!  Here is some of the fun we had yesterday:

Easter Morning!!

Charm's big gift was a yoga mat and a yoga DVD:)!! 

Lucky's big gift was a DIY Lip Balm Kit (and an early reader book collection not pictured:)):

We tried out this kit for coloring our brown eggs:

 Here was a little project we did using old broken crayons that I've been collecting and an Easter cookie tray that I picked up on super clearance at Target last year.

We put the crayon pieces in the cookie tray and placed them in the oven at 250 degrees for 20 minutes.

We let them cool:

And then popped them out of the tray.

Wa-la.  Festive new crayons.

Happy Monday to you!

P.S.  Do you see this picture?

It wasn't the first picture we took of Lucky and Charm in their Easter outfits.  It was more like the 100th.  At least it felt like that.  It's the same way it feels every time 'picture time' rolls around for a holiday or family gathering, and the quest begins for the 'perfect picture'.  I thought it would be fun to show the whole series of Easter 2013 pictures because it makes me laugh so hard I get teary, and I'm pretty sure it will make my Mom get teary too.

Background:  We were in a rush to get to church on time yesterday morning (per usual:)), so we didn't take Easter pictures before Church.  On the way home from brunch following Church, both Lucky and Charm fell asleep in the car and stayed asleep on the couch for about an hour after we got home.  When they woke up, we immediately wanted to dye eggs with them, but first we needed to get 'Easter pictures' so they could take their good clothes off.

They were bribed with jelly beans.  Lucky wasn't feeling so awake yet (she very rarely takes naps anymore), but Charm wanted some beans.  I asked him to hold her hand, thinking for some reason that would make her happy.  It didn't.  The pictures can do the talking from here:

'

Lucky is not impressed with the situation.

Charm is perking up:).

Lucky is still not impressed.  McKayla Maroney would be so proud.

Lucky is stubborn, but in our house, you can only fight back the smiles and laughter for so long.  I mean, how can you be expected to keep a straight face when your Dad is fake picking your Mom's nose with a plastic grabber toy from your Easter basket?

This ends the Easter 2013 photo shoot.  Mission Accomplished.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

I hope you all have a green and lovely day!  We spent some time yesterday planning for a little family St. Patrick's Day celebration:)!

I happen to think using rainbows to celebrate St. Patrick's Day is great fun!  We made these cupcakes and decorated them with simple rainbows:

I also set Lucky up with a bunch of rainbow colored paper strips, some clothes pins, and the canvas with twine that I use over and over again.

Here is what she came up with:)!:

I set the counter for breakfast last night:

We'll be having green milk and cereal in the heart shaped ramekins from World Market.  (I picked them up for Valentine's Day, but they are green so they are going to work for St. Patrick's Day too!)  Shamrock straws and rainbow headbands from the dollar bin complete the setting:).

We'll also be enjoying a sweet treat throughout the day:)!

I got this idea from this post that I found on Pinterest.  It has Rolos to represent gold at the bottom of the chocolate candy rainbow with marshmallows on top to represent clouds.  I picked up the long skinny vases at Walmart for $1.47 each.

I also found real Shamrocks (that open and close every day and night) at Trader Joe's for $2.99.

We're all set for a very fun day!!

We're Going to Disney World!

In the very near future, we'll be heading to Florida!!  We can hardly wait, and we've been busy getting ready for the last week or so. 

I had a really fun time putting together a fun travel bag full of kid activities that Lucky and Charm can use on the plane and on car rides.  I thought I'd share some of my sources for kid travel fun on the cheap, so here goes:

 

I found these fun Highlights books in the dollar bin at Target:

 

 

These coloring books and stickers were in the Dollar Spot as well: 

 

 

I found these fun story books in the Bargain Section at Barnes and Noble:

 

 

These books were in the clearance book section at Marshall's.  They were $3 and $1.

 

 

These pens and fun pockets were from Tuesday Morning and were an additional 20% off!

 

 

This Crayon Town set was from Tuesday Morning as well and was marked down to $3.99 and was an additional 40% off.

 

 

I found these Color Wonder Sets in my 'gift closet'.  I picked them up on sale and with a coupon a long time ago.  Mess free airplane fun sounds good to me:)!

 

 

While staying at Bill's parents home or visiting my parents, I thought Charm and Lucky might have some fun with a few Hot Wheels and painter's tape. 

 

 

You know....we might make a little race track like this:

 

via

 

 

I also picked up a couple treats for the week. We really like the Unreal brand of chocolates around here. (I like that there are no artificial colors or flavors used and they are readily available at Target!) I also picked up a small container of Organic Lollipops from Marshall's.

 

 

While we are in Florida, we will also be spending a couple days at Disney World, and the kids can hardly wait.  Bill and I thought ahead and picked up some Disney gear locally to save some money over Disney World prices.  We found these organic cotton t-shirts at the Disney Store for $8 each on sale:

 

 

We're packing two costumes each for them to wear at the park if they feel like it.  Lucky will have a Cinderella costume and a Minnie Mouse costume:

 

 

Charm will be able to dress as Woody or Buzz Lightyear.  We found a plastic Buzz Lightyear helmet that lights up.  It is awesome.  I wonder if Charm will want to sleep with it on:).

 

 

 

 

Bill also wanted to get Lucky and Charm each a set of pajamas, so they could stay in character at night:).

 

 

We also will be making individual sized jars of 'Pixie Dust' using glitter we picked up at Joann's:)!

 

 

 

Games, toys and costumes aside, I had so much fun packing spring clothes for Lucky and Charm for the trip.  I actually took the time to lay out their outfits.  Here are Lucky's:

Lucky has worn this shirt for forever.  It used to be a dress on her actually:).  It was a gift from Oma.  Shorts: Target, Shoes: Target

 

Grey Sweatshirt Blazer: Gift (from Target), Dress: Target, Tights: Target, Shoes: Target

Notice a Trend?:)  I should probably be writing Target Clearance because that's the section I shop in 90% of the time.

 

T-shirt: Disney Store (Charm has a matching one), Skirt: Target, Shoe: Target

 

Hat: Gymboree, Shirt: Gymboree, Skirt: Marshall's, Shoes: Marshall's, White Leggings: Gift

 

Gold Coat: Marshall's, Dress: Marshall's, Shoes: Target

 

Shirt: Old Navy, Skirt: Target, Shoes: Old Navy

 

 

This is Lucky's favorite outfit:

Sweater: Children's Place, Shorts: Target, Hat: Target, Yellow Flower: Michael's Felt Clip

She'll also wear a pink t-shirt underneath, but it was in the dryer when I took this picture:).

 

Cardigan Sweater: Target, Dress: H&M, Shoes: Target

Here is Lucky's traveling outfit:

Hat: Target, Flower: Michael's, Dress: H&M, Leggings: H&M

 

 

Here are a couple of Charm's outfits:

 

 

 

I didn't do such a good job packing for myself.  I picked up a few new springy clothing items for the trip.  I'm loving patterns and bright colors right now.  Here's the best glimpse I can provide while my clothes are drying:).

 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful spring break!!