Easter Sunday gone wrong

As you know, I married an amazing man who is also Russian.  Because of that, he celebrates some holidays on a different calendar then others do.  Last year, Easter happened to be the same day for both of us, but this year Russian Easter happened to follow Catholic Easter by a week.  We did our Easter egg hunts with everyone else, but the Easter bunny decided to come to us on Russian Easter instead.  

I used to love dying Easter eggs with my family as a kid.  My Mom was always really great at making multi colored eggs, and through the years my brother got pretty good too.  Unfortunately, I never mastered the tricks they did, but I try.  Unfortunately, Dima never got the memo that dying easter eggs is supposed to be an artistic thing!  He simply put one egg into each cup and said we were done.  That's not how to dye easter eggs!!  Dipping half an egg in one color and half in another is all part of the fun!  Maybe next year.  In the meantime, I had fun showing Zach how to decorate the ONE egg Dima didn't shove in dye right away with a little spinner from Louise.  

Dima, shoving the eggs in each cup.  You live you learn!

Easter consists of many days and nights at church for Dima.  Because of the time, it is not possible for Zach or I to join in.  I still need my much needed pregnancy sleep, even as far along as I am now.  Zach naps in the afternoons and goes to bed at 6:30.  So Dima went solo to all of the services.  Church consisted of Thursday night, Friday afternoon, Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and again Saturday night.  His Saturday night service is long and goes past midnight.  

Dima all dressed up in a new suit (custom from Korea) for Saturday night's service.  I sure did get a handsome man! 

This morning, the Easter bunny came!  The Easter bunny came last year, but Zach wasn't very interested because he was only 4 months old.  This year he had a ball taking the toys out and putting them back in.  He got spoiled and got chalk, a bubble gun, two ball maze games, an alligator car, some plastic eggs to open and close, chocolate cockroaches, and Cadbury cream eggs (for mommy and baby)!

Neko wouldn't leave his side!

We followed this with a brunch at the O club, but had a difficult time.  This morning, Zach woke up with some pain in his eye.  He kept rubbing them and screaming and crying.  After his nap, we decided enough was enough.  It was time to bring him for his very first visit to the ER.  Eyes are just not something to mess with.  The trip was surprisingly quick which is important with a toddler who's in pain.  The doctor assumed it was pink eye and gave us some ointment for it, but she wasn't sure without looking closer.  We weren't 100% convinced but figured we'll give it a day or so before going back.  

Unfortunately, this Easter wasn't the best for us, but we made the best of it.  Maybe next year.  It will certainly be fun next year with a 2 year old and an infant.  

Happy Easter to all!

My life these days

If you had told me 5 years ago that I would be married, living in Japan, with a dog, a 14 month boy and another on the way, I would have laughed.  Seriously.  Five years ago, well let's just say I was a bit of a party animal.  Let's take a look back at where I've come from.

Yep.  That's me on the right.  Beer in hand, and jello shots on the way!

Let's just say my sense in fashion has changed quite a bit since as well.  I went through a bit of an 80's phase.

Interestingly enough, this was the night I met my husband.  Here we are playing around.  I ended up hitting his lip a few seconds after this and making him bleed.

Ok, embarrassing pictures over.  I had quite a wild few years there, but I strongly think it's helped shape me into the person I am today.  Why the flashback, you ask?  Well this morning I woke up to this:

Mr. Bear was watching tv, drinking a beer, while searching the internet on my laptop.  

And this is what my life has become.  No longer do I get joy from those crazy nights drinking my night away.  Instead, it's the little things, like a bear stealing my laptop, that makes me truly smile.  It's things like this that make my day these days:

 What does a bunny say, Zach?

Cuddle time mama?

I never could have imagined in a million years that 5 years from then, I'd have this life.  I never dreamed that a little smile from a bald boy would make me so happy.  I would trade every one of those jello shots for one little smile any day.  But it's our past that makes our future what it is.  It just makes it that much more special to me now.  

Easter egg hunt

Last year, our neighborhood put on a wonderful easter egg hunt for the kiddos.  Our great friend, Kelly, bought a trash bag full of eggs for super cheap and there must have been about 200+ eggs in it!  Unfortunately, she is gone now, but she was nice enough to leave them with Louise before leaving.  We all took turns filling a few dozen eggs, and bringing them back to Louise.  Cannon and Courtney (two of the older kids) were in charge of hiding the eggs.  Boy did they do a great job!

 The entrance gate

 Just a few eggs hidden

 Only in Oki do you see an egg in a Banana tree!

 This stone egg was hidden very well.  I was surprised it was found very quickly

Special golden egg!

And so, with a quick photo opp... they were off!

Check out Jude half awake here!  The look on Jeremy is priceless!

Last year, Z was only about 4 months or so for easter.  This year, he is old enough to walk around and find eggs.  I was so excited for this opportunity.  Though i'm not a huge easter lover, I do enjoy watching the kids get excited for their egg hunts.  I couldn't wait to watch Zach go!  Unfortunately, he was more interested in opening and closing the eggs then anything else.  He got mad at Daddy for taking the egg and putting it in the basket after he picked one up.  What a mean Daddy!

 Found an egg!  But he would not let it go!

Another one!

 Sydney, a girl on a mission!

Ford was very confused.

I love watching the kids open the eggs after they have collected them.  Watching their faces light up for candy, yen, stickers, or whatever else they got is priceless!

 Claire checking out her loot!

 Zach eating a chocolate.  He wasn't quite sure about it.  Guess that's a good thing!

 Our neighbors are pet sitting their friend's dog right now.  Her name is Carly, and she is huge and pathetic.  She is the sweetest dog, and I just love her to pieces.

Zach LOVES her.  He cracks up when he sees her and tries to wag her tail for her!  She needs the workout!

We had a great easter egg hunt, followed by another egg hunt the following morning with Dima's unit.  I am really beginning to love this holiday.  It's funny how kids change your view of so much!  Holidays are so much more fun with a little one!  I can't wait to welcome another baby into this world in a few short months to double the fun.

Hope you all have/had a great easter!