Ander's entry: an Easter visit to grandma and grandpa's

The trip to grandma and grandpa's took 7 1/2 hours with 4 "poo poo" stops, but once there, it was non-stop fun. Grandma had 3 kittens in the house and we visited them regularly. There were also 4 donkeys to see and feed, 5 big dogs to keep away cuz they mostly wanted to kiss me or knocked me over with their tail-wagging, a cat to chase around the house when I had to stay indoors, and 3 turtles to watch through the glass.

Grandpa was preparing for a camping trip to Utah and I helped him clean the camper. He also took me for a buggy ride around the mines and helped me climb on all the trucks, trailers, tractors and piles of things they have around there. I especially liked sitting in the old buggy frame and pretending I was driving.

Grandma took good care of me and mom, as always, with lots of good cooking and plenty of fun things to do. I picked up Aunt Kim's name fast and she took me for a walk down to her house and helped keep an eye on me.

And, of course, there was the Easter basket(s) that showed up after we returned from church. The Easter bunny sure was messy though, leaving eggs all around the house that I had to pick up.

It was a good visit. I slept a good part of the way home, which is probably why it took 2 hours less.

Dying the eggs, aka: the Easter mess

Step 1: start with a bowl of boiled eggs. Look at dye package and figure out the latest and greatest of the Easter egg dye methods. Try to explain instructions to a 2-year-old.

Step 2: Just do it!

Step 3: Handle all the pretty eggs as much as possible.

Easter egg hunt

It was our first and I wasn't too sure whether he would get it or not, but the moment we stood at the edge of the field at Golden Eagle Park in Fountain Hills, Ander wanted nothing more than to go pick up those brightly colored eggs on the grass (Um, no, those aren't capris he's wearing, seems we've gone through a growth spurt and mom didn't quite realize how short these were until this photo...).

Basket in hand, he waited oh so patiently, looking up at me every few seconds ask if to ask, "Now?" The countdown began and a good hundred or more kids counted and prepped to spring...5...4...3...2...1 -- the firetruck's horn went off.

At which point Ander got scared -- I mean, with the horn and the rushing kids and all -- and grabbed my leg.

"Go get the eggs!" I encouraged him. "Go get the eggs!"

That was all it took. He ventured onto the grass and started gathering the closest eggs.

When the 10 seconds passed for the last of the 12,000 eggs to be claimed by the children, he showed me his take, a total of 6.

We promptly sat down to investigate. Each egg contained a small piece of candy and a toy of some sort. The tootsie roll filled the mouth, the plastic ring went on the finger and we were on to opening the next egg.

"No, Ander, we don't eat gum and tootsie rolls together." The life lessons continue.