Happy Easter! This morning after church we managed our first family photo since the hospital. Not bad considering our living room light leaves a lot to be desired, and we had the camera on a stool with the timer set. It's a good thing we snapped it when we did, because within 15 minutes of this photo, both boys had to change clothes due to diaper failure--or, more accurately, overload. It was just as well, since it's a perfect day for lounging around in sweats--cold and snowy, just like the Easters of my childhood in which my new spring dress was almost always covered by my winter coat. Luckily, when I say "snowy," I mean only flurries, not the 14+ inches my sister and her family are digging out in Milwaukee. Honestly, I don't think I could have taken it. We finally have grass in sight, and even if it's a muddy mess, at least it's not snow!

My other two sisters escaped from Chicago's snow (not as much as Milwaukee, but more than here) and came for a visit on Friday and Saturday. We had a great time! Edward doesn't really understand about "going home" because he keeps asking for "Aunt Nora, Aunt Bridget." They were brave enough to come with us to the Easter festivities at the mall, which included live bunnies and an Easter egg hunt in the indoor play area. This is the "other mall"--the one that's usually much more tame. When we arrived, the line for the egg hunt was all the way down the mall corridor. We visited the bunnies first and then realized that the line was only because they hadn't started letting anyone in the store for the egg hunt. Once it started moving, it wasn't as bad as we had initially thought. The play area is actually a business, which consists of mini-golf, video games, and a huge play structure akin to those found in fast food restaurants. If I'd known how much Ed would love it, I would have gladly paid the $4 admission more than once this winter. Sadly, I didn't even know it was there. But yesterday, admission was free and they had two separate egg hunts, one for older kids and one for kids under 4. Edward "found" two eggs, but quickly discarded them when he figured out that holding them was impeding his climbing. Daniel, on the other hand, was unimpressed.

The Easter bunny visited our house while we were at church, so Edward arrived home to find this "basket" waiting. Why would a boy want a basket when a dump truck holds goodies just as well? Actually, this is part of my "nothing comes in the house unless it's disposable or consumable" mantra. This truck is meant for outside and will reside there once the weather cooperates. All but two of the eggs held 'Nilla wafers or Teddy Grahams. Leave it to Edward to pluck as his first choice one of the two that held jelly beans. After we saw what a mess this was creating, John subtly grabbed the other and spirited it away. Edward still dribbled his way through one egg full of jelly beans and then happily chowed on the other stuff. We think he's getting his two-year molars, as he's been a bit grumpy and walking around with his hands in his mouth all weekend. This also might explain (partially) the jelly bean slobber.