Easter & Remembering Daisy 4.10.12

Seems fitting that Easter and Daisy's birthday should fall within 2 days of each other this year.  She would have been 16 today.  Andrew and I decided this morning that Jesus must be giving her dog bones all day in Heaven:)  Thanks to Easter, we can celebrate both of them being together in Heaven, preparing it for the rest of us.  She was one heck of a dog, so I'll repost a classic shot of her and the birthday video from her 15th.

Hiking Colorado 14ers and swimming were Daisy's favorite past-times.

Trying to remember the funny times...I can't decide the best part of this video: 

1 - The 3-yr-old boy's rendition of "Happy Birthday".

2 - The 7-month-old girl's lack of shock at said 3-yr-old's bizarre behavior.

3 - The 15-yr-old K-9 kindly taking it all in by "staying" as Mom had requested.

or...

4 - The 6-yr-old happy dog's sweet birthday kisses to wrap it up.

Easter week has been filled with good lessons for the kids.  Andrew learned that Jesus went to jail---rather than 'time-out'---when the bad guys thought that He had lied about being God's son.  Now Andrew is concerned that he could go to jail sometime.  I'm okay with that if it encourages honesty! 

Margaret learned that she LOVES chocolate.  Take a little egg from her and be prepared for the wrath of an 18-month-old who has few words!  It is loud.  That's all I'll say. 
Lots of hunts this week---Margaret knows exactly what to do!---and a lightning fast trip Saturday night to Dody and Grandaddy's to get the cousins together. 

Her outfit of choice...she gathered big brother's winter hat and Mom's water bottle and insistered on them both.

"Whatchu lookin' at, Mom???"

Hee, hee...sly grin behind that thumb.

Watch me...

SPILL it all over myself!

Margaret's current obsession - hide n seek in the playroom closet.

"Here I am!!!"

Can't get over the pink gingham bell bottoms!

Getting ready to carefully tuck myself in behind the door...and wait...PATIENTLY, and QUIETLY, for a LONG time.

Tucked away in the coat closet...

Easter Table

Cousins opening Dody and Grandaddy's presents

Margaret all lined up like she's supposed to be!

Look!  Dr. Suess towels!

The only moment Andrew and Nicholas were still all evening!

"Is there anything in there for me?"

Andrew (4), Alex (5), Nicholas (2.5), Abby (7), Sarah (9), Margaret???

No wonder Margaret (18 months) was trying to escape this picture!

The oldest (9) and the youngest (18 mo) cousins.

Nich, Nich

I know what I'm supposed to do with my basket!

Finally, sunglasses to match Margaret's!

MOPS Easter Egg Hunt at Emily Bascome's in Keswick - beautiful 55 acres with her husband's family!

Neighborhood egg hunt

Stopping to open each egg as they are placed in her basket - she has learned!

Preschool Sports - Soccer, Lax, B-ball & T-ball

Preschool Sports at ACAC continue to be HARD work for Mommy as Margaret now thinks she owns the ENTIRE building (inside and out) and believes she has free reign. The hysterical scene last fall watching 35 3-4 year olds attempt to play soccer (after warming up and stretching properly) had me stitches. Have you ever seen that crew attempt jumping jacks???  Oh, my word!!!   Of course Margaret was in the Bjorn then, so life was good. 

Jumping Jacks

Warm Up

Just before lacrosse started, Margaret had to go and start walking. How dare she! No more carrier. I slowly became useless to Andrew as an assistant coach and was forced to slide into "protect-Margaret" mode. Coach Al is very serious about teaching these youngsters how to play, so yes. At their tender (and dangerous!) ages, they were throwing, catching, and shooting on goal...or at least shooting ALL over the gym. Needless to say, my documentation of these sporting evenings is slim (lacrosse does not exist!), but Andrew is having fun, learning something, and Margaret remains unscathed. 

"I gotta have one!"

"I CAN suck my thumb AND cradle the basketball and I WILL do both!"

Meg owning Basketball

 

Stretching during warm-up

Batting help from Ass. Coach

Here goes!  (Mommy holding defiant
Margaret, hence the fuzzy shot.)

Best one all 4-week season
(the bat is horizontal and not trying to 'chop wood'!)