Tiny Tuckie Easter Party

I always look forward to Holidays around these parts.  I mean Tuck makes them so much fun.  Not only do we get to celebrate with great friends, but the kids get their own special "Tiny Tuckie" party for each one.  This year Easter did not disappoint.  C and S worked so hard and created cute decorations, there was yummy food, and they even did a fun Easter Egg Hunt.

Now if only we could get the weather to start cooperating I think that life would be about perfect.

One of our cute neighbors, Brynnlee, is absolutely adorable.  Her Mom is equally adorable.  They always seem to do the cutest things for us!  For Easter Brynn decided that she wanted to "play a trick" on us and do an Easter Egg Hunt on our front porch.  My kids were equally delighted to walk outside one day and find a note instructing them to look for hidden Easter Eggs on our porch!

Winter Carnival "Ice Skating"

Every year for Tuck's Winter Carnival they have this fabulous ice skating party on Occom Pond. We have always elected not to attend the actual Winter Carnival festivities beyond this party because it is expensive, full of alcohol, we have three children, etc.  We were excited to once again attend the skating party on Friday after school with the blue skies and warmer temperatures.  Too bad it was a little too warm.  So warm, that it was no longer an ice skating sort of day.  Instead everyone ditched their skates and ran around on the slushy ice to play hockey.  Maddie was not deterred.  She still put on her white ice skates and proudly walk-skated around the ice.  The boys elected to play in the igloo and by the ice sculptures.  

Love Day

This year I feel extremely loved on Valentines Day.  I have three amazing children who are constantly giving me hugs and kisses, and tell me how much they love me, and love to make me homemade presents.  I am constantly reminded at work how precious life is, and come home more grateful than before for healthy, happy children.  They are my light and joy in life.  They make the hard days worth it and they great days even more fantastic.  It's amazing how much life changes when you have children.  You become so much more selfless when it comes to them.  I feel like I was pretty self absorbed until I became a mother.  Instantly the good of your child comes before all else.  My wants are nearly always surpassed by what my children need.  Yet in providing for my children, I am happy.  

I am also grateful for a hardworking, confident, loving husband.  I am so proud of how much effort and determination he puts into his schoolwork.  He is also such a giving man.  This winter he decided to be the volunteer 8th grade Hanover Basketball coach and has put in hours and hours of time with these young men teaching them how to be better athletes.  He truly dedicated his heart to that position and you can tell all of the boys really look up to him.

This year for V-Day I had most of the day to spend with Mr E, now that M and R both attend school all day.  We put together Valentines Day cards and went to the "Tiny Tuckie" Valentines Day feast/party.  We had a great time visiting our friends and exchanging treats.  My older kids had a great time making their own Valentines this year as well.  Because their school essentially banned candy at school, we substituted "take apart erasers" that Miss M has been obsessed with all year to give to each of their classmates, for candy.  I know their Valentines didn't look quite as fancy as some of the store bought ones, but I love that each year my kids put their own personal stamp on their Valentines. 

 Eli is such a goof ball, and it took probably 30 pictures to get one smiling picture of him and he's not even looking at the camera. Oh well, I love to remember him this way.  I love looking at his goofy poses and big cheesy grins.  He is such a happy, spirited little boy and we are thankful for the enthusiasm he brings into our house.  He seems to know what to do or say to bring a smile to our faces.

Love this little Valentine of mine <3 p="">

And just because I am a total rebel, I had to give my kids PLENTY of candy since they weren't allowed to really have any at school. 

TOTALLY LAME

Here is my Facebook post take on the lame Fruit Salad Party Maddie's class had instead of a traditional Party with treats and candy: 

Dear Miss xxxxxx,

Really? A "Fruit Salad Party"? I mean, I'm all about healthy choices when it comes to food and all. But don't you think that Valentines Day is a special circumstance. I'm not sure banning candy from school for the Holiday is going to reinforce a lifelong of healthy eating. Teaching moderation in all things is a much healthier approach to life in general, rather than teaching a no tolerance for such things.

Sincerely,
Unimpressed Parent

Maddie was pretty frustrated when she first heard the news of her fruit salad party and came home and told me about it.  At first I didn't believe and without thinking said "Maddie of course you're not going to do that....that would be just plain weird".  I am so glad I have a child with a great memory; of course she went to school the next day and announced that to her teacher.

When I questioned the whole non-candy thing, this is what I was told: "in the interest in promoting healthy eating at our school, we just feel like having the kids bring candy wouldn't serve that purpose."

Double Lame.
This is one thing I will definitely NOT miss about this quaint little town.

Polar Bear Plunge

Apparently one of J's bucket list items has been to take a plunge into the ice cold water of a frozen lake, aka the "Polar Bear Plunge/Challenge".  When he found out that Dartmouth's undergraduate Winter Carnival was hosting one of those parties he had it penned on the calendar, not to be forgotten.  As February approached it got unseasonably warm for a week or two and essentially melted most of the snow on the ground.  Lucky for J that Friday evening of the Carnival it cooled right off and we got a fresh pile of snow. The kids and I decided it would be too windy and cold to watch him freeze his #$%& off and elected to see photos afterwards.  One word to describe this crazy experience from the pictures......COLD.

Apparently it's an "amazing" experience to go through.  Too bad I'm not looking for any amazing life changing experiences like this, so I clearly don't have to worry that I am missing out.

Good Job Babe!

I promise to still love you even if you have permanent frost bite on your fingers and toes :)