The Easter Bunny comes around for an encore performance

I know I've been blogging like crazy lately but so much has happened that I needed to catch up. And since I'm waiting for my professor to get back with me on revisions, I have a little time to kill this week during Morgan's naps. So here is our Easter Part 2 for Morgan. We didn't want to miss out on his first Easter Egg Hunt and we got this great Elmo basket for him so we thought we'd take him out in the backyard and see how he does. After the initial hunt Morgan tripped and spilled all his eggs. Here's Cody helping him get things back in the basket. Morgan has enjoyed filling and emptying his basket all week in the apartment. He's also discovered he can pull the eggs apart so I have pieces of plastic eggs everywhere! Oh, and don't be fooled by Cody's wardrobe; it is still quite cold here.

Anne if you're checking this out, doesn't Morgan look like Brock in this picture?!

Here's a video of Morgan hunting for eggs in the backyard behind our apartment building.

Missing Family

Morgan has been so lucky lately, as have I, to be surrounded by lots of family. Although it was hard being away from Morgan for over a week, it was nice to know he had so many cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents to play with. Morgan is at such a fun age now where he really is understanding so much. I loved watching him light up when Ben was around and hearing how well he played with his other cousins. It makes me feel kind of guilty for being so isolated from our family. I guess that's what they make airplanes and vacations for!

Jane teaching Morgan how to hug with a little help from Gramma.

Big hugs all around...and Binky's too!

Morgan and Gramma enjoying the park before she left.

Thanks for all your love and help Gramma and thanks for Kim and Mike for bringing our baby home. We miss all of you terribly and can't wait to play again soon!

Jesters take two bites

On Saturday we did a quick tour of my school Hunter College and Cody's work down on 23rd and Park Ave South. We also stopped by FAO Schwartz and helped Kim and Mike pick out some goodies for the four other kids they left at home with Gramma. We had a wonderful lunch at our favorite Max Brenner's Chocolate By the Bald Man. So delicious! Both kids were great and gobbled down anything that came near them. Got to love the fat babies we make!

Ben is such a cutey with his perfectly round head and big dimpled cheeks!

I had the bright idea to drag everyone out to Coney Island on an overcast windy day. The train ride was a bit long but with some help from Nathan's lemonade we all survived.

Out on pier overlooking the carnival rides and the projects.

Don't be fooled by the beautiful blue sky, it was not that warm.

Jesters take a bite out of the Big Apple

Because I'm being lazy today and have a limited amount of time before Morgan wakes up from his nap, here are pictures from my sister Kim's, brother-in-law Mike and youngest nephew Ben's visit to NYC this past weekend. They arrived on Thursday and we did a big walk through Harlem and Central Park. Then on Friday Kim, Mike and I took the two babies on a tour of lower Manhattan and Central Park. Here are some highlights.

Kim and I in front of Fraunces Tavern where George Washington gave his farewell address to his troops. It's still a restaurant with a museum upstairs.

Kim surrounded by strollers on the 6 train.

Kim and mike on the Brooklyn Bridge. Another lovely day for a walk!

Mike on Wall Street in front of the New York Stock Exchange.

Friday night we got a babysitter and went to the temple. Beforehand we went to a lovely Turkish restaurant Seven's on 72nd St. Very good!

Kim and Mike at Central Park's reservoir. Which of course we walked around the wrong way with two strollers...we like to break the rules!

In front of the Natural History Museum which we didn't go into because it was too crowded but it looked nice from the outside.

Ben was a great subway rider and even held on to the pole.

Just a cool shot from Battery Park looking out to lady liberty.

Date Night with Big Daddy

While we were baby-free for 10 days, Cody and I decided to take advantage of the situation and go on a few date nights. We did as many free or low-cost things as we could. We went to a matinee (which here means only the before 11am movies on a Saturday if you're lucky), the temple, Nikki's b-day party and long walks in the park. When our bishop and his wife were kind enough to give us free movie passes and Cody's work gave him a gift card to Big Daddy's restaurant we had a perfect date night creation!

Here's Cody after he enjoyed a nice big messy burger. After dinner we walked up second avenue to the movies and saw Juno (there are not a lot of movie options right now so we thought this was the best compromise. However, I do not recommend that people who are desperately missing there young son go see a movie about someone giving away their baby. Cody and I were both crying by the end. Good movie though.)

New Additions to our Home

Here a few new additions to the decor of our little home. Morgan's toy collection was getting a bit out of control so we decided we needed a place to hide about half of his toys. This way in a couple of weeks I can switch them out and then voila! New exciting toys! I of course wanted to keep the room theme going so here is his new Zanzibar Toy Box. It has a baby-proof lid that won't slam closed and space so as not to pinch little fingers. Genius!

Since Morgan is getting taller and our desk wasn't, we decided it was time to hide the electronics and stuff. So thanks to Wal-mart.com here is our new computer armoire!

It's kind of short but makes a good Cody and Beth picture shrine...minus Cody's Lakeland Tigers hat.

On the other side of the armoire is a new bookshelf to serve as a pantry since we are severely lacking in cupboard space. Another Wal-mart.com special!

Thanks to Gramma for a little Christmas in March. We miss you terribly but not just because you are so generous! We can't wait for your monthly visit next year!

Happy Belated Easter from Morgan

Whilst on his non-stop fun-in-the-Florida-sun vacation, Morgan had a little Easter celebration with all of the family. Here are a dapperly dressed Morgan and Gramma on their way to church. (Mommy picked out these clothes ahead of time...and Gramma's sweater if we're going to get specific. Mommy also must say Morgan's hair has a nice resemblance to Gramma! Oh also please pay no attention to the pictures behind their heads...yikes!)

Time for Easter egg hunting excitement. Auntie Jill followed Morgan around to make sure the big swimming pool in the middle of the hunting ground aka the back yard didn't swallow the unsuspecting egg hunters. (Nice baby bump Auntie Jill and I'm sure Papa loves it when kids lean on the screen like that:)

Morgan overcome with excitement or hunger...it's hard to tell with him. (Mommy thinks the humidity is making a comeback with his hair!)

The whole crew getting ready to scavenge for Easter eggs. Nathan, the oldest, is leading the charge with Jacob sporting a "Can you dig it" green t-shirt. Joshua has a nice muscle-tee fresh from the trailer look with the lovely Jane backing up his trailer look with no pants! Mikayla gives a winning smile as does the proud Papa in the background. Morgan is not sure he wants to be a part of this crazy crowd so he's keeping his options open with only a slight turn of the head and letting Jane hold his basket for him. (Mommy says that's one good looking group of egg hunters!)

Morgan hopes everyone had a wonderful Easter with their family and friends. Despite the fun of eggs and chocolate Easter bunnies, Morgan hopes everyone took a moment to remember the Savior's atonement and Resurrection and thank Heavenly Father for the rich blessings we all enjoy thanks to Christ's sacrifice for us all. In the words of a talk given in church a couple Sunday's ago, "The atonement is big enough for us all. It was big enough for our scripture heroes and it is big enough for me!"

I am so thankful for the resurrected Savior calling out to Mary at the tomb by her name. He knew her by name and he knows me by name and he knows little Morgan by name and that knowledge means the world to me.

Happy belated Easter!