We had a busy weekend and are headed straight into a busy week, as we prepare to head to Boston on Friday! So all of the projects I planned to complete — cleaning up our Easter decorations, doing a toy rotation, figuring out my concert outfit — are just going to have to wait and it’s a relief 😅 Let’s jump right in!

Friday, I took Dempsey to school and he was my little assistant on a project we’re arranging for Teacher Appreciation Week 🥹 Afterward, I went back home and worked, but just know that I accidentally told Hannah and Josh that I have Fridays off, so let that speak to how much work I actually did 😂😂 We headed over to their house for dinner and so the kids could run around screaming their little heads off. I asked Joey to take a picture of them all eating their dessert, but poor Mason was in one all by himself, so I cropped them together 😋 Lydia must’ve rubbed her eyes after she touched Avery because she started to swell up, but we were about to head home anyways. I’m so glad Dempsey and Henry have each other, it’s so fun watching them play!

Saturday started with lemon ricotta waffles. So good! Look how cute the kids look together — too bad they were watching TV on Joey’s phone after they stole it from him 😂 Mid-morning Joey and Lydia headed out to her swim lesson, followed by race packet pick up and lunch, while Dempsey and I headed to a birthday party. When we got there, they had the street totally shut down and a giant climbing wall set up outside their house! He was NOT about trying it, but we hung out, played games, shot silly string and ate pizza before heading home. We had a pretty low-key rest of the day and I made us Portuguese-style chili chicken wraps for dinner. We all demolished them! Tried to get the kids to bed early but they were so wound up that they ended up going to bed later than usual. Make it make sense!

Chad and Lori picked Joey up at 6 AM to get him to the start line for his half marathon and the kids and I made our way over a bit later to see him at the finish. They were both cheering him on and got high-fives as he ran by. Especially cute to see Dempsey so amped because he’s much less excitable than his sister 🥹😍 We grabbed coffee at Metropolis afterward and ran into a classmate of Dempsey’s that we had also seen at the birthday party 😂 The rest of the day was very chill because we were all tired. I made salads and we played a little here, watched a little TV there until it was time to pack up and head to my parents’ to celebrate Joey’s birthday one last time. My mom had such a good spread of food but most importantly, red velvet cake. How’s it so good????

One last important thing to mention. After one failed attempt, months of telling ourselves we’d try again and a bit of guilt/anxiety that we hadn’t, Lydi has just decided she’s potty trained now?? I’m shocked but SO EXCITED and PROUD of her! Wishing you all a Happy Monday!

WHAT A WEEKEND! Family-filled, celebration-packed and truly wonderful, if not also a bit tiring. Just know that my kids were so hopped up on Easter candy and the overstimulation of playing with other kids that they didn’t close their little eyes until after 9:30 PM last night 😱 Joey’s birthday AND Opening Day for the Rockies was on Friday, plus family dinners Friday and Saturday and then, of course, Easter festivities on Sunday. So much fun, but whew, we were all dragging this morning!

Just makes sense when Opening Day also falls on Joey’s birthday. The Rockies are as committed to him and he is to them 😉 The kids were so excited to wish (and sing) him a Happy Birthday on Friday morning and then we did presents before Dempsey headed to school and Joey and Lydia headed to the office. I got some work done at home and quickly exploded my jar of sourdough starter before everyone was back home to get ready for the game. We layered up and packed a blanket and handwarmers but sitting in the sun got SO HOT. Poor Dempsey was melting and hiding under Joey’s hat the whole time, but he perked up for Dippin’ Dots 😂 We left after the 7th Inning Stretch and that little lady fell asleep during our ten minute drive home, so she and I got to hang out in the car for a bit while she caught some Zs. At 6, Steve, Lorna and our pizza showed up to celebrate Joey’s birthday. Blue Pan is just the best and we had a really nice evening.

Saturday started with egg sandwiches for breakfast (and sourdough crises averted) before we dyed eggs with the kids. Took us all of ten minutes to do 😂 Dempsey did eat one afterward but I can’t wait to just have the rest in the fridge for a month 😅 Joey got a new projector screen for our outdoor movie nights, so he and Dempsey set it up and they watched a movie in the playroom while I started my dough for Easter rolls. Tried really hard to get my daughter to take a nap but she protested then fell asleep in the car on the way to Benihana for Birthday Dinner #2. That girl! We all had a fun time and the kids ate so well. I was impressed! Got those crazy kiddos to bed, then rolled 24 dough balls while Joey arranged the kids’ Easter baskets.

Happy Easter! The kids slept in but that gave Joey time to hide eggs in the backyard. We woke them up around 8 and headed downstairs to see their baskets. Lydia always has the best reactions to gifts and she was super excited for it all! Dempsey is excited in his own low-key way, but I think he really liked his chainsaw bubble maker, magic kit and 3D doodle pen case 😀 I made bunny butt pancakes for breakfast and then we made the spontaneous decision to go see The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. I thought it was just fine, neither offensively bad nor amazingly good. The kids had fun!

Back at home, Lydia was starting to melt down, so I took her upstairs and she actually fell asleep for a proper nap, not in the car 😂🙌 While she was down, I got ready, baked the rolls and then remembered I had to make salads for the week. Whyyyyyy. Got those done, then rushed to get the kids dressed and in the car to head over to Lauren, Adam and Landon’s for Easter dinner. My poor kids are always so shy and overwhelmed entering places with lots of people and noise, so they were both just hanging from me but they got over it quick. We all visited, ate dinner and dessert and then the dads hid eggs in the backyard for the kids to hunt. On the way over, Dempsey had been so nervous for this part (my sweet sensitive boy), but he was totally fine. We were the last ones out because I had to grab a family photo first and would you just look at Lydia squishing Joey and I 🥹 And I guess Dempsey was showing off his muscle (probably after all the pull ups he was doing on his cousin’s trampoline) 😂

Cue bedtime insanity. So sweet the way they were playing from their respective beds, but please go to sleep so I can 😂 Hoping you all had a Happy Easter!