Easter and Amelia's Birthday

Easter morning we hosted a brunch for our parents, Ryan's sister, Kristen, and a friend of mine from work, Erika. It was a great meal with friends and family.


After brunch we celebrated Amelia's birthday. She was thrilled with the scooter that Grandma and Grandpa West got her. She still rides it all around the house. Auntie Kristen got her some various dress-up pieces that Micah took advantage of while Amelia was busy riding her "cooter."
The next week, Grandma and Grandpa Brody took her to Build-a-Bear. This is a tradition they have with the grandkids when they turn 4 (Amelia got in early). She chose a Lamb and dressed her up in a ballerina outfit complete with undies and a baby lamb. She named the lamb "Lamby" and I jokingly told her she could name the baby lamb "Veal." Unfortunately, the name stuck. She sleeps with Lamby and Veal every night. Last night she was using lamby as a pillow.

After Build-a-Bear we went out to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. The waitress had a group of them sing and gave her an ice-cream sundae.

I have one of "those" kids

Happy Easter! We love going to Saturday night church, but it still feels a little odd celebrating Easter on Saturday night. Anyway, here is my story:

The church only had childcare available for kids up to 4 years old which meant Micah would have to sit in the service with us (I should say with me because Ryan was ushering). Now, I consider my kids to be pretty well behaved. Sure they throw the typical fits when we're around, but for the most part they're good kids. Micah and I found seats on the main floor of the sanctuary and he immediately tore into his coloring book and crayons. I'm sitting on the inside of the pew and he is on the edge, sorting his crayons in the aisle and playing a game of "watch the crayon roll down the slanted aisle." I'm already getting uncomfortable because I feel like everyone is watching my suddenly hyper-active kid sitting in a church service. Then Micah spotted one of his friends from school and wanted to run back and say hi. I calmly explained that they were headed up to the balcony and we could say hi after the service. In the next 3 minutes I had 5 more inquiries about when we could say hi to James. I leaned over and asked if he wanted to sit in the balcony (thinking, then we won't be noticed as much). We trotted up the stairs and found seats in the balcony right on the edge of the aisle so we could leave if we needed to (the service still hasn't started). We were quickly asked to move to the center so that more people could sit by us (great). Micah spots James two aisles down and starts yelling, "hi James!" James doesn't hear, so after I shushed Micah he continues to stand up and wave. Okay... Service starts and 2 minutes into the first song Micah is asking when it's going to be over. I think you're getting the drift. At one point we were standing and singing while Micah was sprawled on the pew behind me. He managed to hit his head on the pew in front of us AND his own pew, lose 3 crayons, distract EVERYONE around us, AND... the kid doesn't know how to whisper. That hour service felt like 3. I wish this could be a first AND last experience, however I know it's my job to prepare him, so I think we will start taking him to service for 5 minutes, then maybe 7, etc. Looking back, he wasn't being naughty, he was just bored and being a 5 year old. I just didn't realize how luxurious it was to sit in a service without kids.