Easter Weekend

We had an Easter weekend full of fun. I happened to be off Thursday and Friday and Elle was out of school Friday; her spring break was the week after Easter so she started the weekend FULL of excitement that she had a long break from school.

She decided to write a quick note to the Easter Bunny.

"Easter Bunny, I like singing, dolls, cats"

she just wanted to make sure he was aware what some of her favorite things are. :)

We decided to kick off Spring Break with a movie on Thursday. We saw Sherlock Gnomes and I'm not sure if the kids liked the movie or their slushies and popcorn more.

Friday we did a Costco run and Ollie immediately was drawn to this Toy Story book.

#woodyandbuzzforever

and little missy was in the backseat "talking" on her phone (an old iPod mini). 

Friday night we made Resurrection Rolls and Elle actually took the lead and made them almost completely by herself.

This is one of my favorite Easter traditions and it doesn't hurt that they are DELICIOUS.

Next we dyed Easter eggs. 

Then it was bathtime and the movie Hop.

Saturday is usually when we try to hit an egg hunt before Easter but it was a really rainy day so we headed to Schnucks to grocery shop, see the bunny and egg hunt all in one stop.

The kids we so so SO excited when we spotted the Easter Bunny. Even after they took a picture with him and we were walking around shopping Elle kept yelling out to him.

We stopped for some face painting.

And found out Ollie was deathly afraid to have his face painted.

Then the kids did a quick little egg hunt.

A whole lot of Easter fun and groceries in one location in about an hours time. :)

That night we got all ready for the Easter Bunny's visit by setting out lots of carrots and going to bed early.

The bunny didn't disappoint!

Two very excited babes in the morning!

Elle was most excited about her new Baby Alive doll, Cara and Ollie was most into his Buzz Lightyear fishing pole.

Elle and baby Cara.

Second to the fishing pole were the suckers. Ollie was pretty pumped about those. :)

They went on a slow relaxed egg hunt around the house (Hylton babies don't hurry). 

Then we got ready for church. :)

We sat in the balcony and Ollie and Eric didn't make it all the way through before Oliver had to be escorted to the car. So it was just me, Sissy and Cara at the end of mass. 

After church we headed to Eric's aunts house for lunch then back home for just a bit before heading to my parents house. Easter this year fell on April 1st and Elle had been talking about playing a prank on Eric for weeks. We decided to make a very special beer for him, I can't remember exactly but I know chocolate syrup was involved among other things.

I love this picture. Eric had just played along and taken a drink, Elle is SO pleased with herself and Ollie is using snapchat filters on Eric's phone.

Next stop, Mulligan Easter!

Mom, Paige and Paddy!

We had dinner and then it was time for the egg hunt.

Since the weather was still nothing like Spring (it was snowing!!) we headed to the basement to egg hunt.

MawMaw and PawPaw with their grand babies.

The kids hunted eggs, opened their Easter baskets, we had dessert and just watched the kids run around and play. 

As we were leaving the grass was covered with fresh snow and I told Elle and Ollie they could make a snow angel if they wanted to...neither one took me up on my offer. BUT the Voss boys did and Mary and Nick definitely didn't love me for giving them the idea. :) But how often are you able to play in the snow on Easter.

Ollie's Birthday Slumber Party

One Saturday in February we celebrated the 2 birthday boys with a birthday slumber party. It was pretty low key, we ordered pizza, Ollie & Charlie each had their own cake and everyone spent the night to celebrate the boys.

Ollie loves his MawMaw SO MUCH!

This sweet boy was going through a faze of sticking his tongue out for every picture. 

That's better. :)

The funny thing about these two having birthdays one day apart is they have a very unique friendship, one minute they are buddies and the next Ollie is whining that Charlie touched him. 

The birthday boys!

Ollie got so many new toys, Batman costume, PJ Masks, Gumby, new guys. He had a fun time opening everything up and playing. 

Of course my boy needed a Toy Story cake!

After pizza, presents and cake we settled in for a movie and popcorn.

The kids stayed up late and were up again early in the morning for breakfast and more playing. A fun little way to celebrate Ollie and Charlie!

Ollie Russ is 3

Somehow time just keeps going by faster and my sweet little baby is already 3 years old.

I always joke that Ollie is something straight out of a movie, like Andy in Toy Story. He is so content playing with his toys all by himself. And as much as he LOVES playing with his Sissy if things get too crazy he goes to his room and starts playing with his "guys".

He insists on chocolate milk in the morning, don't even try to give him regular. On mornings where there is no work or school I love waking up to him whispering "chocy?" to me. :)

I have no idea how long these curls are going to stay blonde so I'm enjoying them now! I don't think he would look like himself without his long crazy curls. Although in the pic below he looks more Doc Brown than Oliver Russell. :)

He is still a little cuddle bug (thank the Lord!) he can wrap his whole body around my arm or leg for the best cuddles.

We said bye bye to his binkie a few weeks before turning 3. 

This boy loves to jump, have someone swing him around and fly like Buzz.

He completely OWNS me! I'm a sucker for this sweet little smile. 

He is daddy's best buddy.

and I think Uncy is his hero. He LOVES to play with Will. 

He loves his guitar and acting out movies. His favorites are Toy Story (1, 2, 3 and all holiday specials), Rock Dog and Book of Life.

He loves puzzles and is great at putting them together by himself but gets SO frustrated if he gets stuck on a piece.

He loves his Sissy and copies everything she does.

We haven't hit the point of tantrums yet. I mean he gets mad and throws a fit but when he's in trouble he will sit in his timeout and be done. No fighting, kicking, screaming.

He is our picky eater. If it were up to Ollie he would eat pizza and mac n cheese every night. 

He is so polite, he does such a great job using his manners.

When PawPaw asks him whose boy he is he always starts with PawPaw's boy, but if  others (me and my mom) start saying "Hey! Whose boy are you?" he always changes his answer to "Ollie's boy".

Every time we drive by the trampoline park he asks to go, it is his favorite place.

He doesn't have an item he sleeps with every night. It's always something random. Buzz Lightyear, a lego guy (ouch), his fishing pole...all over the place. 

When he knows he can't have anymore dessert he will wave his little finger and say "no more candy"

There is no word big enough to describe my love for this boy. He owns a piece of my heart that I didn't even know was up for grabs. He just completes our family in the best way. I thank God every night for this sweet boy and the fact that I get to be his mom.

He is truey the Best. Kid. Ever.