Hoppy Easter!

The Easter Bunny visited our house on Sunday which Charlie was very excited about... as long as he kept his distance and didn't go into Charlie's room to say hi. (I can't make this stuff up, people!) 

Anyway, both boys really enjoyed their Easter goodies, but Charlie was especially excited because he got a brand new bike! Now, I know that's a very large gift to give on Easter, but if you think about it, it's kind of cruel to give a 3-year-old a bike for Christmas. He won't even be able to ride the bike for at least three more months! So, we bit the bullet and got him a bike for Easter so he can ride it throughout the summer. He absolutely loves it!

Anyway, here are several pictures from our festive Easter morning. Enjoy!

This isn't a very good picture of their Easter baskets because I was scrambling
to take the photo before both boys charged into the room.
You know how that goes!

Well, the goodies seem to be a hit!

Both boys got cars in their basket. Did you know Hot Wheels makes themed cars for each holiday?
Mike would have been in heaven.

This is Charlie making car sounds. Just imagine it.

Both boys love to be read to and Mike is happy to oblige.

I love Chase's expression in this photo.

Yes, ANOTHER book about construction trucks. 

Chase got an Elmo book for Easter. He calls him "Melmo."

He's such a cutie patootie!

Chase really is a book hound. He LOVES them!

He's getting so big!

Charlie got another puzzle. What can I say? He's a genius.

The wheels are turning...

Chase, the talker, got a phone for Easter. He likes to answer it and say "Ae-woe."

Here's Charlie's bike... in the kitchen.

He loves it though, so that makes me happy.

He got a new helmet too! Isn't he cute?!

And this is Charlie's version of a drive-thru.
He loves to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner while sitting on the bike.

Seriously. Must we have the bike at the kitchen table?

Grammy and Poppy were with us Easter morning. They'd spent the last half of the week with the boys
while we were in Jamaica. (Grandma and Grandpa watched the boys the first part of the week.)

Ahh... finally. The bike is outside now. And Charlie is loving it!

Adorable!

Hope you had a "Hoppy" Easter too!

Charlie Armstrong

Charlie got a bike for Easter and he took to it like a duck to water! He absolutely loves his bike and rides it every waking moment. He even likes to sit on it while he's eating, sort of like his own personal drive thru. (Picture of that on the next blog entry.)

And not surprisingly, he's turned our deck into a racetrack. I'm not quite sure how it happened. One minute I had nice patio furniture on my deck with plenty of seating around the table and a few other chairs scattered around for additional seating. Next thing I know, I have a mini racetrack and no where to sit.

What can you do?

As for the fact that he's not wearing a helmet, I promise that we make him wear a helmet when he's anywhere but the deck. My hope is that this phase will soon pass and the bike will remain outside forever. I would very much like to be able to sit at my outdoor table again.

A girl can dream...

Here's a short video of our very own Charlie Armstrong.

No Problem, Mon!

We interrupt our normally scheduled programming, "The Life and Times of the Arning Bros.," to bring you this rare message about Mom and Dad...

Mike and I got back from our 10-year anniversary trip to Jamaica last night, weary but well-rested. We had a great time on our vacation, but we were so happy to be home. We couldn't wait to see the boys this morning! 

As for our trip, we were in Jamaica for five days, but we were very busy the entire time! 

First and foremost on the agenda was to sleep. That is very time consuming, as you know! In fact, we slept 12-hours the first night alone! 

After sleep, came laying by the pool. We each had two books to read so that, too, will keep one very, very busy. 

After laying by the pool and reading, we also had to eat several times a day. It's exhausting having to decide which of the seven restaurants we're going to eat at each night! 

Then, there was drinking pina coladas and other assorted island drinks. Now, that will wear anyone out!

And finally, there was the off-shore boat trip to the resort's private island where we also had to lay by the pool, read and eat enormous amounts of food. Can you imagine?!

Luckily, we survived and made it home safely. Back to reality, I suppose! 

Want to see photos from our trip to Jamaica? 

"No problem, mon!"  

Dad, happy to be anywhere but at work.

Mom, happy to be wearing something other than shirts with slobber and snot on them.

Dad, advertising for Red Stripe, the official beer of Jamaica and our 10-year anniversary trip.

This isn't a very good picture, but that's our room... right off of the pool!

I thought this was a cool picture. I don't know why.

Can't you just see the joy in his face?

Dad is hoping to get "chug points" from Red Stripe.

Seriously, do you think we can earn a few advertising bucks from this?

Mom, loving life.

I have nothing to say about this photo except that I really should have washed my hair.

And this is my advertisement for J.Crew. (That's where I got the bathing suit.)

I loved the Red Stripe too! (This is getting out of hand, isn't it?)

This is pretty much ALL I did all vacation.
I was only 50 pages away from having read three books!
(By the way, that is a very good book if you've not read it.)

What is the deal with the Red Stripe? (This picture is Mike, trying to be artistic with the camera.)

And this picture is the famous Jamaican creature, Dadus Vacationus, which is native to the island.  

I was able to get a picture at close range of this rarely seen animal.

I didn't write "Sandals" in the sand, but I thought it made for a cool picture.

This is a picture of the private island owned by the resort.

And this is Dad, doing his husbandly duty... bringing wine to the wife.

I like this photo. Doesn't he look cool?

This picture was taken at sunset.

Dad, relaxing by the ocean.

Doesn't he look like a Mob boss here? 

This was our favorite place to sit every night. We had a great view of the sunset.

Happy, happy.

And here's a picture of the Jamaican sunset. Isn't it amazing?

We had a resort photographer take our picture to commemorate our 10-year anniversary.

Can you believe it's been 10 years? Well, almost 10 years...

Until next time!

And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...