LIFE with LEXIE

Lexie and I live in an amazing part of the country - the Pacific Northwest and this weekend was a huge reminder of just how wonderful it is. We went to the Tulip Festival in LaConnor which is very close to the Canadian border. Boy was it worth the looooong drive.

 Did I mention it was stunning?

 She was also very silly all day long.

 I mean a real goofball.

Her one disappointment of the day was that we couldn't pick the flowers. I mean really, what are they going to do with a million opened tulips anyway?

Did I mention seriously gorgeous....

and the flowers were beautiful too.

 Love the toothless tongue trick on this one:-)

After exploring life on the farm (yup, a tulip farm is about as close as these two girls are getting to a real farm anytime soon) we headed over to the street fair in Mt Vernon to do what we do best....shopping!

 There were over 100 local artist and vendors of all kinds and we enjoyed exploring them all.

I was very glad they didn't have this in pink.

Lexie did finally manage to pick a flower....a balloon flower that is.

We actually took home several bunches of tulips and lots of beautiful pictures and best of all, some wonderful memories.

Life doesn't get any better!

 And she loved the house that turns into a lady bug that grandma sent her. Nice job Mom!

 There were so many eggs she needed help from her babies.

 And of course some of that candy needed to be eaten...

 She even tried to eat the ridiculously large eared chocolate bunny but found it rather hard since she's still missing those two front teeth.

So it was time to get decked out in our Easter finery.

 Naturally Alexa had to come with us to church in her matching dress. They looked lovely.

 And here is my personal favorite. I love that sweet face.

 This was as we entered the park and I don't think either one of us was fully dry again for the next 36 hours.

 Between the wave pool, large and small slides, water tower that dumps gallons of water as you walk beneath it and all the other pools there was really no where to get dry. And who wanted to anyway!

Needless to say we both passed out. But the next morning Lexie woke up ready to swim some more!

 As an extra treat I let her have an chocolate Easter egg cake for breakfast. I didn't bring a fork so while I was looking for something for her to do she solved the problem for me. She used her face!

Day 2 was more fun in the water.

 We both loved the wave pool especially the crazy waves.

But the big slides ended up being the biggest hit of the day. I am sure I climbed those 89 steps at least 20 times while we were there. But this smile made every step a pleasure.

 She surprised us both at how good she was at crossing the lily pads,

 and she even went down the slides on her own by day two.

 Finally it was time to dry off and drink something other than water splashed in your face.

 We did have to make one more stop in their craft center to make a little bag to remember our time.

 And to make some new friends.

 But at last we were heading home. She chatted the first 40 minutes of the 1 hour 10 minute drive. It got quite and I looked back to find my little mermaid passed out.

My bunny and I had a jammed packed Easter. The first egg hunt was at our local park.These are the eggs we help stuff every year so of course we have to go here.

 And yes Lexie is all things ladybugs right now. I got her the first "Lady Bug Girl" book and she was hooked. So both she and Alexa had to go as Lady Bug Girl.  It was her day so I figured why not.

 She only ended up with 5 eggs but it was about the hunt not the eggs.  That was followed by the miniature train ride.

Then a quick visit with the Easter Bunny.

And then we were off to the second hunt. Yup we are a multiple hunt kinda family. Besides, this one is at a local stables with lots to do. She got a little swinging in.

 Then they taught the kids the Bunny Hop.

Lexie said her dance class made her good at it  - too cute!

 And there was even time to pet the goats before the big hunt.

Finally the race was on.

 But pretty soon she was dying like a pro....I wonder if her crafty Aunt Yin-Yin gave her lessons? NOT!!

 Naturally we had to write on them and put stickers on and I was even foolish enough to get the package that makes them glitter....note to self - NO glitter next year!

That has been the question I hear from Lexie at least 2 or 3 times a day for the last couple of weeks. She has gone to a couple of her friends parties in the last month so naturally she feels like it's her turn. To the point where she is already inviting people....classmates, friends, even the grocery clerk. And her birthday is almost 2 months away. So the first thing we did this Saturday is make a birthday chain (thank you Jamie Morningside!)

We picked some bright colored paper and cut out the strips. Then I had her write each date....

and write.....I did mention her birthday is a long time from now, right?

By the time all the dates where written I think she was beginning to get the idea...her birthday is definitely NOT tomorrow. Next we pasted the links together.

I gave her a few stickers to put on the special dates between now and her birthday. Pretty soon it seemed like every day was special (and every day is with Lexie!)