Confetti Eggs for Easter

I woke around 745a, and aside from a stiff neck and shoulders, I felt pretty good. I tried to remain stealthy as I slipped off to brush my teeth, but Mindy woke just as I was heading out the bedroom door for downstairs. She asked me to lie down and hold her for a few minutes. I obliged her request. Must’ve stayed in bed for another 30 minutes.

While I started coffee and played on the internet, Mindy took a shower, presumably getting ready for church. Meanwhile, it was another cloudy, rainy, and moderately warm spring morning. Any hopes of a hot & sunny Easter were dashed. Expecting rain most of the day with the high reaching only 62 degrees.

I walked Frankie before Mindy & the kids were downstairs. She took care of her business in a hurry. Still before 9a, the kids finally woke up. Mindy’s trained them well. They always ask before they head downstairs on Xmas and Easter. Mindy granted their wish. Bella was down first. It took a few seconds for me to realize what she was doing. She was already gathering the hidden eggs Mindy stashed around the family room. Mindy made her stop until Jacob made it down. They both used plastic grocery bags to store their  eggs. Personally, I think they’re getting a little old & wise for a one room egg hunt. They found 51 of the 52 in the matter of a minute.

The kids opened some of the plastic eggs revealing their content. I'm quite sure that Mindy said 11 of the eggs held $1 each. The rest held candy. After the egg hunt, the kids attacked their personal baskets. Almost immediately Bella echoed displeasure with hers - the skimpy offering. Mindy wasn’t very happy to hear that from her. Jacob seemed pleased though.

After spending a few minutes rifling through their baskets we headed out back for a confetti egg fight. Mindy brought out the special eggs after taking cinnamon rolls out of the oven. What Jacob didn’t realize was that I already had one of the eggs in my possession. I nailed him in the high thigh from about 20 feet. Left a nasty read mark. A younger Jacob would’ve broke into tears. He laughed it off.

Both Mindy & I were a little surprised at the durability of these eggs. Actually hurt when they hit you, and most bounced off remaining whole. Bella took a couple to the head. Jacob plays rough. We finished the confetti egg battle after about five minutes. Left a mess in the grass. We headed back to the house. At some point I gave Mindy her Easter present, a dazzling new gazing ball. I think she liked it.

Mindy headed back upstairs to ready for church. At the same time she had the kids ready themselves. Before they left for church, she had me take a few pictures. Same dress she wore a few years back I noticed. After Mindy and the kids left for church, I started some bacon. I hadn’t had bacon and eggs in a while. Craving it. Last Easter, I remember hanging the new track lighting over the fireplace. As I recall, I did a lot of swearing. Not sure why that came to mind.

It dawned on me while I was cooking breakfast that I hadn’t yet ran. The holiday thing threw me a curve ball. Almost ready, I decided to go ahead and eat beforehand. I enjoyed my eggs and bacon then readied for a run. As long as I didn‘t stuff myself I knew I’d be fine.

I headed out the door around 1035a. Like most Sunday’s I rolled my run back to just three miles. It rained lightly on and off but wasn’t anything more than an inconvenience. Sadly, getting used to running in the rain. We go through a phase every spring when we become stuck in an endless loop of rain and cool temps. More often than not the pattern strikes a week or so ahead of Memorial Day. Perhaps we’re getting it out of the way early this year. Only time will tell.

After my run I headed out back to see if there were a few yard chores I could complete in the less than desirable conditions. I topped off the hot tub and then checked the long standing ant hill near one of the back yard red maples. I put down Ortho ant killer last week. Supposed to kill on contact and then keep them away for 90 days.  Looked like a mound of busy ants to me. I went and got more of the poison and applied an extra heavy dose. After topping off the hot tub I watered it in well, per the directions.

Mindy and the kids were home around noon. Mindy offered to make me a grilled cheese sandwich, but how could I finish my chores if I were a sandwich? J I declined. I cut back some honey suckle and then trimmed some dead growth from the shrubs out front. Before calling it an afternoon, I took 30 minutes to fix and clean the head on my weedeater, and then I replace the blade on the edger attachment, both perfect rainy day tasks.

The front lawn really needed cut again, but it was too wet. I held out hope that we'd get a dry afternoon during the coming week where I could then cut it after work. I headed in for a much needed shower. It was around 230p. Mindy wanted to head to her mom’s place around 3-330p. I was ready to go by 3p. In addition to the kids, we took Frankie and scalloped potatoes. We left the house at 315p.

Mindy had her XM set to “the Jesus Channel”. I tried switching to the classic vinyl station but couldn’t locate it. Mindy pointed out that it needs to be set to XM2. Ahh – OK. We arrived at Gloria’s place around 330p. We were the 3^rd car to arrive. Expecting at least 3 others. After a brief greeting, Jacob and I headed out back to shoot hoops. We brought the basketball the kids pulled from the pond. After adding a little air it seemed like a real nice ball.

While playing basketball, the sky cleared up and the temperature shot up in a hurry. Having checked the radar just before leaving the house, I guessed that it just might clear for about an hour. Jacob and I played two games of 1 on 1. I took both, but worked up one heck of sweat in doing so. Somehow or another I hurt my left wrist. Not sure when or how. Every time I took a shot a sharp pain surged along and behind the thumb and into my wrist.  I stayed outside soaking up the sunshine and warm temps while it lasted. Figured I better get it them. Looked like rain everyday during the coming week.

Dinner must’ve been served around 5p. There was ham, KFC chicken, macaroni salad, corn pudding, coleslaw, deviled eggs, and green beans. I ate plenty but avoided completely stuffing myself. After dinner I could’ve fallen asleep but didn’t. Several folks went on a neighborhood walk. Mindy & I did not.

Dessert was served around 7p – ice box cookie cake and strawberry flan cake.  I had two pieces of the ice box cookie cake. Yummy!

Already after 730p, I suggested we ready for home. Mindy agreed. Must’ve been around 745p when we headed out. Gloria gave each of the grandkids an Easter basket before they left. She made Easter treat bags for all the adults too. That was very nice. Mine was filled with lots of bulls eyes.

Arrived home just before 8p. Both kids pleaded for a little outdoor playtime, but Mindy quickly nixed that notion. Instead, she had them ready for bed. At Jacob’s prompting, we tuned the TV to the Discovery Channel’s Human Planet. Another excellent episode. I poured a pint of Centennial. Went down easy. We watched until 9p. I fell asleep on the floor for about 10-15 minutes. I woke shortly after Mindy sent the kids upstairs for bed. It was 915p. I played around on my PC for a few minutes until Mindy announced that she was heading to bed. I went back in the family room with Frankie for a few to hopefully get her settled for the night.

I headed upstairs to tuck in the kids. Eiknarf taken care of, Bella said she needed to talk to me about this boy at school, Joe. Oh boy, with Bella, you just never know where the conversation might lead. She went on and on about how he’s always chasing/following her. Brings other boys along too. Sounds like Joe has a crush on our Bella. Bella wasn’t happy that I was heading to bed. She likes for me to be up and downstairs until she falls asleep.

I wasn’t in bed but a minute or two when Frankie found her way to the bottom of the stairs and started whining. She wanted to be with her people. I’m usually with her on the sofa when she falls asleep. After talking it over with Mindy we agreed to allow Frankie to sleep with Bella, who had already made her way into our room to ask. Good night monsoon!