Happy Easter!

...and happy it was!  We took Rudy to Iowa to spend Easter with the Keough's, Aunt Maria, and Grandma and Grandpa Cicci.  All things considered (traveling with a baby, adjusting sleep/naps in a new environment), Rudy did really well!  We had a lot of fun and it was great getting to spend time with everyone!  The boys have so much energy and say the funniest things.  Grandpa Ray was like a live-in chef, between him and Nicolette we ate like kings all weekend (that's the expression, right?).  Nicolette and Dan always make us feel so welcome and right at home.  And as John and Maria pointed out, it wouldn't have been a holiday without LeeAnn running to the store the night before a holiday to "get a few more things."   

Before we left, Maria came over while John was at work and my mom and us made these rice krispie treat eggs to take with us.  They were very simple (except to Maria :)) and tasted yummy!  And we had a fun time making them together.  Not a great picture, but you get the idea...

Gran also gave Rudy (and us) an Easter basket full of goodies...including these sweet shades and Cubs hat.  Of course he wanted both off as quickly as they were put on, but they will come in handy on walks when I get him used to having them on!

We also celebrated Easter with the Burke's last week.  Isabela liked playing with Rudy and seeing him, but did not want him too close "He drools!  Eww!"  Here Rudy is with a puff he found in one of his Easter eggs...

Jack Keough and Grandpa Cicci's birthdays were also celebrated while we were in Iowa.  Rudy LOVED the balloons.  He had so much fun trying to grab them and eat them (like everything else).

We dyed lots of Easter eggs.  Mark was all about the quantity, while Daniel focused on quality.  Mark had us laughing when he used his t-shirt to "dry off" the eggs and wipe off his hands from the dye.  About as much as we were laughing when Michael used almost his whole hand to dunk the eggs and hold it in the dye.  He cleverly figured out that Windex took it off, though! 

The Easter Bunny left a jelly bean trail for the boys to follow to lead them to their baskets.  Along the way they had to complete little tasks, like hop on one foot and spin in circles, saw hello in Italian, kiss Baby Rudy, do push-ups, etc.  The last clue led them to the garage door where a new puppy, Lily, was sitting behind it!  It was very exciting and fun to be there for.  Mark thought it was too good to be true.  He said, "Who's puppy is that??"  He had to be convinced she was there to stay before he got too excited.

Rudy loved finding his Easter basket.  It was too cute!  I was not expecting him to get so excited about it.  He found his eggs, too and cracked them open himself to find his puffs (luckily he found his eggs first!)

Grandpa reading Rudy one of his new Easter books

Rufus was happy with his Easter treats, too.  But he especially had fun playing with Lily all day.  They wore each other out running around in circles.

We all went to Easter mass and then went to brunch where the Easter bunny made a special appearance.  Everyone wanted a picture holding Rudy, even Mark.

 I was trying to get Rudy to look when Mark said, "Ok, someone better take the picture!"  He is too funny.

We also were able to walk through the Keough's new house that is in the process of being built.  It is going to be beautiful and we can't wait to vacation there, Rudy will love it!  Nicolette has decided to "get rid of" several pieces of furniture in their current house that won't quite work in their new house.  We joked that we will have to bring a U-Haul back next time...except it wasn't really a joke!  

Rudy turned 8 months old over the weekend!  I haven't gotten out my "What to Expect..." book, yet so hopefully I haven't messed up something again already.  Besides his sleepless nights, he's been doing really well.  Definitely attached to his "mama" -- which he is associating with me :)  If I'm around or in sight, he doesn't want anyone else.  But I'm ok with it, he eventually won't want anything to do with me so I'm soaking it up while I can.

I have also let up on the record-keeping book.  Would you believe until this past weekend I was still writing down every time Rudy ate, how much, what he ate, the times he took naps, and the times he had a stool??  I realize I'm ridiculous.  Rudy is getting more routine and he pretty much eats the same amount of times, sleeps the same amount of naps, and has been pretty regular so I don't think there is as much of a need anymore.  It is handy when Rudy is passed around throughout the day, though.

Rudy's newest obsession is the refridgerator.  He loves standing in it whenever he can.  He's a weird dude sometimes. 

Rufus started barking right when I snapped the picture, hence the serious face.

It has become more difficult to get ready with Rudy around.  Wherever I am, he insists on being right there.  Even if its in front of my feet at my armoire.  It might be one of the worst places for him to hang out...full of hairspray, perfume, hair, etc.

Since we've been home, John has been busy working on the roof at 1933.  A large crew started Monday morning and are still at it.  It should be done this week...we'll see, though (pictures to come soon).

Here is the inside roof around the chimney.  It had a lot of damage and thankfully, Mark (who is doing the roof) was nice enough to make these boards and match the current ceiling while the roof was open.  It would have been so difficult to redo from the inside and Mark did an awesome job matching it!  So thankful! 

Here is some progress on the kitchen from before we left last weekend that I wasn't able to see until this week.  That was the paneled wall between the kitchen and hallway and all the kitchen cabinets removed.  Already looks so much better! 

The house came with a nice swing set, so I bought a baby swing and took it over there.  I'm hoping to walk there often, visit John, and let Rudy swing.  He went to the park with Nicolette and LeeAnn this weekend and I hear he really enjoyed the swings!

Ok, enough for now...have a good weekend!!