Letter to Easter Bunny

On "Easter Eve," as we call it, Madelyn decided to write a letter to the Easter Bunny. On the envelope she wrote (to the mail carrier): "male beefr toomaoe" which is her early phonetic spelling of "mail before tomorrow," of course.

Since the letter is written in a yellow highlighter, I'll copy the text here:
Daer Easter Bunny
I hope you had a grat yeear
are the chicks and you dooing fine
I hop so.
I hope you are you not sick.
of cors not. (are you)
Well I wish you a Happy Easter
Love Madelyn

She set everything up before bed with two baskets (labeled "toys" and "candee" - I guess she had high expectations!) and her letter. (The blue bunny is one the EB brought her a previous year). 

The next morning, she had a response from the Easter Bunny!

Madelyn had also hidden all of her empty plastic eggs on Easter Eve, so all the bunny had to do was hide a little treat in each one. Except...he (she?) missed a few eggs that were too well-hidden!

Madelyn still had great fun even though she had hidden the eggs herself. :) 

August got his first Easter Basket too!

This is the first year Madelyn didn't receive a bunny stuffy from the Easter Bunny, but she and Auzzi got matching little springtime creatures. 

Happy Easter!

Sleepover Extravaganza

Madelyn lucked out with three sleepovers in a row during Spring Break!

First she got to "crash" Lucy and Shelby's night at Grandpa's house. 

This made it easy for her to ride with Grandpa to John's Incredible Pizza the next morning (since I had to work).

Grandpa treated all the kids to lunch and tons of games and rides!
Aunt Diana, Jack, and Madelyn

 

After this, she went home with Jack and had a sleepover at his house, then back to Grandpa's the next night for the official "JAM" sleepover (Jack Audrey Madelyn, of course!)

Madelyn said she went in the hot tub 4 or 5 times in the 2 nights she stayed at Grandpa's!

JAM playing with more play dough,

watching a movie with popcorn,


watching another movie before bed (pretty comfy sleepover setup!), 

and yet another trip to the hot tub!

Lunchtime

Ready to go home after three consecutive sleepovers for Madelyn! We missed her!!

Imagine:Play

Madelyn's class took a field trip before Spring Break to "Imagine:Play" a few towns over. It was a wonderful, large facility with separate areas to play various make-believe scenarios and more. Really a nice place (our first time there, but I would definitely go back!).

Madelyn's favorite area was the vetrinary clinic. She kept returning here, and sometimes put on the vet scrubs. Her second-favorite spot was the campin area.  There was a lot of detail in each area and lots of cool things to play with.

August tagged along. but there wasn't much for him to do besides chew on a fishy.

...and look cute, of course. 

Box House

The week that Bonnie and Dale were out of town, Madelyn and August got to spend a day with my parents when I was at work.  Madelyn and Grandpa made this very cool box house (it's one of her favorite things to do!)

They look happy and cozy in there!

Winkel Beach Trip

The entire Winkel family returned to "The Castle" beach house where we stayed two years ago (when the tsunami struck Japan).

Madelyn loves the beach!

It's so great to play with Jack.

Just the four of us went on a family adventure to Newport - we went to Ripley's Believe it or Not and the Undersea Gardens.  It was nice to have a little "family time" away from the chaos of 5 families in one house. :)

Tyce, Madelyn, and Grandpa

The kids spent a lot of time in the hot tub.

Here's another time - I think the tub has reached capacity!

We're so grateful to Grandma and Grandpa Winkel for bringing us all on a little getaway in a beautiful home.

Colorful Cake

We enjoyed having Grandma and Grandpa over to celebrate their birthdays. Madelyn decorated their cake!