Easter 2011

We came, we saw and we conquered Easter 2011.  Not a very big task when you consider that Charlie was pretty much within a grandparent's reach the entire weekend.  Friday night began with dinner with Grandmas Jan and Kathy and Grandpas Bill and Steve.  Charlie wasn't short of attention the entire night.  Here's a picture of him with my mom following dinner doing what he loves - sitting on a lap and looking at a book.

On Saturday we went to my sister's house to celebrate Easter with my family.  Charlie was pretty excited to be outside for the Easter egg hunt and even ran to this particular egg, but didn't quite get the concept about

 picking up the eggs.

 Emma was kind enough to start handing Charlie eggs, which he thought was pretty fun.

The crew of Gehl cousins - there was lots of fun to be had and we're pretty sure that by Christmas, Charlie will be a really good contender against Dylan and Tyler in their wrestling matches.

 The "Gehl" grandkids and grandparents following the Easter egg hunt.  Note how Charlie is reaching into Dylan's basket while everyone else is looking at a camera.  I guess he figured out the point of then hunt at the last possible minute.

On Sunday, we started with church with BJ's side of the family and TRIED to snap a few decent pictures after church.  Charlie was obsessed with jumping so I decided to post two pictures of Grandma Jan, Grandpa Steve, Cousin Max and Charlie because I don't know that I ever snapped one that was good of all 4 of them.

Then we tried the unthinkable - a family photo.  Or at least a partial photo - Copper was gated in the laundry room because he hasn't been allowed in the same room as Max since Copper got a taste of him back in 2007.  Charlie was in full escape mode and as you will see in the 2nd photo, his need to escape turned into rage when I wouldn't let him get down and run away.   

It's a good thing that the Easter Bunny had already delivered Charlie's basket otherwise the hair pulling incident may have been a deal-breaker.

Speaking of the Easter Bunny - she delivered two new books, Play-Doh filled eggs, bubbles and a lawn mower that blows bubbles.  Thankfully, the Easter bunny realized that the lawn mower slowly leaks the bubble solution before leaving the lawn mower on Steve and Jan's wood floors all night.

 Charlie also got to see Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Bill on Sunday before we headed home so it will go down in his memory as a great weekend!

Siestas

Charlie took a four-hour nap today and was deliriously happy when he awoke.  Smiling and bouncing and giggling.  Further proof that the world might be a happier place if we all took afternoon naps.

I snapped this picture after Charlie went to bed the other night.  I tend to dislike stereotypes, but I'm starting to think that nurture has nothing on nature...

Fifty-Six Years Young

Our first born, Copper, turned fifty-six (8) years young yesterday.  He has made a name for himself (usually in a bad way) every place that we've lived and would give the Dog Whisperer (the real one, not the one we paid gobs of money to in KC) a run for his money.  I spoke with him on Sunday about how he was entering the golden years of his life and that he should really start to reevaluate his behavior towards other people and dogs.  I think that instead of changing his ways, he is going to transition into an old, crabby dog.  Like the old crabby man who kids are afraid to see at Halloween, but if they strike up enough courage to ring his doorbell, they are given a tube of bad toothpaste or a half-rotten orange.  In previous years, we've always celebrated with a birthday cake from a dog bakery, but now that we know the extent of his allergies (he is allergic to human dander now...yes, I know), each of those birthday cakes probably shaved 2 years off of his life.  So this year it was just extra TLC for our Squirrel Pup. 

We had some great weather this weekend so we took Charlie and Copper to the park by our house.  Charlie loved the swing, but refused to look up towards the camera.

A picture of Copper enjoying the view from a park bench...barking at children, one of his favorite activities.  Copper had to stay off of the playground because he is (of course) allergic to mulch.

Sunday was even warmer than Satruday and when Charlie woke up from his nap, his hair was curly so I had to snap a few pictures.  The front wasn't too crazy...

...but the sides and back were something to behold.  Never mind that his cheeks were stuffed with grapes.

I tried to get Charlie to smile at the camera and that is when the shenanigans began...

 ...more tomfoolery.

A picture of the birthday boy.  He looks thrilled with life, doesn't he?  I'm pretty sure that if he was surveyed, he would report that he is neglected and not given the respect that he deserves.  He is basically the dog-version of Rodney Dangerfield.

Copper quickly tired of my antics and started yawning.  Despite his terrible breath, I think that my teeth brushing efforts are paying off - look at those pearly whites!

 Following Charlie's nap, we decided to let him run around in his diaper because it was really warm.  We also decided to try on his new sandals.  To my surprise, he loved his new sandals, clapped and refused to take them off.  Which led to the next string of pictures that will be resurrected for his high school graduation.

 Finally, following Charlie's bath last night, we decided to try on his duckie robe that he hasn't worn in months.  Trust me, you could tell that it had been awhile.  I think it is time for the robe to go into storage.

We hope that you had as fashionable of a weekend as we did!