Storming the Castle

Yesterday we were invited to an Easter Egg Hunt (well, we weren't invited yesterday - we were invited a couple of weeks prior). The weather was great, the boys behaved relatively well, and a good time was had by all. It was quite a shindig. First, we got there and let the boys run around and play. There were kids of all ages there playing all sorts of games, there were bubble machines, there was a sandbox, and there was...a castle - which became a focal point of play for both Loch and Seanie for the rest of the afternoon:

Eventually, Loch even found some sort of "sword" to carry around in the castle

It was hard to tear them away from it for the egg hunt - but we got out there with them on the front lawn and managed to get a few eggs, including a discarded empty one Loch spotted that had rolled under a car in the driveway. We even got some good pics with Mommy and Daddy:

Did I mention the matching outfits?


1 and 2/4 men

Then it was time for lunch, with rousing cries of "PIZZA!" from the boys (and a lot of other kids, too). As that was getting setup, who should put in an appearance but the Easter Bunny himself! Sean was not as impressed (one way or the other), but as usual Lochlain took to the agnostic icon with his omnipresent attentiveness. At first, most of the other kids were just running up and saying "Hi" or touching the Easter Bunny's face - but Loch plopped down next to him and hung out. We had to coax him off the bench so that other kids could pose for pics. When food was served and everybody else ran off and abandoned good ol' Peter Cottontail, Loch grabbed his plate and juice and resumed his seat at the left hand of the rabbit:

"Er..you gonna eat all of that?"

Meanwhile, once Seanie received his plate of pizza, he just immediately plopped down on the grass for some quiet time and to reflect on the day's events so far:



A mad science show followed lunch - which left the castle free of almost all the kids at the party except for - you guessed it - Lochlain and Sean:

"Mommy is a hamster and you smell of Elderberries!"


"Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!"


Future Fireman?


Thanks for the distraction, lady!

Then it was time for ANOTHER egg hunt! This time, the little kids got a larger area to comb and a bigger head start! Loch filled his basket in a short time, and then proceeded to pick up eggs and put them in other kids' baskets. Seanie had Mommy helping him and got a fairly full basket as well:

Loch industriously putting all his eggs into 1 basket


The one kid Lochlain DIDN'T help

The spoils of the hunt

Then it was time for delicious cake, mad-science-made cotton candy and the door prizes - both Lochlain and Sean won some Fisher Price Little People! But it was the cake that got most of the boys attention (we had to convince Loch that cotton candy was both good tasting AND edible):

It was messier than it looked


"No, Mommy - this is MY cake! Bad Mommy!"

Upon departing and thanking our host, he asked Lochlain if he was in Kindergarten as they shook hands goodbye. Upon learning Loch was only a little over 3, and having been offered Loch's left hand to shake (he had his prize in his right hand - we think he is a "righty" but are not entirely sure), our host said we ought to get Loch ready for a career as baseball pitcher (and he may not even need to use steroids). I am not sure - as Loch displayed his talent for soccer (and wishes everyone a Happy Easter):