We're so excited that Spring is here! We've spent so much time outside feeding ducks (and geese) and searching for Easter eggs.
Everything is starting to bloom. The daffodils in the park always show up first, while we're still in jackets.
We had a pre-Easter brunch and egg hunt. This was the first of, I think, four egg hunts we took part in this year. Ira was actually more into the brunch part of this outing.
It was a little rainy, but that only added to the cute-factor. Who cares about rain when there are boots and umbrellas around?
This is my favorite picture, maybe ever. Ira looks like an Easter egg revolutionary.
I really can't think of anything cuter than a bunch of two-year-olds in rain gear.
What? You don't have a coffee table that you paint on in your backyard?
Oh, my goodness.
We went to the Belcourt Theatre to see Farmer Jason, Ira's favorite musician right now.
Ira said, "Mommy, I am very very excited," in the most matter of fact way.
After the concert, we went to Dragon Park. It's so wonderful to be outside.
Ira said, "I'm climbing that big 'ol mountain."
We might be the only vegetarians who celebrate holidays with trips to the Bass Pro Shop. But they have awesome fish and free Easter Bunny portraits.
They also have awesome tents, which Ira and Nana model for us here. Ira's grandparents and Uncle Luke spent their spring break with us doing things like playing in tents at the Bass Pro Shop.
Ira was scared of the Easter Bunny at first, but now they're best friends.
Papa and Ira rode the carousel at the mall three times . . .
. . . and then took Nana on the train.
Nana and Papa introduced us to all sorts of candy that we always tried to pretend didn't exist.
We had our second egg hunt in our backyard with Nana and Papa.
Ira had to help Nana find eggs. She can be a bit of a whack-a-doo sometimes.
I guess the whack-a-doo thing runs in the family.
I see an emergency room visit in our future. Thanks for teaching new tricks, Papa.
We've been practicing sharing. Ira even let Papa eat his bunny's ears.
As if three carousel rides and a train ride weren't enough, Nana and Papa took us all to Chuck E. Cheese.
Ira had a little trouble figuring out skee ball.
We got so many tickets. I've never been to Chuck E. Cheese when we didn't have to pick prizes from the bottom shelf.
We had enough for a soccer ball. Ira was pretty excited.
More egg hunting, this time at school. I think all the practice helped.
Ira was the egg hunting champion.
There wasn't much candy in the Easter basket we got Ira.
But there was a frog towel.
This cute outfit was Ira's Easter gift from Big G. He was the cutest little bunny ever.
We didn't see any real animals at the Eggstravaganzoo, but there were plenty of people in animal costumes. They're easier to hug anyway.
A nice bouncey slide is always a great way to celebrate Easter.
Ira was happy to see his old friend the Easter Bunny again.
This was egg hunt number four, and this was the one that mattered, the one we had been practicing for. Just look at that bucket full of eggs.
Ira got into the spirit of dressing like an animal with these awesome moose antlers.
I love Spring so much.
Check out the blogging symmetry, starting and finishing at Centennial Park. I swear it was unintentional. I guess we just love feeding ducks.
The flower garden in the park is even more beautiful than it was just a few weeks ago.
We had a great Easter picnic in the park with awesome pimento cheese sandwiches.
It was a beautiful weekend to be in South Carolina. It was great to be outside in the sun.
Ostensibly, we were in Pickens to go to the Hagood Mill, a late 19th century grist mill with an awesome water wheel. (l to r: me and Ira, Big G, Jackson, Carrie, Phyllis, and Aunt Beth)
Big G, Ira, and I looking out of the second floor window of the mill.
Ira really liked this hairy, little pig and the rusty, old truck.
Behind the mill was a nice nature trail along the creek. 
For Ira and Kirsten, this red clay mound might as well have been a mountain. 
Jackson, Kirsten, and Ira played in the creek.
And then Ira fell in the creek.
And then Big G fell in the creek.
She obviously didn't pay attention to the sign. 
After the mill, we went downtown to the Pickens Azalea Festival. Jackson and Ira got to play in some Army vehicles. 
Ira, Jackson, and Luke ran around acting like boys.
There was a small carnival at the festival. Ira and Kirsten rode in these little helicopters. 
There was also a train so of course we had to ride 3 times. Jackson, Lindsay, and Ira rode in the yellow car, and Luke rode alone in the orange car.
After the festival, we went back to Carrie's house where Big G held Ira, Maggie, and Lindsay hostage. 
