Spring!

After a lot of cold and snow and just YUCK, it finally decided to get nice around here. Daddy had to mow tonight! The trees are green, the magnolias are in bloom, the hyacinths are just about done! And we have been enjoying A LOT of time outside! Woo hoo! Just a random round up of some outdoor play:


Some outdoor projects:





This is some serious supervision:


I keep trying to take the kids to a playground in the afternoon and they keep telling me no, they want to play in the yard. Sometimes I DO win though and we go to the playground.




So,so, so happy to be OUTSIDE again! Oh yeah, and dirty.

Date Night

Last Saturday night Colin was invited to a friend's birthday part at Build a Bear. So, he and I were party-bound! We had pizza and other goodies with his friends in the mall food court, and his friend, Tristyn, opened his presents and then we were off to build a friend!

When the Bear Workers showed the kids their choices of friends, they mentioned that they had a Thin Mint Bear. I immediately KNEW who was coming home with us. And, yep, Colin REALLY wanted Thin Mint Bear. And even got to help stuff him.


Loving on "Minty" already!


Giving his new friend a bath!


Colin and his friend JD and their new bear friends.


Colin's new friend "Minty" has slept in his bed every night this week! Very fun birthday party!

Oh, Gillian and Daddy had their own date last Saturday too. They went for Chinese food (thumbs UP to the lo mein and thumbs DOWN to the egg roll) and Rita's! They had a good time too!

Easter!

We had a fun (if not a bit chilly and wet) weekend up North for Easter last week! We stayed with GraGra and Papa Greg this trip and the kids were THRILLED to play with them.

Papa Bridge in the Papa House!


G was "at work."



Then the kids got into Papa and GraGra's closet and hilarity ensued!




After some lunch we waited for Real Leah and Uncle Willis and then we dyed some eggs. The kids really didn't have a long attention span for this activity. I think they each did about two eggs.






We also had an egg hunt with Ben and Sarah before dinner at Great-Grandma's house on Saturday. First time the kids have ever hunted eggs in the snow! (They were SOAKED and muddy by the end, as expected)





Egg Supervisor Dog.


This is the best one I got of Ben and Sarah!


On Sunday morning Colin was (of course) the first up. Gillian and Daddy were snoozing away, so C and I looked for his basket. Little stinker headed STRAIGHT for the stairs where his basket was! How did he know?


An Earthquakes and Tsunami book. That Easter Bunny KNOWS.


And some penguin knowledge!


Basket Supervisor Dog.


In just a little bit, Gillian was up and hunting. HA! She had to HUNT and HUNT. Good job, Bunny.



Oh, there it is! In the washing machine!


And some treats from GraGra and Papa too. G got some GIRL LEGOS.


And, at long last, Colin got his globe. Thanks, Papa.


We all got spiffed up for church too. Much to Colin's dismay.



LOOK at her eyelashes.


Some family shots too.



Milo PHOTO BOMB!


Colin and Gillian insisted that they get one with Uncle Willis and Real Leah! In their pajamas!


After church we had a great lunch with Grammy, Papa Frank, Uncle D, Aunt Cedes, Squishy, and the Kiester clan. The highlight of which was watching ALL the boys play with Colin's new lightsaber. ALL of them. Well, maybe not Papa and Tim.



Before we headed home on Monday, we met Noonie and Dickiedoo for breakfast. Poor Colin was STARVED. He ate like a monster!