Spring + a Cousin Visit!

To kick off spring weather we took a hike on our local Cool Creek trails.  We learned from this hike that our kids are incapable of staying on trails and NOT going into the creek when there is water around.  The first two minutes of our walk Ezra got himself DRENCHED as he RAN straight into the creek before I could catch him!  He went on the rest of our hike in very squishy boots.

Walking sticks for everyone!  (This is a very big deal.)

Video of Clara running the hills at River Road park--

First trip of the year to Coxhall Gardens!  Ended up much chillier than I thought it would be on this visit.

Eli poked his way through this bush to try to peek inside the nest.

Jailbird cutie!

He was taking his firefighter job VERY seriously.

Dancing along the colored brick road!

Exactly what rain coats and rain boots are for!

This little girl statue and Clara go way back.  One day I'll have to print and post a collection of Clara posing sweetly with this little girl.

Wet grass is the most appealing to roll down!

Haha, that face!

2nd jail bird cutie!

 Clara thought it was great fun to pretend that she was a robber stealing money from the bank, and I was the police officer who hauled her off to jail.

Saw a snake in the marsh!

While Clara was at preschool one day Ezra and I stopped by Meadowlark Park after going to the library.  I forgot that Meadowlark has terrible flooding after rain.  I knew there was no way I could keep Ezra out of it.  Thankfully I at least got him to wait until we were leaving the park before he jumped in the puddles.  He had the BEST time!  Before we got in the car I just stripped him down.  :)

We were so thrilled to have the chance to spend some time after our spring break hanging out with my sister Emily and her kids, Noah and Kate, who came for a visit at my parent's house.  

We began by meeting up at the Children's Museum! (Yay for the chocolate slide!)  Cousins are the best.  They always pick back up as the best of friends.  This trip was Kate and Clara's first real bonding time.  They were two peas in a pod!  Clara will still say 6 months later that Kate is her best friend.  :)

Even Grammie took a turn sliding!

We checked out the new Paw Patrol exhibit.  There wasn't much to it and it was especially only made for the littlest kids.

Ezra was obsessed with this little cubicle area that played music!

 We spent most of our time outside!  All of the kids ran around playing all the sports!

Baseball-adoring Ez could hardly stand having to wait his turn to hit the ball.  Then he couldn't believe he only got one turn and couldn't stay and play the field!

Noah and Ezra worked up a sweat on the hockey rink!

Clara and Kate were perfect flag-wavers for the race car drivers.

And they're off!  Eli had Grammie beat!

Back at Grandpa and Grammie's house...these cuties came up from the Kids' Club dressed like this.  :)

Grandpa was kind enough to spend a while with Ezra playing ball in the grass.  The other kids came out for a turn, too.

Baseball may not be Clara's best sport.  ;)

Digging for worms at the park to prepare for their fishing trip!

David and Grandpa took Noah and Eli fishing at the neighbor's lake.

Good catch!

Since Easter was the following week, we had a few festivities.  My mom made a very nice dinner and the kids had a blast hunting for eggs!

I love these silly kids and their silly pictures!  No promptings were given, this is just them in all their goofy glory. :D

Em and I filled the eggs so that each kid had a certain color.  It worked fairly well.

Clara was such a nut!  As soon as she'd find an egg she'd plop down and eat the contents!  It was a slow-go for her. Haha!

We also got to dye some eggs, too.