Playing in the Parks

Enjoying Grandpa and Grandma's House

 We helped do some yard work.

 Climbed some trees.

 Listened to stories.

 Got as wet as could be.

 Isn't that the greatest hat ever?  Auntie Summer picked it up for my Hat-Boy in Thailand.

 We rode bikes.

 Had fun with cousins.

 And rode bikes some more.

 Karl even bought me a tandem bike so I can keep up with him on rides. There's no control for the person on that back seat, talk about learning to trust!  Without even meaning to, my color-blind husband bought me a purple bike!  I have never, in my entire life, owned a bike in any color other than purple.  (Well, there was that one time my brother likes to remind me of where my parents bought me a second-hand bike for Christmas and while I loved the bike, I cried because it wasn't purple and that was all I had asked for in a new bike.  Dad quickly fixed the color issue with a can of spray paint and all was well with the world again).  Well done, Karl, you didn't even have to invest in any spray paint!

California Sunshine

 In February we left the land of Never-Ending Ice and Snow and headed for the land of Eternal Summer.  Well, actually it was Spring, but I gave up trying to explain that to four little people who traveled three days across a barren, white and brown nation, up and over the cold Sierra Nevadas then came down into warm, green, flowering California.  "It's always summer here!" was the exclamation and so, we acted as though it were... and ate ice cream and went swimming while most everyone else still wore their jackets.  Thank you Mom and Dad for a wonderful trip full of memories!

Now will follow with many, picture-laden posts to try and pacify Grandma who, "Never gets to see pictures of the kids anymore".  I love you Mom!

Dirndls For My Damsels

 I have always wanted to make a dirndl for my Heidi.  With such a name, doesn't it follow that one needs a dirndl?  While doing a unit study last fall on the book "Heidi" by Johanna Spyri, it seemed the time was right.  Of course Hannah and the dolls couldn't be left out... and Levi got to dress like Peter the Goatherd.  What fun to be surrounded by children of the Swiss alps on the flat, flat prairie!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Wishing we could drive by to say we love you!

Oh the similes and metaphors they come up with!

I was helping a very distracted Hannah get ready to leave the house today and asked her to sit down so I could put her socks on.  She complied and I placed one sock on her foot before she bounced up to play again.  "Hannah" I gently reprimanded, "Oh," she said, "I not a sucker, I have two feet". and promptly sat down again while I laughingly placed the sock on the other foot.

Levi Shares His Cars