Outdoor Play

Just to prove we make good use of our own private playground too...
Kaylee is turning into quite the "Can I play outside" kind of girl...which is just fine by me until the mosquitoes come out...then I literally have to bribe her with television to get her to come inside...apparently they weren't biting her.
Here, Kaylee is modeling the latest in hippy fashion!

Rowan was getting into it too. She doesn't like this style of swing as much as she likes the ones at the playground, but she's just going to have to make do.

Besides, at our own private playground...no one needs to take turns (unless we have a friend over!)

Its been so nice lately that we've been spending lots of time outside...even when Daddy gets home from work.

I think Petra and Loofy like this outdoor time best.

Kaylee is getting good at blowing bubbles. Click on this pictures link and check out the action in the bigger size.

She likes to watch her handy-work float away...as does Rowan.

Of course, Rowan is a big fan of bubbles no matter when or where!
And that's it for April.

Getting into the Swing of Things

Yeah, I know I am lame...
On Friday the 24th we headed out in the morning to a local park to meet up with some friends. As you can see Kaylee had an absolute blast on the swing. This is my current favorite picture of Kaylee as I don't think I could recreate that smile if I tried forever.
She requested quite a few underdog pushes.

Kaylee even consented to pushing her little sister for a bit while we waited for our friends.

"Hey wait a second," Rowan though, "who is that pushing me?"

Kaylee did a great job being a great big sister.

But soon enough she wanted in on the action again.

Then Nevaeh and her little brother arrived so it was time to really play. Kaylee and Nevaeh had a great time catching up.

We were even able to score a little swing time for the bambinos. Don't they look enthralled?

Rowan had almost as good a time on the swing as Kaylee did.

And I even managed to score my new current favorite picture of Ro that day too. Go me!

And that is how we get into the swing of things.

Hiking!

Today was kind of a surprise its a nice day sort of a day. We were expecting some stereotypical April dreary drizzle...so when the dawn broke with bright sunshine and even some unexpected warmth, we had to take advantage of it. So we decided to check out a local state park for stroller friendly hiking trails!
We were in luck, because we found some. Doesn't Rowan look enthused?
Well, she might not have been excited, but she at least cooperated for the duration.
Kaylee started out with great gusto, running hither and thither. (I don't think I ever thought I would use that phrase!)
However, as the minutes rolled by and the scenery didn't change too much...Kaylee started to wonder what she had agreed to.
But she's a trooper so she kept going, always curious as to what would be around the next bend.
But the spring in her step started to get a little smaller eventually...
Daddy is always helpful in getting Kaylee motivated to keep going. The conversation was spirited. Kaylee regaled us with many songs, like "B-I-N-G-O."
And she even snatched up some Daddy-Daughter time as they discussed nature and what not.
Eventually she grew tired though, and since we didn't think the trail was double-stroller friendly...she was S.O.L. and so was Daddy who offered her a shoulder ride for a little while so she could at least rest her weary little legs a little bit.
But she soon found reason to walk again. Sticks...erm...I mean swords! "By the power of Castle Grayskull!"
Here she was practicing a jab for her future career as an Olympic Fencer.
She studied her weapon as we continued our march.
And again, she had a lot of things to say to her Daddy.
But don't forget about Mommy...she had lots of things to tell Mommy too. Like about the cool stick..erm...I mean sword she had found.
On our way back along the trail, Kaylee felt sure she knew the way and so blazed bravely forward.
She had some time for some one-on-one with Mommy too. We sang, "The Farmer in the Dell" which she knows all of thank you very much.
She and Mommy played some airplane...who would ever think to look for airplanes flying through the woods?
Kaylee is a very good airplane...she comes complete with sound effects.
She climbed a rock towards the end of our hike...just to prove that even after 45 minutes of hard hoofin'-it...she still has plenty of energy.
"Tada, I did it" she proclaimed.
I highly recommend a nice mid-morning hike to parents with toddlers...Kaylee crashed hard for her nap at 1...so not only is hiking good practice for the walking Kaylee will have to endure in Disney in September...but it is a great way to ensure a nice nap!

Happy Matzo Week--and Easter!

Just to prove that occasionally I am still in fact Jewish, I had Kaylee try Matzo. She put on a brave face and said, "It's dewicious Matzo Mommy."
Of course, this was immediately followed by, "Can I have putter-jelly now?" (Note: that means Peanut Butter and Jelly in Kaylee-ese) Oh well, I tried. Maybe she'll be all into it with me next year.

Then we went to the mall to meet some friends, and see the Easter Bunny. He was a big hit with Kaylee. Unlike most of the other children there who were scared to tears. Kaylee marched right up and gave him a big hug, which I think made things much better for Rowan too who, like everything else, took it all in stride.

Naturally being the good Jew that I am, the girls had a little bit of an Easter celebration this morning too. This is my favorite picture. Rowan asks Kaylee, "What is it I am supposed to do with this?"

That mean old Easter Bunny gave Rowan empty eggs. This poor 7 month old got squat for Easter!

She took it in stride though.

Of the literal hundreds of pictures I took of the 2 of them together this morning, only 4 or so were even passable...let alone good. Oh well, we make due.

Kaylee had a little more fun...her eggs had Teddy Grahams in them. Of course, the cynic in my sort of wanted to put Matzo crackers in them, but I figure the irony would have been lost...

Kaylee did have fun looking for her eggs this morning though. The Easter Bunny hid them all over her playroom.

Someone please explain to me why a Rabbit, a mammal, bring our children (often chocolate or candy filled) eggs to mark Christ's resurrection. I don't consider myself a theological scholar or anything...but Easter truly does boggle my mind.

It doesn't matter though, cause Kaylee had fun. She particularly liked the eggs hidden amoungst train-town.

Then it was time to dye some eggs. Good thing Bampa stopped by to help us out...cause I have no idea how to do this stuff.

Kaylee did remarkably well though...and made very little mess considering the capacity for disaster we laid out for her.

She especially liked putting the stickers on them after they were dry.

"Like this?" she asked.

I think they came out great. And she even ate one for lunch!

A timely post!