A Few Memorial Day Week Pictures

Memorial Day Weekend was long, busy weekend. We sure did apprecate Matt and Andy's help will the deck as well as Nancy's help with my garden. We couldn't have gotten nearly as much done last weekend without them!!

The title of this picture is "Mommy make it warmer!" Grace kept asking us to make the water warmer. She didn't really get that when you're outside the water only comes in one temperature.





I don't think that Matt, Andy and Neil could have built the deck without their supervisor. This is one of those pictures that we'll show to the boyfriends. If the picture isn't embarrassing in itself I will let you know that after she was done she yelled to the boys that she had pooped and that it had corn in it.



Interestingly, she did something similar at my parents house the weekend before where she put the potty at there garage door so she could watch Gray play outside. I think we're pretty close to calling Grace potty trained, I guess now we need to teach her a little modesty.

Happy Birthday Allison!

Jen's daughter Allison turned 1 this month! Here are a few pictures from her party at the playground.

Displaying that there is no climber she won't conquer, Grace went right up this one.



If there was a picture to follow this one it would be Grace flying off the end of the slide and doing a face plant into the ground. I guess it's a fast slide. We were more careful with later trips down.



Here's the birthday girl loving the swings.



Grace and Ian had fun on the swings too. At first Grace didn't reconize Ian with his new haircut.



More of the birthday girl! Soooo cute!



Allison is very good at picking the rocks out of the sand and handing them to you, maybe I should see if she could come help me pick rocks out of my garden. :-)



Ian the cookie face was trying to hide from my camera, but I got him.

Mom's Day at the Zoo

Last year we spent Mother's day at the Southwick's Zoo and we decided to contiue the tradition this year. I didn't take a whole lot of great pictures because it was very windy. We had a fun day, Neil and I enjoyed the animals and Grace loved the playground and rides. I think she could have cared less about the animals. We made the mistake of telling her there was a playground and she keep asking if this was the way to the playground. Then we made the mistake of telling her she could ride the rides after lunch. Coincidentally, she started asking for lunch at 10:30. It took me a while to figure out that she wasn't hungry.

Grace didn't like feeding the goats this year, but this little goat was pretty cute.









Not so interested in feeding the deer either. I like feeding the deer, they are a little less grabby than the goats.



Finally the playground. I really realized at the playground what a difference winter makes. There wasn't anything Grace couldn't do or wouldn't try. My toddler is becoming a little kid .



After lunch, finally the rides. See the little girl with Grace in the red car. I don't know what they talked about during the ride, but it seems they made a plan to ride all of the rides together. Grace called her, "my girl". Grace would get off a ride and ask, "Where's my girl??". It was cute.

Apple Circus

For months Grace had been asking if we could go to the circus, but I had sort of been ignoring her request. When the commercials for the Big Apple Circus in Boston started appearing on the TV, the requests became much more frequent so I gave in and ordered us tickets.

We got super lucky with the weather that day and it ended up feeling like more like July than April with temps close to 90. This is what Grace decided to put on that morning.



Cheeeeeeese!



We arrived in Boston around 1:30, but the show started at 4 so we hung around Quincy Market. One of my goals for the trip was to buy Grace a new "Go Red Sox" (as she calls it) hat.



She looked so cute in her new hat.



We killed time with some ice cream and some shopping, then headed towards Government center. In front of Faneuil Hall was like 6 different people making ballon animals\hats. We tried to steer Grace away, but there was so many of them and this Rami Salami guy had chairs, we were powerless.



Let me tell you, this guy is well organized and knows how to keep the kids attention so they don't go to someone else. Grace patiently waited probably 15 minutes for her turn.



Then the masterpiece was completed; it was quite a sight.



Sadly, the hat only lasted the walk to Government Center. By the time we finished climbing the steps the purple balloon that held the whole thing together popped. It was very sad. Grace cried. Mommy felt bad. We've had bad luck with balloons popping lately.

The cirus was lots of fun. The tent is very small and I can't imagine that there are many bad seats in the house. Grace really enjoyed Grandma the clown and the guy that balanced pots on his head.

We finshed the day with a tasty dinner at Legal Seafood. Grace had fish-shaped cheese ravolis which she rated not as tasty as the Mickey-shaped ones she had in Disney. Mice know their cheese.

Easter Weekend

Clearly, I am a little behind with my posting. Easter weekend was a busy one as we prepared for a house full of people on Easter Sunday.

It started with egg dyeing. I was completely suprised with how gently Grace placed the eggs in the dye and pulled them out. I don't think we broke a single one!



Then we made cookies with my new cookie cutters Grace gave me for my birthday.



Grace was at her sports class when I made the cookie dough so this was my helper/supervisor.



Easter ham a day early.



Grace started the Easter party early on Sunday morning with her baby.



Daddy set up an egg hunt for Ian and Grace in the backyard. They didn't seem to mind that it was cold and windy.



Then my camera battery died. Not pictured here was a great dinner with great friends and family.