Mini-Vacation

We took our annual St. Louis mini-vacation during Olivia's spring break. Our first stop was the City Museum, which is a true architectural marvel (and a bit of a navigational nightmare!). I highly recommend this place, especially if you have an older child (certainly no toddlers!).

Here are the kids on one of the elevated walkways. Notice how Olivia doesn't look that happy - it took some coaxing to get them to enter into the tunnels. However, after our first tunnel, the kids warmed up to the idea and began entering into every tunnel or hole they could find! Definitely not for those who are claustrophobic!

Olivia found this chameleon in the middle of one tunnel. Notice Joe lurking in the background. This became a bit of a theme/joke for this vacation.

Ethan navigating a tunnel. Joe again in the background.

Who can resist a picture with an enormous pair of undies?

Olivia cannot resist an art project, even in the middle of the City Museum!

I don't know what to call this structure (some sort of a skateboarding thing?), but the kids had a blast taking turns sliding down it.

Ethan as Tarzan.

The kids were actually brave enough to pet the sting rays this year.

These turtles had quite the personality - I honestly think that they were playing hide and seek with the kids!

The second day was a gorgeous day for the zoo! Sunny but a bit cool, so all of the animals were active in the morning. Ethan was thrilled to see one of his favorite animals - the rhino.

This is a big milestone for Olivia. The very first year she went to the zoo, she cried and cried from this snake statue - obviously thinking it was real. Later, she would look at it, but not really want to get close to it. This year was a big hug for the snake!

Olivia demonstrating how the elephant was eating.

I swear we could have petted the giraffes if we just reached our hands out a bit.

Joe and the kids with the Okapi. A truly confused looking animal.

Another traditonal zoo picture. For Olivia's first picture with this penguin, she could barely stand on her own and was as tall as the staute. This is a nice way to measure her growth!

On the train for a bit of a rest.

I am rather proud of this photo.

And our last traditional picture, most possibly the last one of this pose. Holding Olivia up to the lizard.

Ethan's cotton candy mess. It was fun to watch, not much fun to clean up.

After the zoo was a trip to the Arch.

We were able to convince the kids to ride to the top of the Arch this year. Ethan was a trooper, but, as you can see, Olivia was very very nervous. Mostly about the elevator ride.

Once at the top, the kids had a blast moving from one window to the next. They had no fear!

Our last moring was spent at the Science Center. Here they are on the overpass waiting for a car to drive under them.

Playing in the outside science experiment playland.

Olivia was old enough to become a junior scientist for an hour. She loved doing her experiments in her official lab coat.

We ended our trip at Lafayette Park with Aunt Rachel. This frog was very popular with them.

Although it is a gorgeous backdrop, Olivia's body language says it all - they were ready to go home!

Ethan's Field Trip

Ethan's preschool class recently took a field trip to learn about and climb on big machines. Emphasis on the "climb on". When Ethan first walked into the building, his eyes got so wide and he just sort of stopped and stared, very overwhelmed. That did not last long, and before I knew it I couldn't keep up with him running from one to the next (there were about 7 for them to explore).

Here he is on the biggest machine - a giant dump truck.

Ethan at the controls.

Ethan and classmate Hannah next to a giant tire. Ethan's hat is intentionally pulled over his face, silly boy.

Ethan's preschool class posing in the bucket.

Easter 2011

Even though Easter was fairly late this year, it seemed to sneak up on me! We had a whirlwind week of the usual preparations - egg dying, visit the Easter Bunny at the mall, fill eggs with candy, and prepare our house for hosting the Easter family get together.

Here is Ethan mastering the art of egg coloring. We let the kids each color one dozen eggs, which means we have a lot of eggs to eat!

Olivia worked hard to be artistic this year with her eggs - mastering stripes and the wax crayon.

Joe and Ethan with their Spiderman eggs.

Olivia with her eggs - one she decorated as a kitty (with a marker) and the other is stripes.

More eggs!

Ethan and Olivia riding the Easter train at the mall. This is always a big hit for them.

Ethan's first time with silly string (thanks to Great Aunt Valerie). The kids had a blast with it, although they each agreed that there wasn't enough in the little bottle.

This is how Olivia slept the night before Easter. We had warned them that the Bunny would not come if they were awake, so Olivia made sure that that would not happen by using her sleep mask.

The goodies from her Easter basket. Her big items were new clothes for her American Girl doll (named Anne). However, Olivia is still talking about the Easter Bunny leaving her socks (a cute Alice in Wonderland pair). She just cannot figure out why she received socks.

And Ethan's Easter basket goodies - lost of Super Hero Squad figures and playsets, and lots of candy!

Due to the uncertainty of the weather these past few days, the Bunny decided to leave an indoor egg hunt. Here Olivia finds some in Joe's study.

Joe and Ethan examining the candy from the eggs. This year, either the Easter Bunny miscounted or we are still missing one egg in the house somewhere (one week later!). That will be a nice surprise when they do find it.

Easter outfits - Ethan again showing his Spiderman moves.

And Olivia looking very fancy.

Trust me - this is not how they usually behave with each other. Lately it has been very love/hate, with a heavy dose of teasing.

After the big family lunch, we were actually able to have an outdoor egg hunt.

I had realized that it has been awhile (since the kids were infants) since we had nice photos with the kids and family. So this year, before being allowed to leave the party, family had to pose for a picture with Olivia and Ethan. Here they are with Great Uncle Joe and Great Aunt Valerie (on Saturday, hence the different clothes).

With Great Aunt Jenny.

Great Uncle Shane and Great Aunt Jill.

Great Grandparents Boyd and Phyllis.

They got a bit silly with Great Uncle Robb, Great Aunt Kelli, and Cameron.

And last but not least, Grammy, Grandpa Brett, and Uncle Brennan.