The Children's Museum

This Saturday we decided to take a drive east to Hartford to visit (The Children's Museum).  We've heard great things about it from family members and decided since they were calling for rain today that it would be the perfect Saturday activity.

It was so much fun and I wished we lived closer.  There were so many neat exhibits and an awesome planetarium and space section as well as a water play area that we saved for last.

Waiting a few minutes for it to open. She's excited!

Mikey and I went in this first and then Daddy hopped in and was so silly; acting as if he was getting blown away!

This dino moved and opened and closed his mouth...each time we walked past it Katie covered her eyes.

Playing an oldy but goody game.

Katie making a computer image of herself.

Playing a ski game.

He said this was his favorite until we got to the water making tornado.

Daddy and Katie building blocks.

I had some fun with this 360 degree camera that they usually have at the Oscars.

Scott and Mikey laying back and learning about space.  He said he'd like one of these chairs for Father's Day.

Katie wanted to explore space too!

This huge projector displayed different things on the floor. Bubbles to pop, light up squares that danced to music and a xylophone.

We all liked this station....cones filtered air through them and you had to control the beach balls.

Mikey was really good at it!

We saved the water area for last in case they got wet, which they did.  Mikey was at this station almost the entire time we were here.

Once we came home, we walked the dog and rode on our bikes and scooter and we quenched our thirst at the lemonade stand in our neighborhood.  That's Nick in the background.  Such a good kid and him and his sister Elly made great lemonade.

Such a busy day.  Katie went upstairs and 5 minutes later I found her like this.  She slept from 5:30 pm until 6 am the following morning!

Mom's Day celebration at school

Today the kids held a brunch for us mom's at school.  Katie and Mikey each made me a yellow, ceramic mug, one with flowers on it and the other with butter flies.  They are so cute.  I also received a purple tulip and a colored pasta necklace from them.

Each of the classes made different muffins and we also had fruit and juice before the kids sang us 3 songs.  I love their school and the warm, nurturing atmosphere and the friendships we are forming.  I'm so fortunate to have found such a great school for them on such short notice.  Even if I had all the time in the world to pick, I would have chosen their school.

Brunch with friends.

Katie and I and my penne colored necklace.

I love these munchkins.  Mikey stuffed a muffin in his mouth right before this picture was taken! He is constantly eating!!

Okay - silly faces!

Katie's first ever progress report.  It's so cute what they report to us on....sharing, controlling emotions, listening, concentration.

Playboy

Mikey is such a cool dude.  He has a very stubborn side but can be extremely sweet and gentle too.

Night time snuggles with his sister.

Funny and goofy.

He's just so cool.  He has a new obsession with super hero shirts.  He wears them almost everyday.

A play date with Abby and Ellie at Mead Playground.  We had dinner with them at this awesome park and I foresee a lot more evenings spent here.

Apparently he likes taller women too.  Ellie turned 4 in March.

They are so sweet.

Abby and Katie are playing peek-a-boo between my legs.

Vickie caught Mikey and Ellie being all kissy kissy under the playground.

Lake in back yard

So it rained here this weekend.  A Lot.  I mean, a lot a lot!

Don't believe me....here take a look!

Mikey waving from the (standing water) lake in our back yard.

He threw on his rain boots and frolicked in the water for 2 days.  After that the water looked a little gross so we didn't let them go in.  Today he went through 3 sets of clothes.  They were soaked from playing in the water.

Once his pants got wet he just took them off and continued to play in his t-shirt and undies.

Bikes - SOLD!

So we have been promising the kids for weeks that we'd buy them bikes once our house in Chicago sold...and for weeks they have been asking if we sold our house yet.  We haven't yet closed on the home but all the paperwork is settled and now we just have to wait for the close date, so we considered our Chicago home to be sold for the kids sake.

We have been looking at bikes for a while to purchase and couldn't believe how expensive some of them are, especially considering the kids will out grow them quickly.  I decided to also check out postings on Craigslist in our area for any bikes for sale that could potentially work for the kids and found an awesome bike for Mikey that was for sale right down the road.  I also found a bike for Katie off of Craigslist too and so that day we went for a ride to buy bikes!

The kids were confused at first about the fact that we were going to someones home and not a store to buy a bike but once they saw what we were there to buy they didn't seem to mind!

The woman I was going to buy the bike from for Katie ended up having a scooter as well, so Katie picked out the scooter once I gave her the option and she is a happy, happy girl!

They are so proud of their new mode of transportation!

Mikey's bike was a definite score on Craigslist!  I found a Haro Bike for him for $40 - in brand new condition.  I just had to use a hair dryer to get a few stickers off.  I later learned that this same bike is for sale for $220 retail!!! I couldn't believe how much I saved!  I love Craigslist and the kids love their new bike and scooter.

Mikey helped me put some training wheels on his bike.

Those bolts were on there pretty tight.  I love this picture.  Here Mikey is yelling "AAAARRRRGGGHH!" as he uses all of his strength to try and turn the bolt.  He's such a boy.

Training wheels on and off he goes!

The 16 inch bike is a great fit and he has some room to grow.

He picked out the helmet himself.  The tank on the top is for shooting tornadoes, just in case you were wondering.

Lunch with my favorite girl

Both of the kids are in school at the same time on Monday's and Wednesday's however just Mikey goes to school on Thursday.  Normally, Katie and I have a play date with Katie's friends on Thursday or every once in a while I have errands to run while Mikey is at school but today, I just wanted some one on one time with my best girl.  We enjoyed lunch at Panera and spent quite a bit of time running around Walmart....literally running around the entire store.  We also played with all the big balls by rolling them down the long aisles.  It was so fun and I'm so thankful to soak up some special time with my baby.  I don't often get one on one time with the kids so it's nice when I slow down and savor them.

Running all over Walmart.

Lunch with this sweet girl.  

The baby goats at Stew Leonards.  Spring is here after all!