A Difference Three Years Make

Happy Easter

 It is gorgeous out today. 

Doing yardwork and having some Easter fun. 

 These two love having a backyard egg hunt. They get ready for it weeks in advance. There are lots of nooks and crannies in the back and a good place for hiding/finding. 

 This year was much more competitive than in the past. They ended up with about 50/50 of the loot. There was money in some of the eggs and that really go them going! 

 This cat...of course he has to be where Fieldin is.. also he was protecting this egg and kind of flipped out alot during the egg hunt if Greta took the eggs he was nearby...

 One was excited about finding moolah, the other candy.. I will let you figure out which wanted which. 

 Then Easter bunny fun and goodies after. Fieldin is waving at the camera but looks bored :)

These are supposed to bloom in June but enjoying them now! 

Pleasant Smells Of Spring? Nah... That's Vinegar & A Few What Now's

Vinegar, Spring...Spring,Vinegar.... I don't know about you but this time of year I think about vinegar. Odd yes, but it's everywhere, for me at least... 

Dying eggs,

Some of the Spring foods we make and store, 

and CLEANING. 

In Winter, not so much vinegar...just saying. 

 The kids woke up EARLY. They wanted to dye eggs pronto. After each munch of my cereal, I caught a glimpse of 2 sets of wide-eyed eyes and murmurs of "dye eggs now? dye eggs now?" 

They learn their patience from me. 

After said cereal, I got out all the egg making fun and we were dying eggs by 8 a.m. 

 They love it. Fieldin told me it was a fun morning. Of course, this is playing with food and making messy fun. What could be better, really? 

 They enjoy putting stickers on theirs and using dye q-tips to draw with. Myself, I am quite fond of the wax crayon. 

 Then they looked at me and said, "What now?" 

So we made tornados in a jar. 

I thought it was cool, them not so much. I blame the advancement of science in our schools. Makes my parlor tricks seem boring. Luckily for us there was a whole lot of shakin' and no breakin'. Or I'd be mopping at 9 a.m. 

Then they looked at me and said, "What now?" 

 So we painted nails, played a game, and drew. 

Then they looked at me and I said "Go outside"

A few more days to go til the end of Spring break. I need to up my game tomorrow and take them out or figure out how to make something blow up to keep their attention... Tornado in a jar! How can that not be cool? 

Big Fort

We've been wanting to take the kids to the Fort for some time now. I am the only one that had ever been there, thanks to elementary school fieldtrips and 4th of July firework shows(awesome, by the way) 

 Since yesterday was a Monday there wasn't too much going on at the Fort but the kids could explore, run and climb which is what it's all about. 

 After seeing it so many times from the road this is what they really wanted to do..climb to the top of the lookout. 

A pretty day with views of Mt. Hood(faint in the background). We also got a few things done up there that we needed to do. An easy day trip. We've been telling Gret about the Oregon trail. I don't think she will learn about it to the extent I did in school but it is time for her to play the Oregon trail game. She is playing it at this very moment plus a frontier version for after they make it through their voyage. You can hear her yelling "I killed a bear!" and "Uncle Jimbo died, he rode his wagon off a cliff!" through the house.. right now it's "Why do I need to chop sooo much wood!". 

A Break Called Spring

We find ourselves at the start of spring break and it does seem like spring here. (still chilly some days though) 

Is it really Springtime?  My plants, birds and all the kids playing at the park tell me so. 

The last couple of days have been spent marking some things off the Spring cleaning list and then taking it easy. Jeff and I reminded ourselves that it is Spring "break" for a reason. Time to clean up after winter and look forward to what's ahead. Rest up the kids and spend time together. 

Resting the kids is not easy when you live across the street from a busy play structure. Take one look at the nose/hand prints on the front window to see that outdoor playtime has returned. Whenever they see someone at the play structure they want to go. It is hard to get homework done when playtime calls. 

 Today we were going to take a rest day but of course we didn't.... 

We checked out a "new to us" bird sanctuary about 15 miles from our house. 

 There was a very, very long boardwalk that the kids loved. The rest of the trails were closed until the end of this month so we will go back soon. 

 With everything in bloom, Fieldin and I have allergies so he was extra tired after running. He picked the flower in his hand(above) and had a grip on it all the way home and onto the sofa. He was out so hard but never let go. 

Still out, but joined by his buddy.... That cat adores him. 

Around Here and A Bit Of Spring

 Around here, I am trying to keep this ball o' energy busy...

 Around here, all our backyard birds have returned a couple months ago and this cat is keeping busy watching them. His favorite, the two sets of doves that we have each year. 

 Around here, we are finishing up on our March Madness basketball brackets. Greta wanted to do one this year. She also didn't want any help as usual. :) 

Around here, there are lots of Spring flowers and blossoms around. Love all the color again. 

 Around here the river is low and it is time to feed the ducks again. 

 (his favorite is a white goose, in the background of this pic, he named "whitey".) 

Around here, enjoying signs of spring and a certain girl is looking forward to a week off of homework soon. 

Around here, I think we all are looking forward to a Spring break. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is a fun day. Even though we aren't a bit Irish. 

Our food group met tonight at a park and it gave me a chance to try to make corned beef for the first time. 

Greta and Fieldin made a Guinness cake with a Guinness whipped cream. 

 They had to reduce down Guinness and our house smelled like a brewery. 

leprechaun mustache straws for the kiddos 

 Greta was excited to find the penny in the soda bread. 

 This gave me a chance to teach my friends the Welsh skillet toss. 

 Here is Jeff and I. I took photos of my friends but will use the pics for blackmail later. :) 

Another fun St. Patrick's Day, so happy the weather held up for us. 

Wave Riders

 Before I start look behind Greta. That is Fieldin falling through his intertube and it is hilarious. 

 Ok... Thank you to my sweet friend for inviting us to a very fun wave pool and being our lifeguard. Also, for giving me a break and taking crazy Fieldin wave rider for a bit. 

The kids had a great time spending time in the water and with their friend. 

Fieldin... all I have to say is you are more fearless and crazy than I even thought. That goes for you too Greta. 

A Pole And A Pond = Patience

 Less than 10 minutes from our house is a very cute small fishing pond with catfish, perch and....I forget the other two kinds. It is a good place to teach Fieldin how to fish. 

 Learning how to line the pole 

 And learning the most important thing of all while fishing...patience. He did very well, he fished for a hour and a half before he was ready to move on... meaning go home and get a snack. 

After awhile his legs got tired so he sat up on a platform to rest and watch his bobber. 

He said he had a fun day fishing but was a little sad he didn't catch a fish. 

Fieldin learning to cast. 

Ringing Of The Gong

On the last day of every swim session the kids get to "Ring The Gong" at their pool. 

Greta looks forward to this and has perfected her form.... it is always LOUD.. 

You can tell by the instructors face, she knew it was going to be a loud one. 

This is only the second time Fieldin has given it a go. Each kid gets one whack but Greta begs to hit it again every time. 

We have two weeks off of swimming which will be nice. We have a lot of Easter preparations to get done :)