More spring break pics

Spring Break

Here are some pictures from our spring break. We went to Southern Illinois to load up on our Saluki wear and relax in an A frame cabin. We were invisioning peace and quiet, no tv ect., but what we got was a nice little cabin with all the ammenities...tv, dvd, dishwasher, etc. It was still relaxing. 2 small ponds surounded the cabin. There was a nice picnic table and fire pit. We had s'mores every night (the last night microwaved due to rain). But the weather was beautiful every day. We went on hikes and fishing also...
Note Daniel swiping the grahms and chocolate







Gathering wood for a fire with no charcoal. Ken and I both got it going at separate times, but couldn't keep it up. We saw the rain coming and blamed it on that as we headed inside for microwave smores.

Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt

We signed up for a flashlight Easter egg hunt at a local park district the week before Easter. However, Grace developed a 103 temp. the night before so we called and cancelled. Instead, Easter Saturday I put together our own flashlight Easter egg hunt. The girls had so much fun doing it that they asked me to set it up again. And a week or two later they hid eggs for each other. (Please note: The camera flash makes the pictures look like it is light out, it is actually very dark.)

Totally Free Day at the Museum

The Field Museum had free days the whole month of February. The day the tuckpointers came to cut the whole in the wall for Daniel's bedroom, I gathered the kids and we headed for the Field Museum. I had planned on using the parking garage, but there was meter parking not too far away. $15 saved. Although the wind was blistery cold, we made it. The lady at ticket sales said she would give me the day for free, acting like it was a gift from her. I thanked her and then mentioned that I wanted to visit the underground adventure. She said since she didn't mention that that would cost, she gave it to me for free too! It was really that simple. I knew it cost extra and I had my card out ready to pay and everything. But she gave it too me. I'm not one to argue with others, so I chalked it up to My lucky day!

Grandma Brenda met us at the museum for lunch (tab on her). She had wanted to take us out to one of Chicago's more interesting restaurants, but Grace reminded us that there was a McDonald's in the museum. She remembered from when she went with Daddy and she was sure she could lead us to it. So we ate at McDonald's. It was lovely. Along with lunch, Grandma Brenda gave everyone money for the museum shop. Daniel got a dinosaur, Grace and Luci a royal Egyptian throne. (For the sake of Mr. Gross's teaching, I did have to pay for gas to get there. There are no totally free lunches.)

The perfect picure spot (according to Grace)

Underground adventure (the kids were scared of this exhibit from the beginning. Grace only finally became comfortable when I showed her that this was a seed, the very last thing in the adventure of the exhibit. Good thing it was free.)

Sue

I took pictures in the bathroom because it was a highlight of the trip. They had a potty small enough for Grace and Luci, a step stool that made hand washing easy and a way fun hand dryer.

The music room in the Crown Family Play Lab was definately a favorite. They liked playing all kinds of drums and precussion instruments. I liked the frogs the best.



They Mayan room was great too. They enjoyed playing with the corn.

My little scientific observers are so cute!

We had a great time. But as Grace often lets me know, family is most important. So, when I asked her what the best part of the day was, it was of course when Grandma Brenda was there. I asked what if she wasn't there? Still, she answered the best part was when Grandma Brenda was there. I said what if Grandma Brenda was there the whole time, then what would be your favorite part. And she said the part when Grandma Brenda was there. I just asked her what her favorite part was again, to see if her answer would be different. Her answer was, "My most favorite part was when Grandma Brenda was there, but my most saddest part was when Susie wasn't there."

Mommy's little laundry helpers

Valentine's Thank You's

The kids recieved some neat gifts for Valentine's Day. McDonald's coupons and money. Grace spent her money on 2 types of chex mix. Luci bought some window hangs that she painted all by herself. They also picked out an Arial doll that really swims, a ballerina jewelry/music box, flapper style dress up clothes and crown and jewels to match. I was going to have them take a nice picture in front of some roses and add a nice thank you note to all who gave the wonderful gifts. Unfortunately the photo session didn't go as I had planned. Grace quite rudely recieved an important phone call, Daniel thought under the table and the roses were more interesting than the picture I wanted and Luci was actually doing a great job posing, until Grace included her in on the phone call. But, as you can see in the following fliptracks, they had fun. And I thank all of you who gave the kids gifts. They really enjoyed them.

http://www.fliptrack.com/watch/mnoJCyNeMy

Classic Luci pose

The boot

One day Daniel found his boots, put one on and just walked around for about a half hour with little else on.

Daniel writes

I love when kids start to hold crayons and write. I think it's so cute. Here's one of the times Daniel looked so cute writing, but each time I snapped the picture, he would put the crayon in his mouth instead of on the card.

What in the world?....

Does anyone remember those wonderful little puff balls? They are mostly made from yarn. You may have thrown a bunch of them in the middle of the big parachute in gym or preschool class and watched them fly around like popcorn. Maybe you tried juggling them or played Bozo buckets with them. They are bright and colorful and most kids have great innocent fun with them.

Well the cottage received a bag of them in order to encourage some cottage-friendly physical activity when the kids can't go outside to move around. All a part of the new SPARKS movement introduced to us this year.

Grace, Luci and Daniel along with the neighbor kids also saw the puff balls and immediately wanted to play with them. Fine with me...until I saw what they wanted to use them for. So much for innocent puff ball fun...
Needless to say (and despite the fun I had taking pictures of them), the next day when the girls came over to play and everyone darted for the puff balls, I explained that they were off limits.