Spring

Spring is finally HERE!

When asked if this was typical weather for Minnesota, a friend said that everything is about one month behind schedule.  March was like February (as seen in my previous post), April like March:

May I add, these pictures were taken on three separate occasions in April!

May like April:

And, June like May:

Other fun things we have done this spring:

wrestle with Dad,

watch Faye dance, 

dance with each other, 

 play in the mud,

fall asleep while watching movies,

build and paint dinosaurs,

and fish for family home evening,

And, Edmund's Spring Tree is finally here!  We have been tracking this tree through the different seasons as part of a school project, and Edmund was not satisfied with a tree covered in snow for his Spring Tree.  We had to wait until the end of May, Edmund, but Spring is HERE!

Almost Spring...

My Grandma left a message on my phone this morning saying (among other things), "This was a bad winter."  And boy, was she right!  Today it finally felt like Spring.  Of course, we still have snow on the ground, but it IS melting!  

Because it was such a fine day, I decided to take the kids to the MN Zoo.  I knew it was a mistake when I had to wait in a line of multiple cars to turn off the county highway into the zoo entrance.  We have been going to the zoo for the past few Fridays, and have never seen a single car turn into the entrance at the same time as us.  Apparently the entire population of Minnesota decided it was a good idea to visit the zoo today, too.  Usually, this wouldn't have been a problem.  It is a big zoo.  However, it was drizzling and still below 40 degrees, so everyone was inside...at the same time...we had to wait in line to see the tortoises!  So, about 15 minutes into our visit, we decided to leave.  

We stopped by IKEA on the way home.  I am in the mood for a new couch.  (Ours has seen better days.  In fact, it belonged to my dear Grandma who called this morning.  I think 40+ years for a couch is more than adequate to say it has had a good life.)  Anyway, this was our first time visiting our own IKEA.  I had heard that there was a play place for kids.  So, I sold the kids on visiting it in place of our zoo visit.  Once we got there, we discovered there was a 30 minute wait for the play area.  The kids wanted to wait.  So we did.  We came home and did some school work and then the kids played with some friends.  Overall, it wasn't such a bad day.

Faye at the "Cinderella Ball" in February

Our last sledding trip of the season.

Faye isn't the only one who likes to dress up!

Me enjoying the spoils of my birthday!  It was a perfect birthday.  I spent the morning at a rehearsal and came home to pizza and Sebastian Joe's ice cream!  After a relaxing afternoon, I went back to prepare for the concert.  Devon was able to attend while a friend watched the kids.  We performed Rob Gardner's Lamb of God.  It was awesome!

A Sunday walk

How to eat Sebastian Joe's ice cream:

Family Pics

November 2012

Another Winter...

but this time, it is awesome!  Two years ago after Carter was born, I must admit, it was a hard winter.  Last year's was wimpy.  Whoever heard of a warm winter (relatively speaking) with hardly any snow in Minnesota?.  But, this year's:

Carter's first black eye.  (I'm not saying who did it.)

Happy 4th Birthday to Faye!

Edmund's School Tree.  

We are tracking this tree outside our apartment to note it's characteristics each season.

Another school project:

Homemade Volcanoes

 Christmas at Grandma Phillips's house

Enjoying the spoils on Christmas morning!

The Annual Gingerbread House Competition!

Fun with the Cousins!

Skating Buddies!

Devon took Edmund on their special outing to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to see the Terrecotta Warriors.