Hugs and Bugs - Welcome Spring

So, I'm getting a little pressure from some people I won't name (um, Mama) to update the blog finally.  For the last couple of months, I kept taking photos, but I guess I didn't feel up to sharing them (or rather taking the time to upload them).  We had lots of sickness -- again -- with strep and croup. I'm so flippin' ready for sunshine.  Thank goodness Spring is here.


I know all you really care about are the photos, but here's what happened in Feb and March.  April will be a new entry -- soon I promise!


Oma and Opa visited with us for several weeks in March.  Mostly sunny but chilly days when they were here.  They spent oodles of time with the kiddos and as usual, helped out a lot with the house and garden.  It was a great treat to have a few date nights while they were here and Frank loved not having to cook every night.  They were amazed at how "big" the kids are even from a few months ago.


Of note:  Opa weeded and prepped the garden for this year's veggies.  Thanks Opa!  Oma cleaned the siding on our screen porch that we had on our "to do" list since the porch was finished in December.  Thanks Oma!  Getting ready for Spring.


Maddie invented a cool new game with/for them.  Buzzy Bee consists of Maddie chasing Opa in circles around our house.  Mason follows so far back that eventually, Opa and Maddie pass him and he thinks he's caught them.  It made for hilarious after-dinner theater.  Of course, Opa had barely put his fork down from dinner each night when Maddie asked him  to play Buzzy Bee with her.  Of course, he did not deny her. 


After Oma and Opa left for Germany, there were only a few days before Frank left for a conference in Denver.  Grandmama and Grandaddy came up to help with the kids for a few nights on their way to Charlotte.  They spent an entire day with them although I warned them!   Daddy mowed the grass, Mama cooked dinner.  Janet went to work.  And oh, it was picture day, and Ginger had a vet emergency, and while taking off time to get her to the vet, I ended up taking Mason to the Dr. for croup.  So we were all very happy to see Frank when he came back home!!  What can I say, when it rains, it pours.


Lately, we've been spending lots of time outdoors, scheduling indoor or outdoor playdates.  Soaking up the sunshine and planting our garden.  And I promise to post again within 60 days (wink).

Hugs -- they really love each other. I think Maddie has started to appreciate how mobile Mason is now.  She finally (sigh) has someone to chase other than me and Frank.

We bought a few new outdoor toys, and the sandbox is the most popular.  I think it is just big enough for the kids and every single one of their 20 plus beach toys!  

Mason loves to play ball and isn't really selective about what kind of ball.  Volleyball, wiffle ball, baseball.  They are all "abaaa" as he says.  

When Valentine's Day rolled around, I told Maddie she should sign her name -- to all 21 of the Valentine's cards to her classmates.  At first she was excited, then she got tired of it.  But after two signing sessions, the cards were finished and she had memorized the letters of her name.  (OK, I'm a bit proud of my pushiness here.)  A few more days of practice on the whiteboard, and she beamed with pride.  We were so, so proud of her and hugged her to pieces.  

Maddie  helping to cook No Pudge Brownies (really, that's what they are called).  She is wearing her then-new apron that I held as a reward for good behavior and then finally caved and gave to her in a Mommy moment of weakness.  Maybe the grim look on her face is because she thinks I might dump the High Fiber cereal into the No Pudge brownie mix.....hey, that's not a bad idea....

 

Family portrait.  Should we visit the dentist?????

First beautiful spring weekend meant picnic!!  Maddie, and it seems Mason too, loves picnics.  Smoked salmon, deli meats and cheeses, sweet peppers, apple slices and everyone's favorite -- salami!!

Pic-a-nic-a.

The next weekend, it was a bit windier when Grandmama and Grandaddy came to visit us and Oma and Opa.  Porch picnic time.  I'm so glad the kids love the porch, too.  We are really enjoying having a shady and covered place to eat and play.

Strawberry princess with her new German H&M dress on.

Decorating sugar cookies with Oma.  These cookies were amazingly good -- must have been all that love baked inside.  Maddie loves to help with eating -- er, I mean cooking sweets.

Both Grandmama and Oma get suckered into pushing the kids.  

Joking with Grandmama.  

Buzzy Bee in action.  Did I mention that the lead bee, and really all the bees, has to flutter his buzzy wings??  Opa was a great sport and I think he secretly misses the nightly buzzing.

At the Museum of Natural History in downtown Raleigh.  Maddie's third visit and my first.  She knew all the exhibits and showed me and Oma and Opa her favorites.  But she is way into dinosaurs, so we had to get a pic with this skeleton.  I don't think it's a T-Rex, but we pretend it is....she was a bit scared.

I love dinosaurs too and always have.  I think I'm saying something here like, "hey look at these huge teeth, good thing he's dead."  Or something equally calming to my four-year old.

Mason enjoyed toddling and checking out the beach scene.  I think at this age, he is just generally interested in seeing and doing new things, whatever or wherever they are.

Grandaddy with Mason