Sickies, playtime, and Habsburgs

Flu and barfing and ear infections have invaded this area of the country, too, Vivi and Hannah. I'm getting queasy just thinking about it. Let's hope all the cousins and at least one aunt and one uncle get over their various ailments before too long. And BTW, Gpappy and I haven't been given the gift of anyone's viruses or bacteria yet, but the day isn't over.

I have the best visual images in my head of the cousin parade held at E and O's on Saturday morning. It involved bikes and a scooter, although the scooter boy quickly preferred the role of parade watcher when the bikers got the idea of throwing candy to the (small) crowd. Nothing like recycled parade candy to make an impromptu cousin parade turn into something exciting. Sorry there aren't pictures of the cuteness for you all to see (unless Angie took some?).

E and O had a big Saturday afternoon to get ready for -- a visit from their adorable baby cousin Odin and his swarm of admirers, so we kept our visit shorter than Miles and Westy would have liked. M & W spent the day with us, and overnight, too. 

Miles has been eager to go to the "blue park", just up the hill, so we spent some time there on Saturday. Westy was a brave guy, scooting down the zipline, just like his big brother.

Here's Miles in one of the sliding tubes--evidence of why the cousins refer to this place as the blue park.

Miles loves geography, so he and Gpappy enjoyed looking at several familiar locations on Google Earth. Our gray car was parked in the driveway the day  the most recent Google Earth drive-by shot of our house was taken. Can't tell if Gpappy is in the driver's seat, or if it's just parked there, but it's fun to see.

 

Last week when we were in Otown, Miles made a Happy Easter banner modeled on a cloth version that Aunt Janet gave me as a gift. Miles did a super job of creating a cheerful banner to welcome the bunnies in a few weeks. 

While Miles and Gpappy were playing with Google Earth, Westy decided to take over making a similar banner that he and Miles planned for Grandma Doreen and Grandpa Dave. Westy decided it should say "Grandpa Dave", which it does. I know you can't read the letters in this picture (taken by MJG), but trust me, Westy made beautiful letters! He also cut out 3/4 of the banner flags, which I'd traced for him ahead of time. He was so patient and careful. He also helped staple the flags to a long ribbon. I understand the banner is now in place at Grandpa Dave and Grandma Doreen's house where they can admire it often. Great work, Westy!

Here is further evidence that Weston was in a productive mode yesterday. While Miles cleared the table after supper, Westy did some floor clean-up. I need these boys here more often!

Here's a picture I have to toss into the mix. We got to watch Miles at his final swimming lesson for this session when we were in Otown on Tuesday. His teacher told me he is cooperative, hard-working, and funny. And, he gets the hang of swimming. Westy cheered Miles on when it was his turn to jump off the board. Miles is holding the green stryofoam noodle you can see in the water.

Back to this weekend. Miles and Westy did a LOT of coloring. Wild animals, birds, Halloween characters, and more. Miles wanted to draw a picture and have Gpappy scan it and print copies so we all could color our own, so he did and then we did.

Next, of course, Westy had to find something to scan. If Miles does it, Westy follows. He remembered getting his hand scanned many months ago, so it was time to do it again. 

He decided his little puppy Nina would be next, so here she is. Not a flattering picture of the poor little critter. She looks trapped in the scanner with no hope of getting out.

 

Miles developed a headache and an earache in the early evening, so despite a fun day, he felt miserable later on. So this morning we read and colored some more -- quiet activities that helped him relax until it was time to go to the doctor and get some medicine.

This entry wouldn't be complete without a mention of the good time Gpappy/Dad/Larry and I had with Don and Janet on Friday. We went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to see the Habsburg exhibit, and afterwards ate at Pancho Villa, a (guess what?) Mexican restaurant. It has a great menu, and everything was fresh and appetizing. Yum!

These Habsburg wanna-be's caught a ride in a two-dimensional version of a beautiful and ornate carriage that was on display in the exhibit. Note the fine steed pulling the carriage.

The real thing, without the broomstick horse.

 

Here's how we ended the day. 

It was spring most of the past week, and today it's winter again. It's pretty, especially knowing the new snow won't stay on the ground for three months!