NC in the early spring

Last weekend Larry/Gpappy/Dad and I were in NC with the southern cousins. So fun to see Hannah and Vivi in their natural habitat! We arrived in time to pick up Vivian at Spanish for Fun Academy, and Hannah at Frank Porter Graham Elementary School. We've been to SFFA several times, but not to FPG, so it was fun to see a familiar place and a new one, too.

Hannah and Vivi's backseat selfie

Pants-free craft project

The Easter bunny, working on a spring project (pants included).

H giving V a hand on a scooter walk around the neighborhood.

Making a double-wide home for Ira: early construction phase.

Vivi, showing her stuff on Saturday morning at Bouncing Bulldogs.

 Fun at the park. 

Hannah was excited to show us that she can can "walk" the overhead bars like her monkey friend Ira.

Dinosaurs and sharks  (oh my!) at the 
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.

Fortunately, everyone survived the dinosaur and shark attacks so they could enjoy lunch with Cousin Linda, and a visit to her apartment. Thanks, Linda! I was sick and had to miss out on the fun that day. :o(

On Tuesday we walked around the North Carolina Botanical Gardens, where  Hannah played with the huge chess pieces ...

... and Vivi had fun in the giant sculpture. We're glad we didn't lose her!

Here's the whole sculpture, created by artist Patrick Dougherty from materials found on the grounds of the Botanical Garden.

Some of you will be envious of our take-out food from Mama Dip's. Others might not be as envious of the yummy tuna salad Vivian and I love from A Southern Season. 

Thanks to Elisabeth and Evan for the fun and relaxing time we had with them. We had some moments of sadness, too, because while we were in NC, Grandpa Dave died. We talked about him and we all wished we were with Tanner, Annie, Westy, Miles, and Doreen so we could give them hugs. We sent our love and hugs across the miles.

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!

March marches on

The week started out rough for Hannah, who took over Vivi's yucky sickness. Here's a "getting better" photo, which is a step up from a shot sent the day before.

 Vivian was back to her regular self, and helped plant a tree to prove it.

H and V are both smiling again this weekend. At first I thought Vivi was showing us a loose tooth, but I think she just has itchy gums!

Miles and Westy spent some time with us on Friday and Saturday, and also visited Grandpa Dave and Grandma Doreen. They were busy coloring, reading, and building 3-D sculptures. Here are their flying-fish-turned-cool-masks.

The MN cousins played together yesterday. First order of business was fun at Charlie and Angie's house, including playing outside, finding the first salamander of the season, and doing some cardboard construction.

After lunch, it was time to explore Gustavus. First the Book Mark to collect I Love to Read Month prizes for Ethan and Owen, then outside to enjoy the great weather and burn off some energy.

The Whispering Wall was a hit with Ethan, seen here using his voice to create echoes.

The wall is also a great place to recreate the cousin version of Mt. Rushmore... 

...and to march and play follow-the-leader.

Getting on top of the cylindrical pedestals and becoming statues is fun, too.

And who can resist a selfie in front of Old Main? Not these guys!

 

Westy and Miles continued the cardboard construction craze at our house later in the day. Auntie Angie knows how to inspire young engineers with cardboard, scissors, and masking tape!

It's Sunday afternoon and we're waiting for a FaceTime call in a few minutes from NC to catch up with the now-healthy Hannah and Vivian. The skies aren't as blue and bright today as they were yesterday, but no complaints. I have tax information to organize, and a gray day is better for that kind of work! 

If you're Irish, Happy St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday. Same if you're not, but you wish you were.  

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P.S. We were treated to a show put on by H and V this afternoon.  Here are some blurry shots of two scenes from the much-loved (by H and V) musical, "Annie", adapted for FaceTime. It's a hard-knock life, you know.

Warming up

Hurray that the weather is getting warmer and the dirty snow piles are receding! Gpappy/Larry/Dad just reported to me that we should see 60 degrees or better for the next several days. Can this be true?

The warm-up began on Friday. Speaking of warm-ups, Ethan and Owen tossed off their jackets and played snow soccer and shot some hoops on Friday afternoon. They were a bit too optimistic, and the jackets went back on eventually.

 Bros in the snow

Miles and Westy spent a little time with us on Saturday, while A and T were with Dave and Doreen. Later they returned to D & D's to celebrate Uncle Will's birthday. While they were here, M & W practiced drinking champagne out of fancy glasses. Gppy and I had gone to the opening St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concert at the remodeled Ordway with Uncle Don and Aunt Janet a few days before, and part of the event was a champagne reception afterward. Or a bubbly fake champagne reception. I didn't drink any, but Gpappy says it was pretend. No matter-- the fancy glasses are cool!

 Examining the bubbles up close

More bros

We had a FaceTime conversation with the NC cousins on Saturday afternoon, first with ESPD and sickie Vivi, and again later in the day when Hannah joined in. Poor little Vivian was too lethargic to chat. Elisabeth said she perked up on Sunday, but ran out of steam. Earth to Vivi: We hope you're better today. 

Hannah, on the other hand, was big into community service this weekend, volunteering to help clean up the neighborhood. She looks good in an orange vest and worker gloves!

Sadly, I don't have a picture of H and V hugging each other. I'm guessing that didn't happen because of Vivi being sick and Hannah's barf-o-phobia. Maybe next weekend?

Snowmen, silly boys, loose teeth, and bread

I haven't felt much like writing lately, but I do want to post a few pictures so I'll have them at the end of the year when I print this blog into a book. It's always fun to look back and see how much the kiddos have grown and changed in a year.

Vivian and Hannah had REAL snow last week in NC. Enough to build a snowman or two. Looks like a couple of little Olafs made of snow and vegetable parts! Notice that Vivi isn't wearing mittens and Hannah isn't wearing a hat. Northern girls. Thanks for the pic, Elisabeth.

 

Here are some northern boys who were acting goofy together on Saturday. This is the most focused-- or should I say least blurry-- shot I could get. Westy kept making everyone laugh just when I'd get them all in one spot! And, my finger got in the picture. Sigh. They're all pretty dang cute, even when they're out of focus.

A recurring theme among the four oldest cousins is wiggly teeth. E and O appear to be next in line for a tooth fairy visit, and based on Saturday's amateur dental examinations in the sunroom, Owen will be first.

Speaking about holes in things, take a look at these slice of bread from the Mankato Panera store. Yes, I'll name it. I even put the picture on Twitter, aiming it right at Panera. 

I love their bread. I eat a piece of it -- sesame, country, or sourdough-- toasted with pb on it almost every morning for breakfast. I always have an extra loaf in the freezer. I'm a good customer. But one out of a dozen loaves isn't really a loaf. It's a bread TUBE. I have mentioned it more than once or twice when buying bread at Panera, asking the employee to please pass along my concern to the manager. I must be the only customer who mentions it, or even more implausible, the only customer who has ever gotten holy bread there, because the response is always one of surprise.

When I posted on Twitter,  I got a response back fairly quickly from the Panera person in charge of such things, asking for the Panera location so they could check into it. Admittedly, this is the holiest loaf I've ever had, with all but about four slices having a substantial opening. Usually there are at least six. Ha! I don't have any more to say about this holy bread thing, other than I'll continue to post pictures of anything similar I get from Panera in the future. That's about as edgy as I plan to get at my age.