Spring Break 2013

Our spring break flew by this year. The first part of break was filled with all house projects. Our upstairs carpet was torn out (thanks Matt and Scott for helping Ryan), Ryan and I painted Grady's room and all of the trim upstairs and then the new carpet was installed. Whew! It was a lot of work...but so worth it. The upstairs definitely needed some love and it is looking much better now. Thank you to my parents for helping with the kids while I went back and forth to help Ryan.

But after the projects were over, we did get to have some fun.  The kids and I had a visit with my college girlfriends and then Ryan and I were off for an overnight trip with the kids.  The kids had a blast at an indoor amusement park/arcade and train restaurant.  We have been many times before and it did not disappoint once again!

 

 Grady is basketball obsessed.  We hear a lot of "ba-ball, ba-ball, ba-ball."  It is pretty cute and Ryan is a bit excited to have a sports buddy.

 

Layla rode this ride at least five times. 

Happy dance!

Grady loved the train restaurant.  This video will give you an idea where Grady is on his "talking."  We know Grady has a ton to say and he is just trying to figure out how to get it out.  I know a few speech therapists read this blog and rest assured...he has been evaluated for speech therapy :)  I am a huge believer in early intervention and a plan has been set in place for Mr. Grady, but no therapy is needed at this time.  We are hoping his expressive language will soon catch up to his receptive language! 

Next up, we headed to our hotel.  We went for the cheap-o hotel this time to save some money.  We stayed at this place about seven years ago.  Whew, a rough seven years for the resort!  But the kids loved it and Layla actually wanted to go back for her birthday.  I love that they don't have a clue about that stuff yet!  But Ryan and I thought maybe we would skip this place next time ;)

The next day we made a stop at Build-a-Bear.  A great place for both ages!  We found coupons at the hotel and the kids had a blast. Grady made a basketball dog, but I do not have a picture of the final product.  It is very cute too!

Meet Hearty Valley Pinky...named by Lay :)  She found her in the bottom of a bin, leftover from Valentine's Day.

And there it is....Spring Break 2013! 

Easter 2013

We had a nice Easter week this year.  You will find way too many pictures are below.  

I tried to narrow them down...so this is the narrowed down version :) 

This was an egg hunt and meet the bunny in our hometown.  There was also a little carnival afterwards.  I think we might make this a tradition, we really loved it!  Layla loves a good bunny (although she will tell you it is just a person dressed up in a costume) and Grady kept pointing the opposite direction.  He liked watching from a distance this year.

We love our miniature train!  They have a one day only Easter train every year.

 

Easter baskets.  The sippy cups were the big hit this year.  Toothbrushes were a hit at Valentine's Day and now sippy cups.  I think both got a squeal out of Grady, too funny.

 

We dyed quite a few eggs this year.  My parents came to help with the first round.  My dad showed the kids how to dye the eggs half and half.  Grady was one enthusiastic egg dipper!  Layla dyed and decorated most of the eggs and ate a lot of hard boiled eggs (hold the yolk, please).

 

Layla loves a chocolate bunny.  If you ask her what she would like in her Easter basket, 

this is always the answer!

Hunting for eggs!

 

 Cousin fun!

 

 

 

Ryan's mom always plans fun Easter games.  This year she was just two weeks out from foot surgery and still planned the games and prizes.  The kids love it.  Poor Verlyn ended up with the "pluck a duck" water on his lap.  Grady is also an overly enthusiastic "pluck a duck" player :)

 

Happy Easter!  We hope you enjoyed your weekend! 

Spring?

I was really doing fine and enjoying winter. 

Until the time change and the daylight after dinner.  And until the kids got the stomach flu a couple times. And then spring technically arrived and patches of snow still sit on the ground....and now I am more than ready for the sickness to lift, lighter coats, shoes without socks and time outside! 

We have been stuck inside a lot.  We have been trying to abide by the 24 hour "symptom free" rule after each bout of sickness and it is just too cold to play in our backyard.  We have been trying to make the most of our time inside.    But don't get me wrong, the t.v. has been on too much.  Grady will finally sit and watch a little cartoon.  He likes to be held the entire time, but it does come in mighty handy when you want to contain vomit to one area.  Too much information?  Sorry :)

Just in case you are cooped up inside with little kids too, here is what we have been doing lately while we have been getting healthy in between Disney Jr. episodes!

Lots and lots of painting!  Painting with shaving cream is fun too.

Our little Layla went to kindergarten registration this week.  We were somewhat on the fence about sending her to kindergarten with her summer birthday but the preschool teacher felt she was ready for the big school.  I cannot believe it is almost here.  Layla did great at registration and after we left she told me we needed a notebook, pencils and new clothes to get her ready for kindergarten!  Sounds like her mom...supplies and clothes!

Playdough.  Both kids are in a big playdough kick right now.  

Moon dough is also very fun.  It is messy but worth the mess.

Water play.  Grady likes two bowls filled with water, floating objects and a spoon.  This keeps him occupied for ten to fifteen minutes, which is great.  Layla likes her water play a bit more involved.  Lily pads (foam), frogs and water in a bin make for a good hour or two of fun for Lay (thanks, Pinterest!).  They both like to fish for letters but Grady is a bit aggressive with the fishing pole.  Not a great fishing partner quite yet!

 

Gotta love free play :) 

Hope you have a healthy and warm weekend!!

In Like a Lion

 

We were hoping for a bit more winter to play in the snow!  I am not quite getting the spring itch yet.  That normally happens after we get a taste of nice weather or head home from a warm vacation.  

No sign of either here :)  So enjoying a bit more winter it is!