Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

This weekend we ventured out to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival with some good friends. Despite it being rather hot and crowded, I had a wonderful time! There was lots of yarn shopping, and I came home with a few skeins of some wonderful stuff. There was also plenty of lamb to eat (strange, I think) and we enjoyed some barbecue lamb ribs that were awesome. The kids like seeing the animals, and watching the experts shear the sheep.

These alpacas were adorable. They are so small and sweet looking, and make cute sounds. I also happen to be a big fan of alpaca yarn.

These alpacas had their fur shaved, and their hairdos match Amelia's!

We all loved checking out the different sheep breeds. This is a heritage breed whose long hair on their faces looks like dreadlocks.

While I was yarn shopping, Mike bought the kids corndogs. Corndogs!? They loved them. Gross.

Colin thought the rams were really cool.

I'm Obsessed...

...with freezer paper stenciling! No, I haven't cleaned up anything, mopped, or cooked much this week, but I have cranked out a bunch of new t-shirts! Freezer paper stenciling is really fun and easy, and here are some of the fruits of my labors.

Colin specifically requested an orange dinosaur.

Amelia channeling a dragonfly.

Dogwood flowers inspired by our front yard.

This one is for Mike. I didn't realize I was using paint with glitter in it. Mike's a saint and says he'll wear it anyway. Maybe a couple of washes will get rid of the glitter!

Tulips

This definitely isn't our best photo, but it was the best I could get on our last trip to Longwood. They had over 200,000 tulips! They were glorious, and I think we'll have to make the pilgrimage every year.

Easter Pics

Here are some photos from Easter. The kids woke up one at a time and found their baskets waiting for them on the stairs.

Amelia checking out the clip on earrings she got in her basket.

Colin woke up last, and Jack wanted to be the one to give him his basket.

Decorating eggs with a wonderful kit that Grandma Debi sent us.

Spring Break

We wanted to end the kids' spring break with a bang, so we planned to head to Boston last weekend, then we changed our plans to a day trip to DC for the cherry blossoms (a little more accessible) but when we heard that there would be 2-3 million people there we downgraded yet again to just a day at Longwood Gardens. Despite the disappointment, it was really lovely and we had a wonderful time.

Spring has been wondrous this year! With the help of a good friend, I planted my first bulbs last fall and have been rewarded with some gorgeous hyacinths. The magnolia trees have been blooming, and make every trip outside exciting! Here is a photo of a nice specimen and Longwood. The kids love to play in the petals on the ground.

Happy Easter!

Happy April Fools' Day

We had a very busy and fun day today! Chanticleer opened for the season, and we had a wonderful time being out in the sunshine. When we came home, I waxed the car (it was my way of avoiding the mess in the kitchen) while the kids played in the mud. After that, a bath was in order and the kids really got a kick out of putting on mismatched jammies. They crack themselves up!

I didn't get any good photos at Chanticleer, but at least I a caught a jump in midair!

New Playhouse

For the kids' birthdays this year Mom got them all a new playhouse for the backyard. Their birthdays aren't until later this summer, but the most beautiful playhouse came to Costco last month, and we couldn't resist it! Last Sunday I decided that I would build the playhouse (without manly assistance), and I figured it would take a little while so I started nice and early at around 1:00 in the afternoon. At 7:00pm I was dirty, my hands ached from the dumb little allen wrench (It came in the box and you have to use it to screw in everything. No cushy screw drivers here.) but the playhouse was complete! I am very proud of myself, but irritated because a project that time consuming should have a warning label that says something about Ikea on the box.

Jack found some rocks to decorate the playhouse with.

Colin is an enthusiastic flower picker, and filled his bucket with more playhouse decorations.

Lounging on the porch.

Grilled flowers for the housewarming party.

Band-Aids

Jack is super accident prone right now. We've been playing outside a lot and he loves it, but the uneven terrain, his lack of balance, and his melon head are making the outdoors very dangerous for Jack!

LepreColin

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Franklin Institute

Saturday we went to the Franklin Institute, a science museum for kids in Philly. It was really fun, and a nice way to end Mike's Spring Break. The kids' favorite things were seeing the room with planes and a big steam train. I think Dad has rubbed off on them!

Here's Amelia posing in front of a display about the most famous Amelia in America. She was impressed!

Jack checking out a display about orbits. Shortly after this was taken, he grabbed one of the little white balls used in the exhibit and popped it in his mouth. Mike turned totally green when he saw what Jack had in his mouth, because a large group of grubby Cub Scouts has just come through, and I'm sure they all had touched that ball.

Colin in the cockpit. Unfortunately the Cub Scouts beat us to the plane, too, and the one who sat on this seat before Colin had his pants hanging down below his rear and he had no underwear on! No underwear!? Who sends their child off to the museum without undies?

Welcome Spring!

Lauren asked for a photo of snowdrops, so here you go, sis! Whenever I see these flowers popping up (and they're all over our yard now) I think of the song from Carousel. "Spring is bustin' out all over..."

Happy 29!

Monday was Mike's 29th birthday! We celebrated with dinner, cake, and a special ebelskiver breakfast. Here he is getting ready to blow out the candles. 29 candles generate a lot of smoke!

Colin and Amelia have turned into crazy plate lickers. Colin became practically feral when Mike tried to take the plate away.

That's One Big Baby

Mike came downstairs last Saturday morning to find this- Amelia holding Jack on her lap while they watched cartoons. He looks like he's having the time of his life. This photo really illustrates to me that Jack is no longer a baby. I guess he's a kid now. The photo also proves that Mike had recently changed his diaper. He hates doing snaps.

Another Grandma Susu Visit

My Mom came for another visit last week, and we had so much fun! This time around we went to the Philadelphia Flower Show, which was spectacular. It was like Disneyland for flower lovers. Mom bought me two fabulous rose bushes, which I'm excited to try to keep alive this spring. If all goes well, I'll have lovely pink and orange English roses in my front yard. We also made it to Longwood gardens to see the Orchid Extravaganza, and did plenty of shopping. Jack loved Mom this time, and was still asking for her long after she left. I'm so glad you came, Mom!