Sunday, April 29, 2012

Picture Explosion

Seth's favorite thing in the world (besides cars), is going to "the pumps"--places with bouncy playplaces.
We usually go during the winter when we can't play outside, but this winter was so nice that we never went.
So when Jon's car was up for emissions, we realized the pumps are right next to the emissions place.
And off we went.

So excited that he couldn't even hold still for a picture

Up the slide

Last time we were here Catherine was tiny, tiny.  This time she fully enjoyed her time at the pumps.
Throwing balls with Daddy

She takes her ball-holding very seriously

Seth, taking a short breather

Daddy & Princess

By chance, we ran into some friends from the ward who also came to play.
Seth was thrilled to have kids to run around with him.
Not sure how he felt about being tackled by a wild Brynn, but he handled it okay...

Of course, our favorite part was torturing our tiny daughter:
That's right--we sent her down the slide by herself.
Several times.

She actually seemed okay with the whole thing, but this was definitely her preferred method: 
Look at that smile!

Saturday we were planning on going to the temple.
We had a babysitter lined up and everything.
But then Catherine came down with this weird high fever.  No other symptoms, just hot & tired.
She still wasn't 100% at bedtime on Friday, so we decided to call it off.
Of course, she woke up and was perfectly fine.
So we took the day to play!


Guess who can swing all by herself?
Our little daredevil! 

We wanted to do something different and fun, so we headed to the local duck pond with a package of freezer-burnt hamburger buns.

Guess who was the most popular boy at the pond?

Of course, it didn't take long for things to start getting a little too close for comfort: 
"Feed me, please?"

We hastily retreated to one of the small piers and barricaded ourselves in with our double stroller.
Luckily the hoards of geese seemed content to head back into the water for their bread.

Two babies on the pier:
And yes, Seth dressed himself.
Lately every article of clothing (underwear included) is on backwards.

It was a bit difficult to convince Catherine to throw the bread instead of eating it.

Jon helping her 'throw' the bread

Seth and his adoring fans

Two happy kids

This picture does not do justice to the sheer masses of geese at this pond.

"Here, goosey, goosey, goosey!"


Catherine admiring the "woof"s.  All animals are currently "woof"s.

As we were leaving, we saw these three little goslings.  So cute!

"Who needs a stroller when you have a Daddy?"

From the duck pond we headed to the Giraffe Park to let the kids run around.

Here is Catherine, not going down the slide, despite Jon's best coaxing.  
You think perhaps she doesn't trust us around slides anymore? 

When we arrived at the park, Jon tried to tell Seth he couldn't play in the sandbox.
Considering that's where he spends 98% of his time when we're there, I knew that wasn't going to fly.
And here he is, happily constructing a duck pond in the sandbox,
where he remained until we dragged him out to go home.

Catherine, on a smaller slide.
Still not going down. 

She did, however, very much enjoy her game of peek-a-boo with Daddy: 

Love this little bug.

It was a lovely day.
One of the rare days we've had to just hang out.
And looking at our calendar for the next couple of months, 
I'd better enjoy these pictures because it won't be happening again anytime soon!

Sometimes, We're Cool Parents

Like when we take our kids to the library/sports day/park/pond and just let them play:

This picture makes Seth's soccer skills seem much better than they really are.
And Jon has already berated me for letting him go barefoot on the wooden boardwalk.

Catherine with her beloved ball

Seth checking out the turtles and fish

Five turtles on a stick

As we were driving past the local Catholic church on our way home from our church, I noticed they were advertising for a "Touch-a-Truck" day on Saturday.  We had nothing better to do (and it only cost $5), so off we went!

Seth wasn't as excited as I expected, probably because many of the trucks were idling (why?) and were pretty loud.

Seth in a Haz-Mat truck

Running up and down the bed of a tow truck.
This was his and Catherine's favorite activity at the event,
much to the dismay of the slightly obese man in charge of chasing the kids up & down the ramp.


Inside the "monster truck jeeps", as he called them.
He circled these things three times before he got up the courage to get inside.

Inside a big rig

Catherine's content to chill with her craisins and Cheerios

Easter

One time, I tried to take pictures of our kids in their Easter outfits.
Maybe if I'd tried before church they'd have been more cooperative.
Instead, I got this:

And this: 
(not too, bad, but I forgot to remove Catherine's pacifier)

Oh, and this: 
And that's seriously the best one.
Whatever.

In other news, Catherine is adorable: 

And, because I'm an awesome mom who forgot to decorate eggs on Easter, we did it for FHE the next day:

Seth was very serious about his job.
And those Q-tips filled with dye are genius, I tell you.  Genius!

Of course, by the end he was dabbing each egg rapidly with a few dots just so he could be done.
Then he wanted to eat them all.  
Apparently I'm raising a boy.  Who'd a thunk?

Bunny Day

We do Easter baskets/eggs on Saturday instead of Sunday to leave Sunday for the more spiritual (read: real) part of Easter.  I have a friend who does the same thing and calls it "Bunny Day".

Thanks, Kellie!  I'm stealing your name!  

Easter baskets waiting 
My mom sent Catherine's--it's nice and frilly and says "Princess" across the front.
Perfect.


Seth didn't even make it to the Easter baskets before he got distracted by the eggs that we'd hidden.

Catherine, holding her Easter ball.
This girl LOVES her balls!

Finally made it to the baskets.

Despite what it looks like in this picture, he was ecstatic about the cars.
"Look, Mommy!  CARS!!!"
How he can still be so thrilled by something he has literally hundreds of is beyond me...

Catherine checking out her loot.

Found her Reese's bunny

Getting a small sample from Daddy

She was most displeased when Jon attempted to put the bunny away for later.
Needless to say, the Princess got her bunny.

She also got her egg full of fruit snacks, which was almost as good as the bunny.

Seth, playing with the blocks from Grandma "Easter Bunny" Cathy.

Happy Bunny Day!