Palouse Falls

Today we headed West to Palouse Falls with our friend Dawn Skinner & her little boys Kai & Niko. It was a beautiful, sun-shiny day and it felt great to be out and about. Dawn is a wonderful photographer and took a ton of pictures (even though she had Kai on her back and Niko on her front...and a large dog on a leash) so I only took - 2.

Babies on a blanket. (Mae is laying off to the left. The sun was bothering her so she flopped over to shade herself.)



The falls in all its spring glory.



And a birthday party shot that I somehow missed yesterday. How do you miss this cute face?!

Best. Birthday. Ever.

Was Etta's quote yesterday. All in all it was a very fun day.

First we went to the fire station for a tour.



She got to "drive" the fire engine.



Spray the hose to put out the fire.



And hang with some really fun firefighters.



Instead of a cake I went with layered Jello. Tasty!



And a picture with Great Grandma Barb and Great Grandpa Lynn. The tradition continues as we got a pic when Etta turned one and two.

Kai & Niko

Kai & Niko came over to play this morning. A good time was had by all!

Niko & Mae - hangin' on the mat. Until Niko remembered he could crawl away. And left Mae very confused.



Etta & Kai - tea party and squishy oven mitts. Fun times for two-year olds. And they actually *played*. Etta doesn't do that much with other kids her own age...

Day Forty-Six(?)

Does Easter Sunday count as part of Lent? Oh well, I'm having so much fun doing my daily posts now I am actually kind of dreading going back to "regular life". Maybe I'll be able to keep it up.

Today was a big day. The Easter Bunny visited our house - twice! Once when Bob & Etta were walking the little dogs and once while I wasn't paying attention. We have a special person in our neighborhood who remembers the girls on special days. We think we know who it is, but it really keeps the magic alive.

And later we went up to Grandma Cathy's & Baba Steve's. The Easter Bunny visited there too! 56 eggs for one lucky little girl. Next year may be a bit different when she has to share with sister...

Starting out with Grandma Cathy. Enlarge the photo and take note of her excellent outfit. Running shoes and socks, capri pants, a long shirt - NOT a dress!! - Thomas coat and red "Bobcat" hat. She is starting to be very ... sure ... of what she wants to wear. But as long as she is clothed I guess I'm okay with it.



She really started getting in to it and needed very little help.



I had to get a picture of Mae in her "Easter" dress. As you can see from the pictures - I don't go much for "traditional" holiday wear. They are cute as can be, are clean and are loved. It doesn't get much better than that!

Day Forty-Five

Cute Mae and some cute tulips in the backyard. Bob got this shot.



This is what happens to you after you:
Walk the dogs.
Do a 2.9 mile fun run.
Go on a jet boat ride after said fun run.
Go to the Idaho-Washington Symphony kids concert.
Go to Art Under the Elms and jump in the bouncy train with Rachel and Jackie.
Come home and not nap.
Go back to Art Under the Elms and do some shopping (which included picking out a wooden helicopter for her birthday.)
Do the bouncy train one more time by yourself.
Eat a hotdog and then run and run and run because it's fun.
You fall asleep on the way home and when it is time to get out of the stroller say, "No, no. I just want to lay right here".



I would have to say that today was an example of a perfect day. It just doesn't get much better than this. Thanks be to God for sending his Son. Happy Easter everyone.

Day Forty-Four

Etta: Mommy, you get the cars and play with Mae. I'll color.



Guess who can't stand when sister is playing with anything remotely fun...or not...

Day Forty-Four

Today we had a play group Easter Egg Hunt at Hereth Park. I brought Jackie & Rachel along to help us (well, me) out. They did help hide all of the eggs, which I think that the two dads there appreciated. The moms took all the kids "over there" while they hid the eggs.

Searching for eggs. She got all the ones around the outside of the play area.



All the girls with the spoils.



Etta coming down the BIG slide for the very first time. I was expecting her to come down with Jackie and then all of a sudden she came flying into sight. She then proceeded to go down about fifty times!



Mae & Easton. A bit different from two months ago.



And our new friend Kai. I think that we are going to have fun with him!



Those crazy girls!



After dinner we dyed eggs.



Etta found it easier to use her hands instead of spoons!

Day Forty-Three

Aka: Bob's 31st birthday!

It was one of "those" days. Not bad, but just hectic enough that I wasn't able to take the pictures that I wanted to, and thought I could, get. But just before bed we had some fun.

Etta loved it, Mae got into it and Bob loves to see his girls smile and listen to them laugh.

Day Forty-Two

Showing off the Busy Bee that she helped daddy make at story time.



[Note: She would only pose for the picture when we said that I would put it on the blog so Debbie at Grandma Cynthia's library could see it. Have a great trip to Pocatello and Happy Birthday Dr. Stacie!!]

Day Forty-One

Soon after we got home from the gym today Etta said, "I need to take a break". She then spent most of the rest of the day on the couch like this:



Except for a bit when daddy got home. Both girls were very excited. And matchy-matchy.



Surprisingly enough Etta likes for them to wear matching clothes. And as you can see, Mae seems to like it too.



And that is one very proud daddy of his little sweet hearts.

Day Forty

An updated family pic.



Taking the bikes out. For real. Not just on our block. Etta did really well.

Day Thirty-Nine

We went to Shopko yesterday and got Etta her own swimming pool flip flops. She's ready for summer!

[Note: There is no rear strap. She had to wear them out of the store. It was bringing smiles to many customers with her teeny-tiny shuffle steps out the door and across the parking lot.]

Day Thirty-Eight

Dear Uncle Eek,

Thank you for the sweet Bobcat gear. We were stylin' girls today. And we had on pink shirts just for you.

Love,
Etta & Mae

Day Thirty-Seven

Etta playing her first hand held video game. And doing it right. I am so...proud?



And it was dinner and movie night with The Girls. We had chicken fettuccine alfredo, home made french bread and home grown and canned carrots for dinner. "Despicable Me" and popcorn and lemonade for later. Can life get much butter? I mean, better?



[Etta was SO excited for the girls to come over for dinner and a movie. They come over every week for lessons, but these nights are just different. She has been asking every day about ten times a day if "the girls are coming today?" And she hasn't taken an afternoon nap all week. Until today when we got home and I said, "If you don't take a nap then you can't stay up and watch the movie because you will be too tired". She didn't peep and slept for two hours. Maybe I should have them over every day!]

Day Thirty-Six

A post you've all been waiting for. All Mae.

Enjoying sweet potatoes. (After two days of gagging and choking...)



Into jammies that sister wore.

Day Thirty-Five

It's bike season!

Coming...



...and going. Etta can actually get herself started this year and can just go and go and go. Our next door neighbor has a perfect "turn around" in front of her house connected to the sidewalk. And Etta can negotiate it on her own. She is so proud of what she can do. And I am proud of her too!



And you can never get 'em started on science to early.



[Thanks again for the bike Aunt Molly & Uncle Jim!!]

Day Thirty-Four

A hand-me-down shirt from Aunt Molly. The perfect size for a night gown.



And the perfect description.



[And no, I'm not talking Sarah Palin Maverick. More "I'm-almost-three" Maverick.

Day Thirty-Three

After a family walk Etta decided her Baby Etta needed to go for a stroll.