First really beautiful weekend of the year!

Yesterday, once again, we made pancakes.

Madeline decided to try a daredevil routine on the stairs as Oliver looked on admiringly.

We went to the farmers market and, from there, met up with Sarah, Alexis, Holden, and Petra, as well as Madeline and Holden's classmate Skylar.  The kids collected pinecones and otherwise played happily while the babies enjoyed the nice weather.

Afterward, back at home, we spent most of the rest of the day outside too.  Oliver seemed confused by the nice weather.

Madeline admired the bugs and worms -- this worm in particular.

I figured we might actually get in some tricycle riding if I just took the trike out of the shed without saying anything about it.  Sure enough...

(And she even managed not to run over Oliver!)  After Madeline was done with the tricycle, we inflated her basketball and tried to inflate my old football, which unfortunately seems to have a leak.

Then Oliver enjoyed the basketball, while Madeline moved her bug chair into her "house" in the hedge and carried on in the dirt there.

Then today, we decided to go to the beach.  On the drive to south county, Oliver napped while Madeline rested and adorably held his hand.

Once we got to East Beach in Charlestown, our first order of business was a picnic lunch.

Then came other typical beach activities: hunting for rocks and shells ...

... and dried seaweed ...

... getting wet sand to build sand castles ...

... building, decorating, and destroying sand castles ...

... and playing with giant, brightly colored shovels.

Oliver loved the beach.

Especially once the weather warmed up.

Madeline did too.

And despite the clouds, it really was a lovely day.

The beach tuckered the kiddos out.

But after ice cream ...

... it was back to business as usual.