Mid-May Excursions & Memorial Weekend Visit

The Saturday before last, we went to the 23rd Annual Rare and Unusual Plant Sale at Southside Community Land Trust (our 9th annual visit!).  Neither kid really cooperated, which made the experience difficult, but at least Oliver enjoyed the chickens.

Later that day was the Gordon School carnival, which both kiddos enjoyed.  Madeline liked the food best ...

... while Oliver enjoyed the bunnies.

The next day was Holden's birthday party.  Madeline made her a card with two unicorns.

It was also Oliver's 21-month birthday.

As a big almost-two-year-old, Oliver continues to enjoy books ...

... a lot!

Over Memorial Day weekend, Anna and Neal and Mira came to visit!

On Saturday, we went to the zoo and the kiddos fed the goats.

There was a family of geese roaming the zoo with us.  Given the goslings' penchant for roaming, we were surprised not to see the goose-parents attack any children.

On Sunday, we took a picnic lunch to Colt State Park.

The kiddos played very nicely together.  Here you can see them chasing a groundhog!

And here's Oliver and Mira throwing rocks into the water ...

... while Madeline did her own thing.

The kiddos also played nicely together at our house, complete with ferocious roars ...

... and bulkhead sliding.

(Oliver paused in his playing to check the library.)

Then, just before it was time for our guests to head home, we lined the kiddos up for one last adorable shot.

May

Wow, I got behind on posts!  This happened from three to two weeks ago:

Unfortunately I can no longer remember what all is represented here, but there's definitely the sun and sky, a lawn with dandelions, and a bear with buttons.

Here's our Mother's Day!  We got flowers ...

... and Allie's donuts, with a kid-decorated box ...

... and then we went to Colt, where the kiddos built another fairy house together.

Stay tuned for posts on the week before last and last week ...

Sick and better again, with lots of art

Madeline remained sick and stayed home from school last Tuesday and Wednesday too.

Once she was back to retaining her bodily fluids, she got nice and clean.  The evening air was warm and humid enough that her hair curled up.

Full recovery also meant a full return to Madeline's passion: art.

And Oliver loves to color, just like his sister.

Madeline loves to show off her finished masterpieces.

Oliver has developed the patience to finish some masterpieces of his own.

Madeline also likes helping to take care of our community garden plot.  (Well, sometimes, at least.  Sometimes she prefers to play on the playground next door.)  Our carrots and greens are beginning to sprout!

And she likes Petey.

It's been so refreshing seeing the world turn green.  The kiddos love being outside.

Here's another Madeline masterpiece.  The person on the left is Summer, wearing a diving suit and helmet.  The pink tentacled creature to the right is a large octopus.

And here's a box structure Oliver enjoyed playing with.

On Sunday, we went down to Connecticut to visit with Lauren, Dan, Emily, and (Oliver's favorite) Maggie the dog.

Then Sunday night the kids wore matching shirts for pajamas and were adorable.

(They usually are.)