Beginning of June, PVDFest!

Ah, June.

Even as he gets bigger and more complicated, Oliver remains very jolly.

Our garden is growing.

The kiddos love to help water the plot.

This afternoon, we did something very special.  From our house, we took a bus ...

... into the city for PVDFest!

We saw a parade with a marching band, dancers, and drummers!  Madeline high-fived the tentacle of a passing Big Nazo creature.

We sampled root beer floats from the famous Haven Brothers diner.

We saw dinosaurs roam the city.

(Oliver was delighted by the dinosaurs.)

We ate a food-truck dinner on the base of a statue while the dinosaurs prowled around us, and Madeline sported her fabulous mask.

Then she participated in Fairy Tale Theater before listening to some of the Girls Rock RI showcase.

By the time we found ourselves waiting for the bus home, we were exhausted.

End of May, visit from Great Uncle Marc

Now that the weather's nice, the kids love hunting for and tending to bugs.

And Oliver is always asking to turn the compost.

Madeline had field day at her school and, as you can see in the action shot below, excelled at the jewel hunt.

On the Saturday morning of Memorial Day weekend, we tended to our garden plot.

And then Great Uncle Marc came to visit!  He brought gifts: a keyboard for Oliver and this cat painting for Madeline, painted by her great grandmother Alice.

We went on a hike at Long Pond.  Madeline found this millipede.

Great Uncle Marc helped the kids look for -- and find! -- more bugs.

Then back at home, he read to Madeline about other creepy-crawly creatures.

Meanwhile, Oliver rocked out.

One of Great Uncle Marc's objectives in visiting us was to watch Frozen.  He accomplished this goal on a rainy Memorial Day.

Then cooped-up Oliver decided to shed his clothes and wear only a smock.

Madeline took advantage of the rainy weather to draw, which is what she wants to do most of the time these days.

Eventually the weather cleared and we went for a walk around the neighborhood.

Then in the evening, Great Uncle Marc read to the kids.

On Tuesday morning, Great Uncle Marc took off early to make the long drive to Bethesda.  On Tuesday afternoon, the kiddos had swimming lessons.  We're technically not supposed to take pictures of the lessons, but I snuck one anyway.

And after swimming lessons, we went to Madeline's school (which Oliver will also be attending next year) for a welcome dinner for new students.  Madeline made this fabulous mask.