A nice day in May

One very nice day in May, we decided to walk down to Tivoli Island with the kids. This was our first trek using only baby carriers and no strollers.
It was a great experience. The kids got to see a few ducks, walk the trails on the island and see a nearby dam.
We bought a loaf of cheap white bread to feed the ducks. It turned out that these ducks must have been fed by many other people prior to our visit. Only 2 or 3 ducks nibbled at our bread.

Ursula loved crossing the bridge. She did it several times.

Nicer Weather

Maverick says that it's so nice out, he just might sing!

Uh oh....are there tears coming?

So close, you can almost smell the food on his face.

I'm experimenting with taking close up photos.

Harvey! Show us your belly button!

Rowan is spinning around.

Happy Dad got the slide out of the garage.

Now I'm experimenting with jumping pictures.

Jump Harvey!

Throwing the red ball.

Daddy's new gate - he built it himself!

Jelly Belly Day

Tuesday, March 30th

Grandma and Grandpa Allord took all the grandkids on a tour of the Jelly Belly facility. We started our day with lunch at The Chancery restaurant in Kenosha. The kids were measured because the cost of their lunch was their height. Rowan's meal was 43 cents and Harvey's meal was 36 cents.

Ursula didn't need to be measured.
She just nibbled off of other kids' plates.

Here we are in the tram that drove us around the warehouse. Everyone was given a paper hat to wear.

Here are all the grandkids next to a Jelly Belly VW Beetle. It was an actual working car that was just parked up by the gift shop door.

It was a fun trip and the kids all got a special treat from the gift shop afterward. Too bad part of Harvey's special treat was getting lost and meandering outside alone....scaring his mother half to death.

Thanks so much for the fun trip Grandma and Grandpa!

Happy Birthday Little Bear!

Happy 1st Birthday!
A year ago today, you came into our lives in the most amazing way. Just by being born you have transformed me. Every day I thank God for blessing us
with the gift that is you.

In one fast year, you have achieved so many milestones. Every day I am amazed at your abilities, your heart, your determination, and your sweetness.

I look forward to each day....to watch you grow and to give you hugs and kisses all along the way.

Ready to eat!

A little help to blow out the candle....

"mmmm...my very first cake!"

Not too messy, but just messy enough!

"Ooh, I got some new shoes and a necklace!"

"Don't even think about touching my new xylophone, mister."

A pretty new hat and girl scout cookies!

I bet I can ride this thing with my eyes closed!

"Yay! A fun activity table!"

Delavan Train Show

On Saturday, Andy took Harvey to Delavan to see a model train show. It was just a boys trip. The girls and I stayed home, relaxed and made some fun snacks.
Andy said that Harvey very much enjoyed his time with the trains.
He said that he never smiled and looked thrilled, but rather he looked very focused and interested in the trains.

They had models of all different sizes.

On this set, you could push a button and make some of the characters move.

At this table, he seemed very interested in operating the "Polar Express" train. At first he threw the switch back and forth, stop and go. But soon he figured out how to slowly push the throttle and make the train move precisely.
This control box also had buttons that made the train blow it's whistle or ring its bell.

He stayed at the train show for an hour and a half. The building had two floors of models and he kept going from floor to floor. He really did not want to leave. The only way that Andy got him to leave was telling him it was time for lunch.
When lunch was over, he wanted to go right back to see the trains.
Well, that didn't happen. They had to make the hour + trip back home.
He looked so pooped out when they came in the back door.

I'm glad he was able to spend some time with his Dad. He really loves trains and maybe someday he can get his own model train set. We'll see. I hear they can sometimes be expensive.

Visiting Grandparents in Janesville

Last Tuesday, Andy had to go into the office down in Schaumburg, IL. I didn't want to spend two whole days alone with the kids, so my folks were kind enough to let us stay the night with them.
It is always nice to have an extra hand to help hold a baby, or wipe up a spill, or change a diaper. And the kids always love going to their grandparents' houses.Ursula is really interested in how to make music at the piano.

Of all the kids, I think Ursula has the longest attention span at the piano (right now at least).

It was cute how she let her tongue hang out. I think I've seen this expression on my family members before...hmm...

The kids had a great time playing on the blow-up bed in the guest room. Rowan and Harvey slept on that next to my bed. Ursula slept in the pack n play. She only woke once in the middle of the night. And that was great since she hasn't slept in a pack n play in a very long time.

Lunging for Rowan!

Almost got her!

Here she is about to give Grandpa a "five".

Guess who this is....
According to the artist (Rowan), it is Andy!

They kids were happy to finally get outside to play and draw with chalk. The weather hasn't been so great and we've been in doors so much this winter.

Check out Ursula's face if you can zoom in by clicking the above pic.

She loves being out and about with her siblings.