Runner girl

One of our local running stores offers a kids running program on Sunday afternoons at a beautiful local park and we signed up for the session this spring. I had no idea what to expect and have been so thrilled to go each week and see the kids do a warmup, talk about healthy eating and activities, and then participate in low-key races. Dash has been looking strong in the 100 m race each week.  This might be my favorite race to watch because it's the littlest kids, and predictably there are a few super fast ones followed by some toddlers who tend to wander off course before they get to the finish line. Ella started with a 400 m distance but this week did the 800 m and finished it looking strong!  As a bonus, the program had a special Mother's Day 400 m heat this past week which I enjoyed running with my mom (in a skirt and sandals no less), Max on my hip, and Ella out ahead of me (we had to beg her to slow down long enough to cross the finish line with us).  Love this program!

Pool baby

Max finally got to go to the pool with the rest of us today. And to think I was worried about whether he would like it.  He had this expression the entire time ib the water.

Monday walk

Now that it is light later and the weather is warmer, I have been taking the boys on a Monday evening walk while Ella and Josh are at their piano lesson.  I love our neighborhood for walking and love that we have a park and playground so close, but I sometimes wish the commercial areas near(-ish) us were a little closer so we could go get an after dinner treat.  I realized last week, though, that while it's not fancy, we can walk to a gas station with a little ice cream cooler.  So we went on an ice cream walk last week and it was such a hit, we went again last night.  Popsicle and Nutty Buddy?  Yes please!

Max might be a little unhappy that all he got was a pacifier 

when Dash and I got to enjoy delicious gas station treats

Bugs

Girlfriend claims to hate bugs but she gleefully picked up and played with a bunch of canker worms on the playground today.

April Fool's

I don't usually go in for pranks on April Fool's Day but Ella was rather intrigued by the idea so I tried to think of ideas that weren't actually mean but just funny. I finally settled on covering the doorway to Ella and Dash's room with crepe paper while they were asleep so they would have to bust through it in the morning.  Joke was on me, though, since the next morning, they carefully removed only the very bottom row of crepe paper and shimmeyed underneath, leaving their room completely inaccessible to all adults.

Easter Cohens

Three cute bunny-eared kiddos in the yard after dinner.  We even have a few daffodils at the new house.  I think we are all very happy for spring to finally be here!

Welcome home

Amazing how much I can miss my small people even after only 36 hours away (and much of that time included silence and room service in a nice hotel).