Spring Break

The only 'project' we had over spring break was to fill the sandbox underneath the tree house...with enough for an extra little pile.

 

Extra time playing with Daddy.

Wrestling, tickling (tick-a-tick-a-tick-a by Jonah), and Noah being a human bulldozer

Extra time to just lounge around...and listen to Adventures in Odyssey on cassette tape! Christian is quite pleased with himself that he can run the tape player by himself...and loves to listen to the stories.

I got a grocery helper...

and when we pulled into the parking lot, it was snowing....alot!!

Tower building brothers...and a third who is looking to tackle.

Plenty of time spent outdoors.

Christian insisted on wearing this scarf headband to go with me to pick up the bountiful basket (the produce co-op we've been doing for several months now).

Everyone enjoyed the outdoors...chickens included. We've recently added five more chickens to our original "greats"...they are not near as great as ours, but we'll give them a chance (and since they are not near as friendly, we didn't bother naming them).

This one in the picture is either Ardis or Lois...Jonah loves getting close to them and petting them.

The PURPLE FLOWERS!

Christian is convinced that these flowers (aka weeds) are edible, and not only that, but they are DELICIOUS! He has brought Noah into this belief. It is quite hilarious.

It felt so nice to have this time all together...just a little taste of summer. 

It was a good break.

Spring Break [exploration place]

Noah and I came back from Iowa late Monday night.

The next day, since Ben and Christian are on spring break, we went to the Exploration Place. There is much to see and do..I'm glad we recently bought a pass, as its not really something you can do all in one visit.

Christian and I made paper airplanes (he has a small large obsession with making them).

They had a dart board to aim them at. This area had all kinds of airplane information and things to look at.

Another area, they built with these thin wooden pieces. They were "architectural" blocks. Both Noah and Christian enjoyed playing with those...and Ben too.

While Christian and Noah checked out a big version of a water table that they could make different paths for the water to flow through, Jonah enjoyed looking at the turtle.

Ahhh, the wind tunnel. I think it said 70 mph winds...to demonstrate feelings of a tornado.

I really liked how many "hands on" things they have to look at and figure out. Its fun and educational all in one...and yet so fascinating for even adults.

We finished by going to the Coral Reef movie in the dome theater. Jonah was so close to sleeping..yet then was SO not, and he and I roamed around the halls while the other boys finished it.

Iowa [mama & noah trip]

Camille (my cousin) had asked months ago if I would be interested in making a trip to Iowa with her, and her 2 kids. Her husband would be finishing the Hesston College choir tour there and he would ride home with us. Quick connection explanation: Camille & Russell (now live in KS)...sibling to Kyle, who is married to Julie..live in Iowa. Julie's sister, Ranee..was my roommate at HC..and very dear friend, lives just down the road from Kyle & Julie. I haven't seen Ranee since Noah's 1st birthday..and they have added another baby, Ezra since then. 

I ended up just taking Noah with me, and it was a pleasant surprise treating him as an "only child" for the weekend. It was so fun to see him in his own little element.

We had a smooth trip, and arrived mid afternoon on Friday. It was a nice day, and we got to check out the Brokaw's forts. And it was easy to see that Hudson and Noah were going to get along just fine. They are 8 months apart...and it was so entertaining to watch them interact.

That evening we went to an event hosted at the YMCA, that involved a meal, crafts for the kids, a free t-shirt (thanks Ranee!), and playing in the gym. It was a good time.

Saturday, Ranee and I (with all but baby Ezra) went to the Iowa City Children's Museum. Oh, it had some fun little stations and exhibits to play in. The pizza making station was a hit.

Tessa and Noah were taking orders and preparing the pizza AND drink choice.

The airplane room...

awesome aviator googles and jacket. And that pingpong ball was floating in the air!

 Luke was showing them how to fly the plane.

Hudson was the doctor in the ambulance, Noah was the patient. And all the kids were very busy checking out in the grocery store.

Just so much to look at and play with! A few other families thought it was a good day to visit the museum as well. We finished our outing by eating at Chic-fil-a in the mall. 

 It was pretty rainy and cool, so the rest of the afternoon was spent inside building with Legos and watching a couple shows.

 

And this is baby Ezra with his mama...he is quite a happy, smiley guy.

At about 8:00 an executive decision was made to go to get icecream and whooo--eee, it was a lot of icecream and it was tasty.

Good times...

Sunday morning we went to church..and Ranee's parents came over for lunch...I enjoy visiting with them.

These two...aren't they just too cute?!?

Sunday afternoon, I went with Ranee and Tessa to a recital for one of the senior's at the school Ranee teaches. I enjoyed listening, piano, violin and singing. And they had homemade raspberry icecream afterwards...it was VERY good.

That evening, we went over to Kyle and Julie's for supper. I told Kyle it would really just make my visit complete if I could see a baby calf be born. We were discussing labor and delivery, both the cow and human kinds. Following supper, he took Noah over to see the animals at the farm...and called shortly after leaving to tell me a calf was going to be born!!!! Oh man, I was pretty excited about that. This was the little calf right after delivery...nice and toasty out of its mama!

In our labor and delivery world, this would be the hour of skin-to-skin that is "baby friendly". Cows have their own version..licking them off and giving them their kick start. The bond between and mama and baby is just something special.

There's the calf delivery doctor for the evening....

thanks Kyle for the experience of watching!! You really pulled through to make the weekend complete.

The kids in their matching jammies from Ranee...

and how crazy is it that Hudson and Noah sleep with the same dog stuffed animal. So funny.

Monday morning, we were treated to homemade donuts in Kalona. Then, we stopped by Justin's parents business JK Creative. I like to look at all the different things they make and sell. We ate lunch at their house, and then headed home to get ready to leave.

Thanks for letting us visit, Ranee and family!! I am glad we could come and see, and play, and just hang out in person. I wish it was a little closer so we could do this more often!