May

We decided to begin May with exploration, and drove across Michigan to Grand Rapids and Holland.

First stop, The Grand Rapids Children's Museum.

Strolling in the city.

This was taken in honor or Anthony's brother McKay, who came home from his mission this month!

We made our way across this bridge while playing tag, when we realized that we probably photo bombed about a dozen kids' prom pictures.

The next morning we drove to Holland, MI.  The boys spent some of their birthday money from Grandma and Grandpa Ellsworth on pirate swords and maps for the trip.  I was kind of hoping they'd choose something more appropriate for long car rides, but it turns out they were the perfect choice for treasure hunting at the beach.  

Breakfast at de Boer's.  So scrumptious.  This place was packed, so instead of waiting an hour to be seated, we ordered some goodies at the bakery and ate outside.

Being there for the Holland Tulip Festival meant there were lots of fun things going on in town, including opportunities to hang out on emergency vehicles, a free petting zoo, an arts and craft fair, and of course, lots of tulips.

The night before in Grand Rapids, I got the boys to sleep by telling them a story about a magical "fire tulip," and now Ira is really into flowers, especially tulips that are red, yellow, and orange.

Mutant!

More fire tulips.

I'd do this again.  Holland and Grand Rapids?  We approve. 

 Back home

  Spring has brought with it lots of bugs.  And Ira's started collecting them....in our house.

Cute dad rough housing in the grass.

Mother's day was really sweet.  The kids brought me breakfast in bed for the first time.

Yes, that is a homemade fire tulip.

Speaking of mothers, I was invited to have a booth at Babies R Us for my birth classes, during a "Baby Fair."  I may have been at the very back of the store, facing the back wall, but it was still fun with good exposure.

I was able to help out with and observe another beautiful birth by these amazing people: the Felts.

If you're hungry during labor, don't forget to eat!

Mom and Coach were incredible!

Ira's last day of preschool!

Ira and his best friend Wyatt pretending to be dragons of course. 

Grandma Eileen and Grandma Virginia

Miss Mieke

Ira was too shy/sad to pose with any of these amazing people.

In other news Ira, got his first cavity, which stinks.  But he did a great job while it got drilled and capped.  Now I'm afraid that getting a silver tooth is a really cool incentive for bad oral hygiene.

Eliot finally had his surgery after a hernia has been an issue for a very long time.  It took us several months just to realize what it was.  This is the first surgery our little family has had to go through, so I was pretty nervous, but tried to make it sound like it would be an exciting adventure.  The night before, I told Eliot that we'd be going to the hospital the next day.  His response: arms up in the air and a loud "YAAAAAY!!!!"

Getting ready

We opted out of the meds that would have given him temporary amnesia, and opted for my presence during the anesthesia administration.  He was so chill!  He thought the operation room looked cool, and the medical team pretended that it was a space ship preparing for take off as they strapped him down. They warned me that as he started breathing the gas he may start flaying or acting as if he was having a seizure.  Instead he just smiled and closed his eyes.

Several hours later, they warned me he may act very strange or terrified as he woke up, but instead he just opened his eyes and looked pretty week.  But by the time we got home, and by the time he had a real meal in about 19 hours, he was running around like nothing happened.

Getting ready for the baby!  The boys and I tie dyed a load of onesies and shirts for the family to match.  We'll give most of these away to my students, but I'm hoping that matching shirts will make the boys feel unified with baby #3...even if it's a girl.  They're not to excited about the possibility of more estrogen in the house.

And finally, playing in the rain with a rainbow.

Life is good.  We've been busy, but happy and loving life.

Let the Summer begin!

April

We kicked off April with Eliot's birthday.

Dad's birthday rainbow pancakes.

"I'm free."

Grandma's unbirthday present for Ira.  This Siberian tiger will explain why he's so fond of Tiger's further down.  Could this be the next obsession to replace dragons??  Wishful thinking.

Steak n' Shake for dinner.

The Party

If these pictures look strangely familiar, it's because we repeated Ira's party theme, games and decorations for Eliot.  I'm conserving energy these days.  Luckily, Eliot was thrilled to repeat the experience.

General Conference, the Primary service activity, and Easter were all wonderful.

I need to go back and read all the conference talks of course, but caught a fair amount.  And the Primary activity involved the children making cards, paper flower bouquets, and blankets for members of the ward who can't leave their home, and long term hospital patients.

Other April fun included....

checking out the Toledo Zoo's new aquarium.  Small, but really fun.

Our annual Beatnik Poetry Slam.  There were new faces and original works, interpretive dance charades, and hot chocolate sipping.

Home improvement projects,

Swim lessons. Both boys are becoming more comfortable in the water, especially Eliot after his water scare last Summer, when Anthony rescued him from what looked a little like drowning.  He was pretty terrified when we started lessons, but has come a long way.

The preschool's Earth Day Extravaganza.

A surprise restaurant in the basement.

Spring!

Unfortunately, a freak snow shower killed our tulip and daffodils a few days after they bloomed.  April is the cruelest month.  

Those two specs are the boys frolicking in a giant field.  Ira probably circled this thing about 6 times.  Freedom!

A Tiger's Game

The boys were mostly as thrilled as they look.

But at least the Stadium has a carousel!  Ira was pretty pumped about the Siberian Tiger in his understated kind of way.

Lots of drawing, mostly of maps.

And pretending to camp out.  The boys have been sleeping in their sleeping bags on the floor for about 2 months, sometimes covered in stickers.  Not sure why we bought mattresses.  Speaking of slumber, Eliot kicked night time diapers.  Wahoo!!!!!

And Anthony and I celebrated our 8th Anniversary!  We actually both sort of forgot until the night before, and tried to make up for it by getting each other flowers, which has not yet been an anniversary tradition for us.  Great minds think a like. 

We celebrated by taking the family to one of our favorite deli's, the Bread Basket.  What can I say, this pregnancy has made me periodically ravenous for meat. 

And I gifted Anthony a Traverse Pie Company pie.  Mmmmm.  If any of you come to visit us in Michigan, remind us to get you one of these puppies.

I've been slacking, so May update is on it's way.  Peace!