Easter

After forecasting clouds and rain for Easter Sunday, the sun peaked out from behind the clouds and temperatures reached almost 70. It was a very nice day and the kids all had a great deal of fun. We went to Stacie's parents house for the annual egg hunt and family dinner.

Aaron and Helena were so excited to color easter eggs. Five minutes later, I wished I had bought and prepared an extra dozen eggs.

Helena was so excited to help Natalie experience Easter

Helena looks over her new softball glove

Aaron was very excited by the chocolate eggs he found in his Easter basket

Natalie loved opening the plastic egg and finding the goldfish inside

Aaron talks excitedly with Daddy and shows him his new glove

Helena poses in her Easter dress

Natalie sits with the big kids and enjoys a snack

All of the cousins before the egg hunt: Julian, Gracie, Lexie, Natalie, Helena, Aaron and Landyn

Natalie was insistent about holding her own basket while searching for eggs, such a big girl!

Natalie decides she wants one of Landyn's eggs too

Helena was adamant about wearing her rain boots so she didn't ruin her new Easter shoes.

Natalie- 15 months and Gracie - 17 months

Natalie finds one more egg

Aaron and Julian have dessert together

Helena and Ainsley sit together and enjoy Strawberry Shortcake together

Vacation Fun

The kids and I were off for spring vacation last week and we had the opportunity to take some local day trips together. While the weather didn't cooperate as much as we would have liked it to, we still had lots of fun!

This April was not as warm as I remember it being last year, two of the days last week required warm jackets and hats.

Natalie plays in her little outdoor playhouse.

Aaron, Helena and Natalie get ready for a ride in the wagon.

Natalie loved the swings at the park.

Helena shows Natalie how to ride on the plane during her first visit to the park in Colchester.

I took Aaron and Helena back to The Dinosaur Place to see a reptile show. They posed inside the mouth of a dinosaur for this picture.

Helena and Aaron each picked out a geode that was later cut open. Each geode is unique and looks and feels different. It was really neat to watch the whole process.

I took the kids to Mystic Aquarium on the first nice day of the week and it seemed as if every other family on vacation this week living in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts also had the same idea as we did. It was very crowded but we did get to see three month old baby penguin chicks take their first swim while we were there. They were very cute!

The female was the first to go into the water. She was born the same day Natalie turned one.

The male, born two weeks later, finally got the courage to jump in as well.

Aaron and Helena pose near the sea lions

After battling the crowds to see all we wanted to see, we walked over to Olde Mystic Village, where it was not nearly as crowded, for some ice cream and fun!

Growing up

Natalie wastes no time trying to keep up with her big brother and sister. She is walking so well now, and she is more steady on her feet. She prefers to eat with a fork and spoon, just like the rest of us do at the dinner table. She can identify her head, eyes, nose mouth and belly if asked and loves to sing songs. Her favorite is the "Itsy, Bitsy, Spider"!

Riding on "Leo the Lion"

Natalie and her BFF, Duffy the Bear

Celebrating with Friends

This year for Aaron and Helena's fourth birthday we had a birthday party for them at The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art. It was a fun afternoon filled with Dinosaur fun. The kids learned about dinoaurs and mined for gems! Aaron and Helena were joined by friends from school and cousins for a spectacular birthday!

The Birthday Girl and Boy were given a warm reception

Pretending to be dinosaurs

Dinosaur Cake

Blowing out candles together

Opening Gifts

Four Years Old

Aaron and Helena turned 4 on April 4th. We celebrated with family on April 2nd and then again with their friends on April 10th. "Pin the tail on the Donkey" and "Duck Duck Goose" were big hits with the younger crowds. They are just so grown up!

The Birthday Girl!

The Birthday Boy!

So excited for their birthday party!

Aaron and Helena stop for a brief moment for a picture with Mommy