Children's Museum

Sunday, we all four headed to the Children's Museum.  I think this was the longest the kids have held on; Melanie was kicking and screaming that she didn't want to leave!  (Which clearly meant it was time to leave).  The formatting of the pictures below is a mess, but I have to stop messing with it.  Melanie and Joey enjoyed the Mr. Potato Head exhibit, the archaeological dig/scuba area, trains, glass, Barbie, Playscape, and at least one of them really enjoyed the carousel!  There is no way I could have taken them both by myself (unless Joey stayed strapped in the stoller the whole time!)  I'm not sure who was more tired - the kids or the parents!

On an archaeological dig

Scuba diving



Joey's dig






This had to be the first stop - Mel was so excited to ride the carousel!

 


Joey's first ride on a carousel.  He was visibly shaking - he was not having fun.



Fast forward 12 years, and I fear the day they're taking a real car on a joyride!

Strutting her stuff on the Barbie runway

Answering the phones at Barbie HQ

Chihuly glass!



Fun Day at Gigi & Poppy's

Naptime (yeah, right)

What goofballs.  And yes, they have their jammies on.  At 2pm.

Joey was pretty worn out from the big day.  He fell asleep on the way home and stayed asleep for quite a while when he got home.  I loved this picture of the boys relaxing

Saturday, the kids and I headed to Frankfort for some fun with Gigi, Poppy, Molly & Julie.  Dad is doing great, getting around with a cane, attending bank board meetings, etc.  The biggest development of the day was that Melanie finally HUGGED him!  She'd been a little reticent as she learned that, despite him looking a little different, he's still the same Poppy!  I don't know how I spent a day there and have no pictures of Gigi & Poppy with the kids. 

Super Bowl, Super City

Ali was taking the picture and Laura was MIA

Liked this shot because of the Monument angle

Indianapolis hosted Super Bowl 46, and according to all of the press, did a FANTASTIC job!  My friends and I headed to Super Bowl Village on Saturday night the week before the Super Bowl, to check out all of the festivities and have dinner.  I walked back down for lunch on Thursday, hoping to spot some stars.  Rumor had it that Ryan Gosling, among others, were staying in Zionsville - so my eyes were also peeled every time I ran any errands!  The Johnsonville "world's largest grill" was set up at our Marsh one evening as part of the extended Super Bowl festivities, and it was even nice enough to walk over there for a family dinner of bratwurst :) 

Sunday evening, we headed to the Dorans' for a Super Bowl party.  As always, they were great hosts, and our kids loved all of the great toys and company!  Charlie & Sammie were there too, and we left before halftime for Joey's bedtime.  I was thrilled that Eli Manning won the Super Bowl in Indy!

Three cousins causing ruckus

So many toys, so little time.

Melanie-isms

Yes, that's a pair of shorts OVER a pair of pants, and snow boots as shoes.  And, a size 18-month coat to top it off, with a shirt that is too small but she "caught" me trying to give it away in a bag of clothes.

Mel - When I get big, I want to be a Mommy.
Me - You will be a great Mommy.  What do you want to name your kids?
Mel - My kids will be you, Daddy, Gigi, Molly, and Joey.  Poppy will be the Daddy.
Me - You and Poppy are going to have all of those kids?
Mel - Yes (each time we discuss this, the list of kids gets longer)
Me - Well, Poppy is a great Daddy, so I think you two will do great.

As we're folding laundry:  Mel - Mommy, you have huge underwear.  It is aMAYzing.

Mel – Mommy, you could take me to school today
Me – No, I really can’t. I haven’t even showered yet.
Mel – Well, I could wait for you to shower, and then you could take me. If you wanted to.
Me – I don’t really want to. But, I do still love you.
Mel – That’s okay, Mommy, I still love you too.

Me - Since Daddy is sick, let's flip-flop our weekend plans.  Let's go to Frankfort today, and to the Museum tomorrow. 
Mel - NOOOOO, you said we were going to the Museum TODAY.
Me - Well, the Museum called, and Mr. Potato Head isn't open today.  And, Molly can come to Gigi & Poppy's today, so let's go there today.
Mel - Okay.  But can I wear flip-flops?
Me - No, it's freezing outside.  Why would you wear flip-flops?
Mel - You said we were going to flip-flop.

As we're looking through a picture book of Mel's baby pictures, I was reading the captions.  Melanie asked me why I kept saying "2008."  I explained that was the year she was born.  Mel - "NO, Mommy, I wasn't born in 2008.  I was born in BETHLEHEM."

Me - "I used to come to the museum when I was your age.  Did I ever tell you that?"
Mel - "I know, I used to bring you.  I was your Mommy."

Merry Christmas in January!

Getting our shoes on - can't wait to get to Gigi & Poppy's!!

Check out my new wheels!!

Molly & Joey "doctoring" Poppy

Breathe in, Poppy.

Drs. Joe & Molly giving Poppy some TLC.  Poppy can't smile on the outside - but he is on the inside!  He will be able to soon!!

My name is Dr. Joe.  I am here to fix your eyes.  Stay still.

Now I will fix your smile.  Sit still.

Now, your swallow.  Please, bear with me.

There's no place like home, there's no place like home.

Joey ate lunch in Poppy's lap.  

Christmas in January - Pajamas

Yummy

Gigi and Three

Not sure what it is, but if we can fight over it, it's FABULOUS

Whose gift is it, anyway??

Mel, if you can take that paper off the package, you can give me a kiss.

Molly and Poppy playing "Angry Birds"

JUST what the kids wanted....A ginormous picture of Pierce Coapstick from the office.  We love him!

The Princesses and the Pea

Beautiful Molly

Reluctant Melanie

Prince Joey

Two different scenarios going on here.  What's wrong with that kid on the right?!?!?!?

Random Brother-Sister Love

                                     

Feeding his sister a milkshake

One of Joey's teachers reported last week that he spent quite a bit of time that day on his head.  I wonder where he learned that?  This is a new favorite pasttime.

Who knew how much fun could be had in a diaper box??