Ames

This weekend I had to go to Ames for the IT Olympics with my Extension job.  Here is our Starbucks stop on the way.

Sharing the same parking lot as our hotel was a habachi grill so we ate there.  It was Link's first time (from memory).  Funny enough he was wearing his Samari shirt already.  We had a blast including trying to catch bits of egg in our mouth as the chef tossed them at us.

A little snap shot from the robotic challenges.  Link enjoyed watching this the most.  He said to me "I guess you do like playing with Legos, just as robotics."  That made me smile.

The kids only lasted so long at the IT Olympics so we crossed the street to Reiman Gardens.  Not the most in bloom time for a garden tour, but we had a lot of fun with the sculptures, kids activity, and butterflies.

We set up a little lego store in our house of kits with real price tags on them.  Link gets a quarter for doing different jobs and then he gets to pick something out when he has enough money.  He picked this crane out.  As you can see the Star Wars characters already love it.

Language

Felix is a chatter box lately, which is making us laugh non stop.
Link is also fascinated with words lately, mostly the spelling of.  He answers everything y-e-s or n-o and he calls for us by saying d-a-d or m-a-m-a.

Easter

The Schiller Pollocks have baby chicks.  Link wasn't so sure about letting one walk on his hand, but he eventually did.

We traveled to Ohio and on the way stopped in Chicago to go to Medieval Times.  

Saturday we made it to Ohio in time to dye eggs, hunt for eggs, and have our big family meal.

Sunday was more low key but I still dressed up the boys.  Felix and the grown ups went to a Bill Watterson exhibit at the cartoon museum.

Felix and Mason struck a special bond.  Felix is also wearing Mason's hand me downs.  Fun to see them again 5 years later.

I swiped a pintrest idea and made bunny pancakes in the morning.  They were a big hit.

I think I'll just turn this into a photo blog.

Homemade pizza with my favorite ingredients, fresh moz, artichoke hearts, pancetta

Link drew hopscotch straight from memory of over a year ago.

Friday night campfire at the Martin-Hiner's.  hotdog dinner and for dessert strawberries in marshmallow fluff toasted in the fire.

Found a robin onsie at target.

Maple Syrup Field Trip

First time on a horse.  No fear.  Comment "That was a bumpy ride." 

Ate more pancakes than my dad.  

Felix came too.

Watching the sap drip from the tap.

To date or not to date

Yesterday was so great.  Bryce and I visited went to Decorah with Felix.  We visited the new Cellar.  We had an amazing meal at Rubiyat with exceptional staff.  And we went to see Phillip Glass in concert.  It was all grand.

However for the 2 hour concert we left Felix with Jason Trout and his two kiddos.  He was very kind, but did let us know that Felix cried and was unconsolable for 30-60 min.  Felix has been this way with just about everyone except family.  It makes me wonder if it just to early for dates and even daycare.

Past couple of weeks

Diana turned 5.

ISU made it to the sweet 16 in basketball.

Grandma and grandpa came for a midweek visit.

Over the weekend we went to the twin cities.  We visited the children's museum.

And took Amber and Paul to the Mall of America for the first time.

Bryce and I went with Debbie Monn and fiancé to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater to see The Little Mermaid.  No photos allowed.

I got a new food processor and made my first batch of homemade Nutella.