Went to the zoo with MOPS group this week -- Kayla wasn't too sure what to think of the goat!
The kids definetely got an up close and personal look!
Riding the train for the first time this season! I was a little nervous not being right next to Joshua, but he was fine! I'm sure he had more fun being next to the "guys" than next to Mommy!
Using the "fishing rod" (out of Tinkeytoys). Notice also the "boat" (pillows) and the "lake" (blanket.) What can I say? The weather was yucky outside!
I know, I know . . . two days of posting in a row . .. it's amazing! We had some beautiful weather today and headed to the zoo. We're going to try the zoo pass thing this summer and see if we go enough to justify the cost. I must admit that we're not huge "zoo" people, but we'll see . . . This is Joshua with a friend from church. It was a challenge to keep both of them from racing ahead. I wish I had $1 for every time I said, "Joshua, Keep one hand on the stroller" -- I would be rich by now!
Kayla -- the vantage point from the stroller isn't
Lookin' at the big cats!
This pic really doesn't do it justice, but there were 5 strollers (3 of them double) and 7 kids 3 and under -- wow!
One last picture . . . we had so much fun this morning. We'll have to go again!
Two weeks ago, Mama decided that time had come to give potty training ANOTHER try (mind you . . . we started almost 1 year ago!). So, early Monday morning, I got out the candy, quarters, trinkets, EVERYTHING, and most of all new "Cars" underwear. Kayla was checking it out . . . and believe it or not, Joshua TOTALLY figured out the whole potty thing -- like in a couple of hours. Amazing. People have been telling me just to wait until he's ready . . . I guess they're right!
So, one of our "incentives" was Chuck E. Cheese -- and he was THRILLED to be able to go! Aunt Bem joined in the fun -- nice leg brace, sis!
The only way Kayla knows how to go down the slide . . .head first!
Last week, Kayla had a little, or shall we say big, run-in with Joshua's bed. No, she wasn't jumping on it, but just fell onto the headboard. We took her to the dr. -- no stitches (thank goodness) but just a little super glue. Even a week later, it looks so much better. Guess that's about it from the home front!
We fulfilled our moral obligation and visited a few "Topeka" sites while M/D were here. We went to the capitol and Joshua was most intrigued with the elevator!
Pretty sure this bench was not to be sat upon! Oops!
We went to the children's area of another museum (it was free!) and the kids had a fun time. Kayla liked this antique switchboard -- it kept her busy for quite a while!
Joshua gave the antique sewing machine a try -- it was quite a machine!
Meanwhile . . . father and son were challenging each other with the horse shoes . . . Boys will be boys! We had so much fun -- the house seemed really, really empty today without G/G :(.
Bryan and his dad -- I think Bryan gets a high from being at a McDonalds . .. don't ask me why!!!! He LOVES eating out!
Joshua and grandma cutting paper with his new scissors -- he ALWAYS has a captive audience when grandma is here!
Little explanation here . . . we planted pumpkin seeds this weekend so we''ll see . . . it's a tad early, so we only planted half of them and will plant the others later. Joshua was VERY disappointed when he didn't see any fruit of his labor today!
A little bonding time reinforcing the swing set -- nice tool belt, hon!
Warning -- Coloring eggs with a 3-year old is NOT something that should be taken lightly!
Can you tell that Joshua is in a "I don't like my picture taken" phase????
Kayla looking through her Easter Basket -- her favorite part was pulverizing the granola bar!
Opening the car hauler from G/G Nelson. I just realized that I don't have any "going to church" pics . . . Bryan and I were both there at 6:30 am, so G/G graciously agreed to bring both kids in for the 11 am service -- it was a life saver for me!
Because I can only post 5 pics at a time, this will take several posts! We were SOOOOO happy to have Bryan's parents here for a week over Easter. They left this morning, and the kids (and I) and going through SERIOUS detox! It was like having a live-in babysitter, dishwasher, and child entertainer for a week! 
We had an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, and it was more than a little chilly! I think we hid about 50 eggs, and since Kayla wasn't all that interested, Joshua had free reign!
Since our back yard is very, very open, it was hard to be "discreet" about hiding the eggs!
Kayla LOVES going up the ladder and down the slide . . .
. . . head first!
What in the world, you ask???? Actually, this picture TOTALLY represents a "God-thing" as we had been praying to find a used swing set for our kids. I kid you not, 5 minutes after I had told Bryan that I just didn't feel right buying a new swing set, I checked my email and a friend was wanting to get a new one for their kids. YEAH! So -- I "bribed" my family members with ice cream dessert and 5 of us carried, yes carried the swing set onto Dad's truck. I would have taken a picture of that process, but I think I would have been disowned by my siblings who were carrying their part. Hope you have recovered, dad!
It was fun to get out the airplane swing that we hadn't used since we packed everything in PA!
. . . then the neighbor kids spotted it! 
OK, this picture was posted to provide comic relief for my younger siblings who UNMERCIFULLY razz us about our "ancient" TV. Last week, the on/off button became inoperable (permanently) so Bryan resorted to taking the thing apart. Very fascinating, actually. We were afraid that the end was near . . .but wouldn't you know, Bryan was able to jerry-rig it! The "un-cabled, ancient TV" lives on!
Last week, one of the secretaries in the office gave Joshua a chocolate Easter Bunny that he was VERY proud of! On our way home from church, he fell asleep -- but not without holding his chocolate bunny. BTW, he woke up enough at home to mumble that he wanted his bunny during his nap. You made his week, Carol!
Just wondering . . . where our baby girl has gone???? The last couple of weeks, she has just grown up so much in how she acts . . .
No, Kayla, the baby doll is not for eating!
Before everyone starts groaning . . . No, I do not MAKE my kids play the piano! But, they like to "play" and pretend they're reading music! Looks like Kayla was getting the historical background on Chopin before she dove right in!
When one's "playing, " the other one wants to "play" as well!
Don't know if I think much of Piglet's hand position, Joshua! I promise . . . no more music geek pics for a while!
Joshua got to go to the movie theater for the FIRST TIME today! It was so much fun to go with him (Thanks for staying home with Kayla, Bryan!). We saw "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" -- and Joshua thought it was pretty cool to see Veggie Tales. 
Ok . .. this looks a little goofy because the room is actually VERY DARK. He amused himself by trying to get the chair bottom to come up and down -- which of course would fold him up like a little accordion! 
Like father like son . . . the arcade in the lobby was a VERY STRONG attraction -- so much so that I didn't know whether we would get into the theater or not! We had a great time together -- I am realizing that my alone time with just Joshua is harder and harder to have, so I treasured this little excursion.
Kayla has finally gone from two naps (one morning, one afternoon) to one . . . which means that that the late mornings/lunch times are REALLY hard for her . . .
. . . she just couldn't make it through lunch!
Doesn't Bryan just look thrilled to be shoveling the driveway????
Joshua thinks it's the greatest thing to have snow! Yesterday morning (Sunday) we had to be in the van by 6:45 am and it had snowed during the night. When I lifted the garage door, I hear "Wow -- Look at the Snow!" Only through the eyes of a 3-year old would one be excited about snow at 6:45am on Sunday morning!!!! I must say, though, it was beautiful driving in!
We felt it was fundamentally necessary to have at least ONE snowman during the winter. So -- Bryan stepped up to the plate . . . hey, someone had to stay inside with Kayla, right?
The finished product . . . so glad you have your mower handy, Joshua! I'm sure it came in handy helping daddy build the snowman!