Build A Bear Extravaganza!

Angie, Julie and Molly all have birthdays fairly close together (Angie's was in Feb., but still, considering this is the first we've seen them it's close enough!) I decided it would be a fun birthday treat/cousin celebration to head to Build a Bear and make a little furry friend. I pretty much love the place and find it irresistible, so you can imagine how it went! They all made cute animals and dressed them to the nines...of course!

Julie with her German Shepherd, fitting I think! And funny because Leo picked this one out last time we were at Build a Bear in the fall...cousins must think alike!

Sophia got a pastel bunny, perfect for the season and a happy mate to her flowered bunny that she picked out at our last B a B trip!

The bath station really is a favorite among my kids!

Molly and her bunny, a twin to Sophia's

Chris helping Angela wash her Daschund...notice a theme?!

Leo was giving Alvin a good washing!

time to accessorize!

After Build a Bear we took the mall up on everything else it had to offer! So we hit the play area, carousel, Claire's boutique, the Disney Store, American Girl Store and of course the food court!

this picture just makes me giggle!

Leo LOVED the fireman costume he picked out for Alvin and he and his chipmunk sidekick fought fired the rest of the day!

being fashionable with all the Claire's has to offer

these glasses were so funny!

even Leo had to try them

the beauty of the food court, we're all together eating something different! ;)

in all the chaos I forgot to get a picture of the kids with their animals so I tried to do it after lunch, which was also after a sleepover night filled with little sleep, a full day at the mall and junk food...yeah, not my finest move :)

Molly was a hot commodity! Both kids insisted on holding her hands all the way back to the car. I really do love cousin time!

Sleepover Party!

the girls were so excited to watch the new Merlea (a Barbie Mermaid) movie

Angie picked out the story for that night, an interesting choice, but whatever!

While Molly read it to a captive audience!

cousins!

Sophia and Angela shared a bed and Soph did very well! We had a long talk about not twirling Angie's hair and actually going to sleep when they got in bed! It seemed to work!

Molly and Julie stayed upstairs together and amazingly they didn't stay up too late either. I think I only heard them talking for about 20 minutes after I "put" them to bed. I think everyone was a bit exhausted.

The next morning was Limbo Time! I haven't laughed that hard in quite a while. They entertained themselves thoroughly before we headed to the mall for a Build a Bear extravaganza! Pictures from that to come soon!

Farmstead, Here We Come!!!

First off, there should be a warning that this post contains many pictures!! ;) The Farm just opened last week so with Angie and Julie's arrival, it was prime to time to visit! It was downright chilly on the Thursday we went, but we still had fun. When Leo went to put his sweatshirt on that day, he looked at me and said, Mom, the sheep are really going to like this. :)

It's like they're skipping down the Yellow Brick Road, I mean it is Kansas after all!

My kids love to pet Olive!

Chris getting back in the saddle

Anne and Leo got licked to death by this sweet little calf

Angie and Sophia find saddle riding in numbers to be more fun

Julie checking out the "bumper crop" of baby goats

Here comes Leo!

Sister race!

Sophia caught a fish! Leo caught a fish too but then I accidentally whacked him with it trying to take it out of the water and he freaked, I mean who can blame him really, but that was the end of fishing for him. He wouldn't even take a picture with it!

Grandma made sure to stay bundled up!

Sophia and Denise hit the playground!

Uh oh, I'm not sure Chris knew what she was getting into when she found this wagon and let Leo climb in! Thanks for the rides, Aunt Chrissy!

Anne and Sophia take shelter and seek warmth in the log cabin

Angie, Chris and Sophia make 3 beautiful flowers!

Anne and Sue couldn't resist joining Chris either!

this peacock was doing his full-on mating technique full with a booty-shaking dance and everything! The kids were fascinated!

Chris thought it was her turn to ride, sadly the kids didn't agree!

I think Leo was ready to be done! Poor kiddo!

Cousin Craziness!!!!

Sophia, Molly, and Julie reunite!
they barely stopped to eat so I thought I'd better get a quick pic of all of them together!

Dog Pile on Aunt Annie!

Aunt Annie got lots of help to blow out her candles

Leo and Uncle Oli have been hanging out, I think Leo likes having another dude around!

playing in the yard, happy to be together!

The cousins arrived! Charlie's sister Chris, husband Oliver and girls, Angie and Julie all came in from Germany this week! Sophia (not to mention the rest of the fam) has been beside herself with excitement awaiting their arrival. We've tried to pack in as much cousin time as possible between then and now. They have only a short visit and it's so wonderful to see them all! Angela is mostly speaking German but I seemed to be able to get the gist of what she was saying by her hand gestures! Julie is doing a great job switching between the two languages and luckily she can translate for her sister when necessary! ;)

Egg Dying Round 2

Once they figured out this boat was a sandbox it was game on!
That is Sophia's supervisory look, she's not so sure Baby Bro is being careful! ;)

Sophia and Abby color side by side

Benjamin is waiting out the perfect shade of green

pink marble egg!

a red egg, a true Greek boy!

Stephanie and Abby working on another marble technique

Our friends and neighbors (and preschool buddy too) invited us down this week to do more egg dying. Sophia and Leo are always up for a crafty task, especially ones that involve permanent staining options. It's been a little cooler this week so it was quite pleasant to be outside and my kids loved being able to play with someone else's toys! They were also happy to take a whole carton of hard boiled eggs of their hands...I'm thankful this is one of their "approved" foods! ;)