Anna's Visit & the Zoo

Linda, Dale & Anna came to visit from Milwaukee.  On the Friday we headed to Drake for a wander around campus and lunch at the Diner.  On Saturday we didn't have great weather but took a trip to the zoo anyway.  Amelia loved the wallabies and feeding the goats. . . wasn't too fond of the Ice Age exhibit.  We've invested in a season pass this year so I'm sure we'll be back quite a bit.

Pella

We've had a very warm spring this year so Grandma, Mummy & Amelia took an early trip to Pella and caught the end of the tulips.  By the time the Tulip Festival rolled around, two weeks later there were none left.  Amelia took a photographic tour around the sunken pond while Grandma had a little doze on a park bench.  She took the tulip pictures and the one of Grandma.

We saw this squirrel last year.  Who knew they ate corn sitting in a chair?

Flash Flood

We don't live anywhere near a river or stream so always assumed that the flash flood warnings don't apply to us.  We were wrong.  Thankfully this storm, only lasted half an hour or we could have been in trouble.  Our street was flooded and the water came 1/4 of the way up the driveway.

Easter

We had a busy Easter this year.  Amelia had four Easter Egg hunts between preschool, Moms Club, the City of Waukee, and at home.  We also visited Chocolaterie Stam for storytime (the surprise visit from the Easter Bunny was met by hysterical screams - the poor bunny was a bit traumatized), and the Easter Bunny at the mall.

Apparently we now have to write notes to any strange creature who visits the house and leaves us nice things.  This one says "please start in the back".

Conquering Covered Slides

Last year when we were in England, our (then) fearless little Amelia went down a very steep, very swirly covered slide at Farmer Ted's.  She rolled over and went down some of it on her head.  This left her with a complete lack of trust of any covered slide, including the one that Mummy and Daddy painstakingly put together with her play set in the back yard last summer.  While we were in England in March, we returned to the scene of the crime, and as we were on our way, the first thing Amelia said she wanted to do was go on the slide.  Grandma was kind enough to go down with her . . . twice!!  And now she seems to have gotten over her demons :D

England 2012

Amelia and Kate went to England for 10 days to visit family and friends.  We had an action packed time meeting all sorts of people.

At the airport waiting for our plane.

 We drove to Cannock Chase to meet Laura, William and Oliver for a run around the forest and a play in the park.  Amelia loved all the statues and insisted on having her photo taken with every one.

Walking in the Ainsdale Sand Dunes with Debra and her little dog 

 Towards the end of our stay, Kate's friend Em and her family came to stay.  Noah is 2 1/2 and Mollie was 5 weeks old.  Amelia and Noah get on very well and she got in some baby practice holding Mollie.

We discovered Camellias on this trip.  Amelia would love to grow them at home but I don't think we have quite the right climate.

Fun at Farmer Ted's

Driving in Grandma's Convertible

 On our last night, Grandma took us out to dinner at a tasting restaurant.  Amelia got her own dessert (Mummy and Grandma had to share!!!) and very much enjoyed her chocolate fondue with marshmallows and strawberries.

Videos from our trip.

Singing in the Choir

The morning we left for England, which was also Daddy's birthday and the day the clocks changed (in the US anyway) Amelia sang at the church where she goes to preschool with her preschool friends.  At our church, the kids can join the choir (complete with very cute red robes) once they're in Kindergarten and Amelia is desperate to join them so she was very excited to "sing in the choir" at a different church.