A Flower from Janice

Our neighbor Janice is a very sweet girl who wishes Ernie slept less and played with her more. She drew him this large chalk flower recently. The top says "To Urny" but then she checked with Jeremy on the spelling and wrote "To Ernie." Mom chalked a reply. I'm glad we'll have summer days ahead so they can play more soon!

Grandpa Darrell got older

Grandpa Darrell has been wanting to take the kids to the Durham Museum for some time. Both of them loved playing on the trolley and trains.
Ernie learned how a train wheel operates, and didn't even get a black eye in the process!

And this miniature train set rivals the Island of Sodor.

And of course we had to stop for ice cream at the soda fountain.

St. Patty's Day

Jeremy went all out for St. Patrick's Day and made the most delicious, still drooling about it, corned beef ever. And he was so thoughtful, he eschewed the boiled cabbage for sauteed brussels sprouts.
But Ernie's favorite touch was the green (root) beer.

Ernie is Four!

Ernie had a tractor birthday party and invited his classmates and friends. Mom was pretty proud of herself for decorating his two tractor cakes.

And Ernie seemed pleased with them! His 4 Tractor shirt was made for us by a friend.

Our favorite cousins got to come! Lenora was so happy to have baby Maisie to say "Hi" to over and over and over.

Most of the kids took a break from playing for cake and fruit.

And Mom rigged up a tractor pinata with pull strings (so no one would get wounded by a blindfolded child swinging a bat). Jonatha pulled the winning string!

And candy resulted. Maisie enjoyed her sucker.

And Len was like "Suckers exist??? And you've been keeping this from me?"

Our whole house was taken over as a play area and every toy we ever owned got played with. Here are six guests playing in Len's room.

We requested no gifts, but trust me, there were still plenty to open from parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles.

This Lego barn set was a pretty big hit. I was proud we found something that pleased him so much.

I'm thinking 5 will be a smaller, family party.

Family Night at Dimensions

Ernie's preschool, which is a nature-based research program, had a Family Night. Aunt Laura, the Mohrs, and the Halls all came to learn more about the place he loves so much.

Aunt Laura and Lenora met an owl.
And Ernie enjoyed meeting several snakes.

But try as we might, Lenora was could not be convinced to try the "nature walk" across different textures. She prefers shoes, thank you.

Snow Squirrell

Lenora helped me make a snow squirrell with some of the last of spring's snow. She kept handing me pieces of snow to add to his tail. When he was all complete, she was beside herself that she couldn't pick him up and take him inside. She kept screaming "Scurl! Scurl!"