Grandparents Galore!

The title of this post by no means implies the pictures immediately following are of grandparents. There is a new temporary exhibit at The Virginia Living Museum titled Dino-Mania. The exhibit features 3/4 size robotic dinosaurs that move, make noise, etc. Initially we were not keen on entering the dinosaur room, but by the end of the visit had conceded to go in just to see the baby dinosaurs "hatch" from their eggs (we were reassured when told the babies were smaller than our kitties)... we were immensely proud of ourselves for seeing the dinosaurs once it was all over. Just outside the dinosaur room there are two stationary dinosaurs on which a brave child can sit for a picture.


Emily

Madeleine

May has been a very busy month for Madeleine and Emily, and consequently, one of limited blogging for their mother. The girls' Spokane grandparents flew in on April 30th and left on May 13th. The girls' German grandparents flew in on May 15th and left on May 29th. The result is two happy little girls, who were given lots of time and attention, having to return to a routine that involves just one full-time adult.

The month began with Madison's (friend from school) birthday party. I completely admire the courage Madison's parents demonstrated in hosting an event that involved this many preschoolers (there is a reason our girls didn't even know a party was an option this year!). This is the third time Emily and Madeleine have been invited to a party, but the first time it's worked with our schedule...it was quite a success with face painting, a jumpy castle (for lack of a better term), a visit from Cinderella, a huge cake (thankfully our prep work about taking the piece you are offered and not asking for more frosting paid off!) and treat bags!

The girls had a great time with both sets of Grandparents. A major treat was that each side of the family had a grandparent who had recently celebrated their birthday...this meant we could "recelebrate" and there was much excitement regarding the procurement of cake! Grandparent activities included trips to Busch Gardens, Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg, the playground and of course the park.



In hygiene news, every time we give the girls a shampoo we are informed they do not need another one "until Christmas time". We have repeatedly pointed out this would not be socially acceptable and would result in the girls being "stinky girls". Madeleine and Emily were told that kids at school don't talk to stinky kids and that is why they need regular shampoos....this was contemplated over a period of time until Emily announced "That okay, I be stinky girl" with very little concern for her future social status.



"School" for the school year came to an end two weeks ago, but thankfully summer session starts this week. In an experiment of our making, we have enrolled the girls in separate classes with Madeleine attending on Thursdays and Emily attending on Fridays. Our hope is this will allow a group of children to get to know each of the girls as an individual and not part of a set....we shall see how it goes.



Madison's party - Madeleine is 2nd from left and Emily is 6th from left. The birthday girl is noticeable due to her crown and coveted position on Cinderella's lap!

Emily's face paint!

Madeleine's face paint!

The girls playing in a "bathtub", dug by Grandma, in the sand at Yorktown. The game was to take turns pouring buckets of water into the tub while the other girl "took a bath". The adults' motivation was having the girls lug buckets of water led to a good nap! Madeleine pouring and Emily bathing.

Grandma, Madeleine (white suit) and Emily (lavender suit).

Grandpa filling buckets of water. Grandpa, Madeleine, Emily.

Madeleine (left) and Emily (right) playing with a gift from Uncle Paul....those gelatin caplets with a foam "animal" inside that is "released" once the caplet melts in warm water.

What a difference a year makes! This picture was taken pretty much to the day from our blog's first post Horses And Then Some which depicted a howling Madeleine and did not show Emily at all because she had had to be removed from the ride due to her tears. As you can see, we are no longer intimidated by the horses at Busch Gardens. Emily on the left, Madeleine on the right.

Building a Lego tower with Oma and Opa. Madeleine in the purple shirt and Emily in the pink shirt.
Celebrating Oma's birthday - left to right - Emily, Oma, Madeleine, Opa.

Le Scoot

M with Madeleine and T with Emily (to truly see their glee, click the photo for a close-up of little faces).

The picture says it all...after much cajoling, bribing, threatening, etc. I finally got the girls to agree to go on Le Scoot Log Flume in "France" (granted Emily had to literally be pulled into the log at the beginning of the ride and coached throughout...). The ride involves the riders being in the log as it winds its way, in water, through the mill and then ends with a drop at the end. The picture was taken at the very top of the biggest drop. I'm told I appear calm, in reality I'm wondering how I will live with myself after one or both of my three-year olds have fallen out and simultaneously trying to figure out how to hold on to both Madeleine and the bar on the inside of the log. The last time I was on this ride, I was 18 and had my younger brother Kyle with me - but he was 11 and could hold on for himself. Needless to say, the girls weren't overwhelmed and I think it will be a while before I return as well.