Kids' Day All Around

Last Saturday was Burlington's Kids' Day Festival, which began with a parade down Main Street:

Hehe, I thought this was Humpty Dumpty (until a lady standing nearby informed me it was, in fact, a fishing bobber).

It was kind of a rinky dink parade, But Elijah and Ariana (my friend Sara's daughter) seemed to enjoy it. Afterward, Sara and I took the kids down to the waterfront, where the festivities continued.

Here, the kids are anxiously awaiting their chance to "fly" a helicopter.

Elijah loved it (he's such a boy). Ariana looks as though the whole affair was highly overrated.Free toothbrushes for posing with "Mr. Tooth" Fun with noodles:

Saving the best for last- Elijah's very first train ride on "the Lollipop Express." Elijah is crazy about Thomas the Tank Engine, so this was a huge hit for him! The wait was excruciating.

Our view of Lake Champlain:

Later, Ed tilled the garden to get ready for next weekend's planting.

It was fun times with Peltors and worms!

The following day (Monday) our daycare was closed, so I stayed home with Elijah and invited Rhiannon for the day. Rhiannon is my friend and co-worker Talia's daughter. She was born 2 days after Elijah.
First off, they absolutely cracked me up with their "toddler talk" in the car that morning. I've never actually heard Elijah carry on such an extensive conversation before.

Here are some of the things they did together. They were SO good and SO darned cute!

This first picture is funny because Elijah looks like a BEAST compared to Rhiannon. He's bigger than her, but not actually THAT much bigger. Just the angle of the shot, I guess.

Pancakes for breakfast:

Taking a hike up to the sandbox:

Watching "World World" and winding down while I made lunch:

Picnic time!

This was Elijah's first "real" play date at our house with a child of his same age. It was super fun- we look forward to many more fun times with Rhiannon in the coming years!

Why I Love Being a Mom

I'm sure there was a time something so...well...MESSY would have driven me crazy. But today, these messes are a part of our everyday life, and I wouldn't trade them for the world.

Shelburne Farms

Friday we decided to have a picnic at Shelburne Farms with my friends Beth, Liz, and Jen and all of their children. The Farms aren't open yet with their normal games and activities, but you can still use the grounds and see the animals. If Quinn and Elijah were actually talking to each other, I think the conversation would go something like this:

"Poor rabbits, stuck in this cage all day."

"Hey, I have an idea. Let's figure out a way to get them out of there."

"If we just separate these two panels from each other, and then twist this one bar..." Elijah, on his first "Tractor Date" with Acadia (quite the movie star in her big sunglasses).
Posing on the apple wagon:

(Quinn 3; Elijah 2.5; Acadia 3)

And here's one with Emma, who will soon turn one:
Trying to get a group shot, but then... Hey, where'd that chicken come from?

(Elijah 2.5; Dianna 3; Acadia 3; Emma 1; Quinn 3)

Good friends, enjoying a lovely sunny day at Shelburne Farms.