Summer Fun!

 Hazel helped Grandma Nancy make blueberry muffins for brunch! We had all the Polleys and the Schrams over for a Memorial Day get together. So nice to spend time with family, wish we could do it more often. Grandma Nancy made Hazel the cupcake dress she has on- so cute!

 These three girls play so good together! Ellie (4), Emmalise (11 mo.), and Hazel (2 1/2).  Little Emma was really hamming it up for the camera- but the harder we got Hazel to smile- the more she frowned. Regardless, these three are too cute together. Hazel is always so glad to play with her cousins. She is always talking about 'my Ellie' and 'my Emma'....

 Summer is here! Hazel has finally warmed up to the sprinkler- she wanted nothing to do with last year.

 Drinking from the sprinkler is kind of tricky!

 Alex decided the sprinker + the slide would make for lots of fun- he was right- she loved it!

In a couple of weeks Hazel will start her swim lessons- I hope she enjoys them- of course she is always looking for a reason to put on the swim suit so I am sure she will love it.

Minnesota Zoo and Tiki Bar

 Took a trip to the Minnesota Zoo today- but we could only tour the inside areas since it was cold and rainy outside. The first exhibit was the Tropic Trail where hazel got to see everything from birds and bats to turtles and monkeys.

 Pink Flamingos!

 The second exhibit was the Minnesota Trail where she got to see wild animals that are common in MN. We saw a wolf, coyote, wolverine, otters, and a bald eagle.

After the zoo, we headed to Psycho Suzi's Tikki Bar in Minneapolis...very cool place. Hazel's milk came with an umbrella and monkey. Unfortunately she ordered macronni and cheese and fries and the tikki bar had neither.  She settled for tater tots and a chocolate chip waffle instead (quite the combo I know).  You may not be able to tell from the picture, but all of the carpet had wood grain on it- very weird!

Robot Dance!

 Alex made Hazel a robot outfit out of a paper bag and she loved it! Somehow, she roped her dad into carrying her around the house in a laundry basket while she shouts 'robot dance'!

Random bike pic- got her a Dora helmet to where when she rides along with Alex on the bike. She always ends up falling asleep- so the helmet helps protect her head from the trailer wheel!

More Easter....

We were invited to a neighborhood easter egg hunt, and hazel really enjoyed looking for eggs. She was a little hesitant at first, but when she realized the eggs contained candy, she was on the hunt! Too bad the weather couldn't have been warmer and she could have worn the cute cupcake dress her Grandma Nancy made. That's okay- we will wear it later this spring...if spring ever arrives in MN! The Easter Bunny left Hazel a basket on Easter morning- she got a hooded beach towel for her swim class this summer, a Dora bowl, plate and spoon, some dinosaur magnets and an Olivia book. The Easter Bunny knew this little girl does not need candy!

I really apologize for such a delayed post- we really have been doing a lot since December, just haven't had time to post the pictures we have taken. This weekend Hazel's Grandma Shirley and Grandpa Jon were visiting. She got to go to music class with her dad on Friday, story hour with her dad and grandpa on Saturday. During  a trip to the mall Hazel could not bear to leave without saying hi to the Easter Bunny. As you can see, she didn't want to sit real close to him, but at least she was not screaming and crying like some of the kids before her. As we were leaving the mall she wanted to go back and show the Easter Bunny her picture. she is so thoughtful!

Questions!

So tonight at bedtime Hazel asked where is Grandma Shirley? I told her she was at home and we would see her at Christmas. Hazel asks "What is Christmas?" I told her it is when we celebrate the birth of baby Jesus. So of course she asks "Where is baby Jesus?" and I reply "He's not a baby anymore".  Then she says "He's a big-boy? He uses the potty?"   Yep pretty much!

Halloween Pics

Hazel and her cousin Ellie went trick or treating together. One of the houses in the neighborhood had lots of blow up characters and I thought this would make a good picture. Hazel was a little weary of the blow up witch so she wouldn't stand next to it.
A princess and a ballerina. Aren't they cute together?

Friday night we took Hazel to the ECFE carnival at the school and she had a good time playing games for prizes. She really enjoyed the ball pit...look at the crazy look on her face!