Play Dates and Swim Class

 Ellie came over for another play date last week. After lunch, and a trip to the cupcake store, the girls helped me make blueberry muffins!

 Let me assure you- each girl got to stir an equal number of times- you can't get anything past these two!

 After the play date and missing a nap- we went to Hazel's last swim class. I was impressed by the inability of her tongue to stay in her mouth! You see it hanging it out in almost all the photos!

 This was called chop, chop, timber. Hazel was to hold her leaves out and the lifeguard chop her down so she fall in the water- she was pretty reluctant to jump.

 We got to spend the morning in Wabasha- Hazel was very glad the fountain was functioning again- she loves to watch it and the boats on the river. very entertaining!

Hazel and cousins...so much fun!

 Last week, Hazel's uncle Jimmy and cousins Caleb and Skylar came up to visit. Hazel talked about them all week before they got here- she was very excited!

 She and Caleb played really well together- they entertained each other quite nicely!

 She giggled non-stop while Jim and Alex pushed/pulled them around the yard over and over- Skylar even took a turn pulling them around the house.

 Here is Jim and Alex showing off their work- Alex has wanted a wine rack for quite sometime- finally got it!

 The weather was warm enough that the kids could play in the pool- even though the water was pretty cold. Alex and Jim had to take turns blowing this pool up- need to invest in an air pump if we purchase any more blow up toys!

 On Sunday Ellie came over to visit. HAzel has been asking me if we could take Ellie to 'Paneras' for lunch- so we did! Of course they both wanted mac n cheese....

 They were a riot together! We got lots of laughs and smiles from the other patrons.

 After lunch it was back to the house to swim in the whale pool!

 How do you solve the problem of only having one pool noodle and 2 little girls? Cut in half of course! The noodles quickly turned into bats- so that wasn't a good idea after all.

After watching Hazel's new Strawberry Shortcake movie about making a cooking show- the girls said they wanted to play kitchen. I asked- why does playing kitchen involve bringing all of the kitchen to the coffee table? They told me matter of factly- they were making a cooking show. Well- of course then- carry on!

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!