Energizer Bunny

The rest of our time off for Spring Break went very quickly, but we managed to get a lot done.  We made it to the park in town, watched Mr. Peabody and Sherman at the theater, hung out at the library and did lots and lots of Easter projects between many round of board games.

puffy eggs for a garland

Emily in Jello Jigglers

Today started off with her second skate lesson up at the lodge, and because she had earned a prize we also ended up at the YMCA for rock climbing and swimming.  

Luckily she went to bed early tonight because I am tired!  I feel like after a week of being Emily's entertainment director for the past week (a week with no naps, by the way), I am ready to apply for the job of cruise director with Disney Cruise Lines!

Play Dates

Today was spent in Boise with friends.  First stop was Big Al's, where the girls bounced through the arcade trying to score as many tickets as they could.  It wasn't long before they figured out which ones would spit out the most blue tickets!  The best thing about Big Al's games was that they were just the right size for all.

Emily's loot from turning in tickets
included candy and a Cinderella kite.

Then it was fancy dining on pizza and corn dogs at the bowling alley!  The girls all had their first experience with the game.  

From there, we went to the park.  Although it wasn't as warm and sunny today as it has been, it was still a nice afternoon to be outside.  

And just a little picture from yesterday, when Emily had her first real playdate at home, as in this was the first friend of Emily's choosing to have over.  She goes to preschool with Emily, and they spent the morning playing outside on the playset or racing bikes, trikes, and scooters, playing games inside and dressing up as princesses.  The girls had a great time!

Spring

Spring has arrived (made official by the buds on the aspen trees), and so has spring break.  No cruise to the Bahamas this year... just some time at home to get caught up on rest, life, and all things ordinary.  Sure, we'll fill up the week with projects and outings as well, and even though Emily celebrated a break from school by getting a cold, we already have a good start on this vacation thing.  Don't feel too bad for us, it's only 84 days until our next sail date on our Alaskan cruise!

Swiftsure is taking a break as well, so no riding lessons for a couple weeks.  And Emily is taking a break from swimming lessons, she wasn't so happy about her time in the water.  So it was a good time to take some skating lessons up in Sun Valley!  Saturday was the first one with her teacher Natalia.  

And we managed to create a few spring crafts this morning - 

And as we switch from St. Patrick's to Easter, it was time to put these crafts away that she did at preschool.

March came in like a lamb and went out like one too!

rainbows, rainbows, rainbows!

And how did we get from this?  

 To this so fast!?!?

Discovery Gateway

This weekend found us in Salt Lake again for an early doctor's appointment on Monday morning for Aaron (for the record, healing as planned).  Emily's request was to revisit the Discovery Gateway after being there a couple weeks ago with Grandma.

She made sandwiches at the deli counter of the Neighborhood Market, 

investigated the Life Flight helicopter.

sent balls flying through tubes,

sat on a horse, not as cool as Trigger, at the farm, 

"Climb rock" as Emily calls it, 

dug for dinosaur bones, 

checked out the frontier's log cabin, 

and we learned the 5th hurricane of 2017 will be called Emily,
(note to self, start disaster prepping now!), 

and we turned a few gears, pushed plenty of buttons, and made lots of sounds!

Occupying Time

 It's a guarantee that if Emily wants to spend time with you (which is usually), she's going to be asking to play a board game or do a project.  We've been playing a lot of board games lately, mostly because I haven't gotten my act together to prepare any projects.  So, after ordering a three months supply of Kiwi Crates, I sifted through the random old pieces of left over supplies and we managed to do a few projects this weekend.

There was the frozen hand that we watched the salt melt... all those blue gloves we brought home from the hospital had to be good for something other than medical stuff.  So, we filled it with colored water and froze it.

We took a green pipe cleaner and made it into a clover shape, dunked it in Borax and water, and became amazed by the crystals that grew overnight.

waiting overnight was a little tough...

A recycled lid, glue, and food coloring became a rainbow sun catcher to go with our crystal clovers...

And the oldie, but goody, colored pasta!  While we were on a rainbow kick, we colored some pasta and made a necklace and a rainbow picture.  

 That was enough to help us survive the weekend!

The last few days were unseasonably warm, and we were able to get out and soak up some sun while Emily enjoyed riding her bike and scooter to the corner stop sign and back as Grandma and I took turns walking with her.

Emily continues to ride on Tuesday nights at Swiftsure, usually on Trigger.  This is the one event that she really, really loves.  She had her fifth swim lesson last Thursday, and although she doesn't enjoy this as much as riding, she is making progress.  The last two lessons we have found it best that I stay out of sight, and Emily does better for her instructor.  A little bit of bribery is needed as we always have to get a small treat afterward.

And to finish up, before I get even further behind, the projects brought home from preschool since January...

Martin Luther King, Jr. activities  -

Winter and snow - 

Winter Olympics - 

And last, but not least - 

Hopefully, I am better at keeping up in March!