Spring morning

Oh, I think spring might be coming...

First daffodil of spring!

Emmy and London had a dentist appointment this morning and afterward we stopped by Suzanne's bakery for breakfast.  It was a beautiful morning and we had a little time before school started so we walked down to the water and had a beautiful little morning pic-nic.

Not a bad place for breakfast!

Ikea fun

Emmy, London and I stopped by Ikea on the way to the airport to pick up Stevie and Cannon.  I needed a few things and was trying to buzz through that extremely large labyrinth in record time.  Of course, my little guys were more into having fun.  I turn around at one point to see them having a dual with the toilet bowl cleaners I had on the cart!  Then I turn around again and see this:

Followed up by this!

Oh, they make me laugh!

St. Louis - Day 5

Sadly it's was the last day with "the cousins" today. :(

Since we weren't flying out until late in the day, we had some time to play.  Brian's police station has a community gym that is open to the public for a few hours in the morning.  We all went over and played basketball and had relay races and generally ran some steam off the kids. 

Afterwards, Brian was able to set up a tour of the police station.

The kids in the jail cell.

This was my favorite.  Scratched into the jail cell door was the question, "Was it worth it?"

Brian then had to start his shift so we left him to get geared up.  We had some lunch and then stopped at a park to wait to see him in his official uniform.

Stevie really wanted Brian to "arrest" London, but this was as close as we got!

Emmy, captured in the back of the car!

Heading off to catch the bad guys.

All the cousins (minus Cannon) lined up in birth order playing at the park

We flew out under really gusty skies back home to Washington.  Emmy and London spent the whole flight scheming up ways to get back to St. Louis to be with their cousins - it was really sweet!  Thanks for a great time Coats Cousins!

St. Louis - Day 4

After a very full day yesterday, we settled down a little today.  We spent the morning playing inside and out.  The kids and adults had another rousing game of kick-ball and then we just enjoyed playing outside in the sunshine and warmer air.  Who would have ever thought that going to St. Louis in the February of one of the coldest winters on record would mean wearing shorts and sunglasses???

During the afternoon, Kimberly and I escaped from the house leaving Abby under control while we had a girls afternoon out.  We trolled through a few thrift stores and then had coffee and a good girls gab.  It was so wonderful to reconnect with my wonderful sister-in-law.

That evening we did crafts together and again the kids played and played.  London and Emmy were quite thrilled to have some new playmates who were game to try their imaginative play.

Making crafts

Doing Rainbow Loom together.

St. Louis - Day 3

We had given Candace a book of origami paper when we first arrived.  The next day I saw her thumbing through it looking at all the pretty designs and I asked her if she'd ever made origami before?  Well, she hadn't so I suggested we look online for some easy designs for her to try.  I showed her how to make a simple box - once - and that was all it took!  She was off and running and before I knew it the whole coffee table was covered in origami boxes.  The next day, I brought out my iPad and showed her how to make various animal faces and by the end of that day there was a veritable zoo around the coffee table.  That girl has talent!

Tuesday was another pleasant day so we played outside in the morning while Uncle Brian was still home.  With all those kids and 3 adults we had a pretty good game of kickball going!

Uncle B

Baby Isaiah

Emmy's snow cone!

Abby and Jetta

Later that afternoon we went to a museum about Lewis and Clark.  London had been studying them in Social Studies and it was a cool thing that their route basically connected our families homes.  They left from St. Charles and ended up about 2 hours south of where we live.  Of course, after seeing the documentary and the museum about their trip, I'm glad we were able to fly over the route instead of doing it in a canoe and on horse back.  Let me tell you, I have great respect for Sacagawea. 

 
Oh yes, we made them dress up!  Can you tell how much Emmy liked it???

After the museum, we went for a walk along the river and then down the historic street of St. Charles.  It's a really darling place which probably would have been more enjoyed without a gaggle of kids with us!  (Lots of cute shops to look in...)

Karaline asked to hold hands with London and I was blown away when he agreed!

The Cousins!

With Lewis and Clark and Seaman (the dog)

Picking Seaman's nose...

 

Abby

That night, the kids were back to playing their games.  One of their favorites was "wolves" - a game Emmy and London made up.  I'm not sure what it entailed, but their was a lot of wolf noises, crawling on knees and the occasional attack of an innocent "prey".

They also made chocolate chip cookies together - yum!

And put on a play: John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.  It was very cute!

Snuggling before bed.