lady bug

lady bug, lady bug, fly away....

Father's day

Here daddy enjoys the classic breakfast in bed with the kids.

Yummy "daddy bread" (brioche made by daddy)

Maddy eyes the big jar of Nutella....

At the science museum

Last Sunday we went to the Museum of Science to see the new exhibit on the pyramids, where the kids got to ride a "camel" through the "desert". Next David offered some tips on brushing & flossing to the mighty T-rex while Maddy checked out the display on gene sequencing (think she came home wearing the same genes as she came with!).

Last day of baseball

Last Saturday was the last day of T-ball for the season.  David enjoyed playing one more time, as well as playing with the dog in the bleachers, and the pizza party and trophy afterwards.

Whee!

The kids just love to swing on the "Giant Robot" at our local play ground.  Here they are trying to beat it into submission....

Kimball Farms!

We recently went to Kimball Farms, a local ice cream place which also has mini-golf and other fun for kids.  We played a round of mini-golf in which David enjoyed swinging his club, and Maddy helped out by putting mommy's ball into the little cup for her.  After a few games at the video arcade, the kids shared chocolate peanut butter ice cream.  Yum yum.

Maddy & Blue Bear watch David and daddy vanquish the villains 

villains

More day care fun

Here are David and Madeleine having some fun at day care.

David & Joe show off their  castle.  Maybe "whiffy the shunk ghost" lives here... 

Madeleine is getting ready for circle time.  Wonder what they'll read today?

The Big Hungry Bear and the Red Ripe Strawberry

One of Maddy's favorite stories is The Big Hungry Bear and the Red Ripe Strawberry (in which a little mouse ends up eating the strawberry so that the bear can't get it). Her she is "reading" it with one of her teachers at daycare.

The big box

We just got a new lawn mower (the other one died just before Memorial day, so already too tall grass got to grow a little longer until we could cut it).  And of course it came in a BIG box, just the right size for kid-sized fun.

Baseball!

David has just started junior baseball (AKA "T-ball").  He is very excited to go each week and can't wait until it is HIS turn at bat (that's him, front row-center, in the team picture-it was a REALLY hot day, all the kids are a subdued in the picture).

Easter in PA

On Sunday, we had brunch with gramma and grampa Russell, the Russells and Rummlers from NJ, cousin  Ellen, and Auntie Dawn's sister Cathy and nephew Ryan.  Afterwards, the kids (big and little!) enjoyed the petting zoo outside and did another Easter egg hunt.

Easter in NJ

We went to visit both sets of Russells for Easter.  On Saturday we did an Easter egg hunt and visited the Easter Bunny with Auntie Dawn and Uncle Bob.

Sesame Street Fever

The kids went to see a live action show featuring all the Sesame Street gang in March.  To get in the mood, they shared their waffles with Elmo and Cookie monster morning before the show and posed at the displays before the show.  (That's the singing penguin (a posthumous gift from my late boss; he sings "Sleigh Ride" song) peeking out from behind the chair at Elmo).

Valentine's day

It wouldn't be valentine's day without cards- the Russell -hallmark gene runs strong in the family!

mommy's birthday

Laurent made yummy Napoleons out of homemade chocolate puff pastry for Mary's birthday.  Guess she is now one year old (or we didn't have enough candles...)

Frosty the snow man

David and Maddy managed to make a snow man out of the one "big" storm we had this winter.  They even briefly danced around it singing the Frosty the snow man song!

Bye-Bye Crib

Shortly after the previous post (monkey see-monkey do) Maddy helped daddy take down the crib.  Our baby is officially a little girl!