Bootheel

About two months ago, I realized that the photos from almost 200 older blog posts had gone missing. Imagine my shock and dismay! Despite Sam's reasoning that I "didn't have to recreate the blog," I was able to go back through my Google Photos and update all of the posts (and almost all of the photos - there were just a handful that I'm afraid are missing for good - less than 5 probably). Whew. I'm glad that's done with.

Now on to the regularly scheduled post:

I posted before about Leah's birthday cake in the bootheel. Here are the rest of the (remarkably few!) pictures from our trip to Bernie over Spring break:

Here's a video of the "ride that pony" game for all posterity:

This dress was Amelie's. Isn't it stylish?

Google created this artistic touch for me. I think it illustrates James's crankiness.

Also a good representation of the electronics use!

Of course, no visit would be complete without playing the game. Nana Jana has almost all of the high scores.

Look how thrilled James is. He must have won :)

Lawnmower fun:

Leah spent quite a lot of time out on the porch swing:

I guess it was windy - their hair is all blowing around.

I told them to lean in together: 

Visiting with Aunt Patti and Uncle Jeff: 

I guess we didn't get any pictures with Grandma Doris this time!

Dandelions

Leah and James like to play outside while Amelie has her piano lesson. Dandelions were in full seed in the yard, and too appealing to resist.

Here's a picture of this pair from last year - it looks like James is even wearing the same shirt! Ha!

Matching Easter Dresses

I fell prey to a targeted facebook ad and bought the girls (and me) matching Easter dresses this year.

Leah is not sold on the idea, clearly. 

These were the best ones of us at church. The flowers on Amelie's dress are a different shade and she was miffed that they weren't matching exactly. (They were enthusiastic about this idea, I swear.

Sam and James:

We didn't get a whole family photo, unfortunately!

Swimming

We met some friends to go swimming at the ARC on a day off of school. Here's Amelie rocking the socks-with-swimsuit look.

And Leah in her finally-about-to-be-too-small 12mo swim top:

James declined a photo.

Stephen's Lake

James likes the big rock at Stephen's Lake Park.

And Leah can climb up the climbing wall. (2 seems pretty early, but James did it even earlier - around 20 months!)

Edited to add a video of her climbing:

Leah likes to slide. "Dada Wook! Wook!" she says.

And just a couple of goofballs (they took off their shoes to play in the sand pit / make a village with sticks and plants.)

We went right before bedtime so the light was low and the pictures are a little blurry.

Ice Cream

Every year, they do a free cone day at Dairy Queen so I let these goofballs get some ice cream at the drive-thru.

Happy Birthday

Well, we had Leah’s 2nd birthday party a month late - which is a bit of a trend. We were all sick with the flu on her actual birthday and then half the guest list was in Australia and then we went down to the bootheel (more on that later).

Leah did share a birthday cake with her great-grandma while we were in Bernie (since Leah’s birthday was in the 11th and Grandma’s was on the 15th). My cousin Darri was scandalized that she hadn’t had a party/any cake yet and bought it for us - and then we proceeded to eat an entire cake over the few days we were visiting!

This cake had a baby shark!

Amelie and I baked a cake on Thursday and then she and James and I decorated it on Friday before the party. They made the seaweed and marine creatures out of airheads (and supplemented with Swedish fish). There was some bickering about the placement of the baby shark decorations on this cake.

The kids (mostly the cousins) dyed Easter eggs for an activity.

Leah is two!

Opening presents with Grandma Mary and Aunt Holly. Leah got a book, a new swimsuit, a baby doll, and a stuffed puppy dog - plus new sand for the sandbox.

Aunt Lana gave her this sweet outfit.

There was one outfit change after cake and ice cream.