Let's go fly a kite

Or, if the wind isn't really happening, we can run around for a while, eat a picnic lunch, and call it a day.

Here and then gone

That's the way spring has happened around this midwestern town. We get glimpses and then winter resumes. I cannot say with any confidence that the snow is gone - it seems gone, but then, it might just snow on the kite festival this weekend.

We have celebrated the small moments of spring, and someone even attempted to celebrate the most recent snowfall with a wee snowman. Pictures of that tomorrow. But first, the spring.


We finally purchase a grill. The girls are fascinated with eating grilled food and eating outside. Hope that continues into the kitchen remodel that is fast approaching.





Jeneric has remained a productive artist, despite the warming temperatures that beg for bike rides.





This is a ghost mask and it currently resides in a front window that Jeneric occasionally uses to scare visitors.

Flood

Many have expressed concern over the impending, record-setting flood of 2011. The waters crested Saturday evening at approximately 39'. Our town had more than enough dikes and diversions to protect the populace. Folks to the north (i.e., downstream) have not been as lucky. For them, it is the worst flood ever.

We took a walk last week to investigate what we could - without breaking any local or federal laws. The girls were interested but cautious.



The city is trying out a Norwegian innovation, Aqua fences, but clearly don't trust them as they placed a clay dike immediately behind this fence.

Taken Thursday evening	Taken Sunday morning

Looking straight down Elm Street. It will take a few weeks before this road reopens.


And on the way home, Jeneric shows us how she's grown since last fall, running at full tilt and pulling the wagon - all the way home.

Random Tuesday

Our apologies for the blog silence. It's been a busy two weeks around here, with a bit of travel and a flood. The girls have kept busy...

Playing vet,






Building castles,


Reading,


And singing in the rain.


Flood photos to come...

Friday Random

Celebrating the end of spring break with a little random.

First, we say good bye to winter.


Then we cuddle up with Walkabout for a good movie.


And end the week with some superhero action.

It's a hard knock life

Yep, the girls have chores (already!) including washing all the floors.

Guns, Girls and Pirates

I once had a mother tell me that having girls meant that every toy in our house wouldn't get converted to a gun.

She was wrong.


In the following video, you'll see Jeneric and Toddler Wily take out Swiper from Dora the Explorer before turning their attention to taking out the Pirate Pigs (also from Dora). Note Jeneric asking Toddler Wily for cover.


And yes, we're still wondering where this idea even came from.

All kitty, all the time

Both Jeneric and Toddler Wily adore Hello Kitty (whom they affectionately call Miss Kitty - we are proper people!).

They love coloring Miss Kitty.


Doing lenticulated Miss Kitty puzzles (seriously - it may only be 100 pieces, but it's a challenge to match pieces that are constantly changing!).


And even wearing Miss Kitty rain boots (no photo yet. ND remains a frozen tundra but we'll soon transition into the flooded plains. Record flood quite possible.).

And of course, Toddler Wily loves Lady Argon, one of our real cats.

Creative Spelling

Jeneric has recently developed a keen interest in spelling. It's like living in your own spelling bee, but the good news is that unless you're Grampy, you can spell most of these words. We're talking dog, cat, tree, moon and Toddler Wily's name. Tonight, Jeneric decided to spell Toddler Wily's name in magnetic letters, using only what was available. Creativity was required as we were missing many essential letters.

Here's Jeneric, giving us a letter-by-letter lesson in creative spelling.


And here's Toddler Wily, sitting under her name.


Upon second reflection, that might make for a good password!

So Big, the Preschooler edition

Jeneric has recently taken an interest in measurement. Over the weekend, she built a very large tower and proceeded to see how common household objects stacked up.


Bear was quite a bit shorter.


Pony was a tad bit taller.


And Jeneric, herself, was an entire head taller (it helps to have just gone through a growth spurt!).

Swimming with imagination

Sometimes it's just too cold to get to the swimming pool. In such instances, it's best to take matters to the imaginative level.

Time flies

Sorry for the lack of blog posts last week. We were out of town over the weekend and never quite found enough time to put together a post (or two). We hope to make up for that this week and so we begin with a recap of our trip out of town.

Just your ordinary hotel shenanigans, including photos staged by Jeneric:



(How many differences can you spot between these two photos?!)

And swimming fun.

(Jeneric is spitting water like a fountain.)


Toddler Wily discovered the hot tub bubbles.

Lazy days and Sundays

Are for making streusel-topped coffeecake muffins.







And the occasional moose ears.

Winter Wonderland

The Wily Jeneric family rang in the new year by weathering their first two (!) North Dakota blizzards. Grandma and Grandpa were trapped!, unable to return home as all major roads were closed. So we hunkered down, played a few games, drank some hot cocoa and took a few walks in/on the snow.

Christmas Manicure

Jeneric received nail polish for Christmas! She found one volunteer for a pint-sized manicure.







And Grampy wants to know if Grandpa is next!

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The winner of our Holiday Card Donation Challenge: Doctors Without Borders. We're writing a check for $77.60. Thanks to all who voted, commented and enjoyed our blog this holiday season!

Imagination

Because sometimes rice isn't rice.

Instead, rice is carrot soup.


Rice is chocolate cake.


Rice is beef and mushroom stroganoff.


Rice is a dish best shared.