{ hello? }

A recent trip to a local library brought up the question "What's this?". What were they referring to you ask? Telephones. Yes, regular telephones and they didn't know what they were. The set-up at the library was a little play area with an old fashioned desk, phones, typewriter, calculator, and stamps. They had a blast pretending to be "working" in an office. But I just can't get over the fact that telephones are evidently that outdated!

{ one fish, two fish }

We are prepping for summer by trying to get Oliver and Stella more and more comfortable in the water. We took swim lessons last winter and enrolled again this winter. For the most recent session, we switched to the Blaisdell Y and have been thrilled with the teacher (aka "Teacher Heather").

Within the first lesson, she had both O and S swimming with her. And the best part: we don't have to get in the water!! Chop and I still put on our suits but we pretty much sit on the edge of the pool and spectate. The next level class will progress to us just sitting in the pool area.

They are becoming more independent in the water and are swimming with a "sandwich" belt and noodle under their arms. It has been fun to see how much they have improved in just 4 weeks!

And when these two fish are out of the water, they continue to enjoy ECFE in Miss Janet's class each week. A fellow parent took a few pictures at our class last week so I thought I would share.

{ wordless wednesday: i wanna hold your hand }

{ wordless wednesday: super-twins }

{ weekend round-up }

(side note: Picasa web albums have changed their hosting so until I figure out their 

new format, pics will be smaller and lower quality. Though I'm guessing of the handful of 

readers that are still left, no one would probably notice. Ha!)

We had a fairly uneventful weekend that was kicked off with our usual Saturday morning swim lessons. We visited our neighborhood bike shop after and when we were headed back to the car we had to pass by The Malt Shop. Oliver said "Go have lunch there". No one argued with the idea.....I didn't have to deal with making lunch and they got ice cream after finishing their meal.

Stella decided that she needed to drink the rest of her ice cream and said after "That was the best ice cream I've ever had."

No big St. Patty's Day celebrations or parties for us but there was some parading around in the house in sunglasses.

I did stay up late one night for Pinterest craft night. It was worth it as we worked on this awesome pleated tote bag.

A trip to Costco brought out the yogi in Stella.

Sunday morning was a trip to the zoo.

And some festive St. Patty's Day cupcakes. Yum!

Trying to forget the fact that last year it was 80 on this weekend and this year we are under a winter weather advisory with another 3-5 inches of the white stuff headed our way. Where are you spring?!

{ puddle jumping }

Last week we had a day of fairly mild temps. Like most afternoons, we headed outside after naps for a stroll around the block. Thanks to the warmer temps, they at least had something to do.....look for puddles to jump in.

Part of our stroll includes heading down Lyndale Ave (for those non-Minneapolis folks reading, it is a fairly busy city street). Oliver and Stella could hardly contain their excitement when they spotted a yellow school bus.

The picture timing was right on (thank you iPhone 5!) and they look like little rappers while shouting "mommy, a yellow school bus" over and over.

{ birthday and snow day }

I celebrated 33 years last week on Friday. One more year until I'm officially in my mid-thirties. Yikes! It was a pretty standard weekday but good nonetheless. It may as well have been Oliver and Stella's birthday as they were treated to Noodles for dinner.

Followed by a cupcake for dessert (don't let the picture fool you - I am holding the cupcake but the actual consuming of it was done by them!).

I was gifted a fancy pair of swim goggles which I've already put to use twice. Here's to another great year.......hopefully filled with a handful of tris (if I can manage to stay injury free) where I can really test the goggles!

It seems as though my birth month decided to come in like a lion, dumping 9+ inches of snow in the cities on Monday.

What better way to spend a snow day than at the coffee shop drinking hot chocolate.

And catching up on a little reading.

Followed by scooter races.

Now hopefully onto warmer temps to melt the snow away!

{ awkward family photos }

Have you ever seen those books at the store titled "Awkward Family Photos"? If not, they are filled with hilarious family pics where family members are posed awkwardly. After writing that out the title seems pretty self-explanatory.

Anyways, this picture of Oliver and Stella at the zoo would be my submission. It seriously looks like an engagement photo. And there was no prompting.......I set them on the turtle and Oliver immediately put his arms around Stella.

Other fun at the zoo that day included a peek at a ferocious wolf.

Petting a lizard.

And getting hand fed goldfish by their friend Colton while watching the fish show.

Hopefully just a little bit longer until we can enjoy the OUTside part of the zoo!

{ dress-up }

Oh, how I love that toddlers know no gender stereotypes. The fact that Oliver is willing to put on and dance around in a tutu is refreshing in a world where most males wouldn't. If only that innocence would last.......

Superheros have also been quite popular in our house lately. Stella is especially fond of her superhero Halloween costume from a few years ago. Evidently even superheros like kale chips.

And cartoons too.

Oliver was in heaven yesterday at a play date. His friend Rocco also has an older brother so there was every superhero costume imaginable at their house. Totally in his element.

{ wordless wednesday: are they done yet? }