Gymnastics

The kids started a gymnastics class through the Town of Gilbert. They go once a week, for almost 8 weeks. The age range of the class is 3-5 years old, so it is a very intro-level class and lots of fun. The kids LOVE it.


An opening group warm up.

I think this is the exercise where the kids told me they were making pizza.

Walter practicing his moves


Adele, then Gordon

Neighborhood Egg Hunt

Ready and waiting for the neighborhood egg hunt

Gordon finding an egg

Adele

Walter

Walking to find friends. The egg hunt was spread over a HUGE area.  This doesn't even come close to capturing how big it all was.

Walter digging into the candy while we chatted with neighbors and friends.

The kids making themselves comfortable.

Adele kept asking if she could eat another candy. My kids are used to me doling the candy out piece by piece, but this time, I told them just to eat it all. *laugh*

Silly Gordon

A friend took this family photo for us. The kids had a great time at the egg hunt. They told me many times how much fun it was.

After we got home, the kids ate lunch, then watched a movie, and then they dyed eggs. They got really into that activity, too.

Spring Break awesomeness

We are taking full advantage of the kids being on spring break and filling up their days with fun stuff. Today, I took them up to Riverview park near the Cubs Spring Training stadium. Then we met Jeff for lunch since his work is only a few minutes away from where we were. After that, we whipped home to pick up a few things then met our friends at their neighborhood pool. Such a great day!

Walter, contemplating his options on the climbing structure. He told me he wished Daddy was there because Daddy is better at helping him climb.

They have an awesome traditional play structure with slides and climbers, but my kids much prefer this concrete slide and rocks to climb. They spent most of their time here.

This castle is designed to be climbed up to the top, walk around the top edge, then climb down to a ledge where they jump down. Walter nailed it.

Gordon headed up the rocks, but looking back to give me a "Cheese."

I brought along sandwiches since the kids ate light breakfasts. Adele was stuffing her face. Her stomach doesn't usually wake up until 9:30/10am.

This is the giant climbing structure we went to at the end. Adele was just watching at this point. Gordon was making his way along the left side. Walter had gotten to the middle, but still at the bottom.

Walter searching for a path.

All three kids giving the climber a try, from L to R, Gordon, Adele,  and Walter

I just like this view from the middle of the climber looking back.

On our way to the car, we checked out the park side of Riverview. People were fishing in the water. Across the way, a mom and boy were feeding bread to ducks and two geese. The kids enjoyed seeing the geese a lot.

Group shot in front of the fountain

The kids were giggling while sitting in front of the fountain. The day felt very, very warm, almost hot, so they enjoyed the spray that coated their faces from the water and laughed every time they got hit with it.

We drove about 5 minutes west to Tempe Marketplace (Jeff had to drive 5 minutes east) and met Jeff for lunch. I love this candid I got of Adele with her Daddy.

After lunch, we headed to meet friends at their neighborhood pool. One of the first things we did was get a group shot with them all jumping into the water together.

A race to the end of the ramp, then cannonball in the water. Crazy kids!

FLY!!

Jump! I only wish we'd gotten a shot of Adele's perfect cannonball on the very last 'race' they did. I was so impressed.

An update on swim lessons

The kids have been in swim lessons for over a year now. They've been at this latest level, sea lion, for a while, but they are making lots of progress. Tonight they had a make-up lesson, which put them at the lane closest to the viewing window, so I took some photos and videos.

Waiting to start their lessons

Walter

Adele

Gordon

Adele waving 'hi.'

Here's Walter doing an exercise they have for practicing 'big arms.'

Now Adele and Gordon practicing their arms

Walter working on his swimming

Gordon working on his swimming 

Adele working on her swimming. She looked VERY strong tonight!

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and triplets!

Some friends, and almost birthday buddies, were in Arizona to visit family. When they mentioned they'd be at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum today, the kids and I drove down to meet up along with (most of) the Silverstein crew.

The kids were super excited because I set up the rear entertainment system and they got to watch a movie in the back while I listened to my audio book in the front. Gordon was also pretty pumped to meet boy triplets who were only 3 days older than him and his siblings. He thought that was pretty cool.

We had an easy drive down. I started getting a little freaked out once we were off the highway and the GPS took me through some small desert towns. Then we entered the Saguaro National Park and scenic, but steadily smaller, roads.  Finally, we found the Desert Museum.

Our first stop on arrival, checking out a tortoise.

The kids loved they were able to touch the shell

A view onto the museum's walking paths

The first area to explore was a cave system. Here, the kids tried on bat ears.

We got out onto the trails and there were many experiences for the kids. Here's Walter.

Gordon as an owl

The triplets (minus one) on display

Checking out a snake. 

A desert fox. My kids were great as long as we were moving or looking at something, but any time we stopped, the whining started. It didn't help that I'd left the snacks in the car, but thankfully we had friends who shared and I also found a vending machine. 

The kiddos and I, plus one! :) 

Adele doing her best vulture impression.

One of the last areas we visited was a reptile area at the front. The kids got to draw.

And it had a few toys on the wall, too. After this, we checked out a small aquarium, said goodbye, and got on the road.  We'll definitely have to go back with Dad sometime!