Ballet Playdate

Elise has been dancing around the house  and asking to take ballet for a while now. (Nate and I are hoping to let her take next year.) Last week her friend from school invited her to ballet for "bring a friend day". She had a blast, and it was almost too much cuteness to handle! Now she's really begging to take ballet!

Finley's Tooth Box

Finley is getting close to losing his first tooth! We decided to go to a pottery painting place so he could make a tooth box and celebrate this milestone.  (We don't do the Easter bunny or Santa in an attempt to keep the focus of those holidays more on the Christian meaning, but we plan to do the tooth fairy.)

Finley was so focused on painting that he didn't look up for a photo!

We'll post a photo of the finished product once we get it back from the kiln!

Caterpillar Friends

We went out for a walk in one of the local parks a couple of weekends ago and were surrounded by eastern tent caterpillars. The kids were completely fascinated and fell in love with them. We didn't get very far on the walk because they stopped every 6 inches to pick up another caterpillar. Finley actually cried when we left because we said we needed to leave the caterpillars there and not take them home. It was so sweet. 

Then the next morning, I spotted this guy sitting on my yoga mat in the passenger seat of the car! A stowaway! Since we didn't want to release it in our yard and get tent webs in our trees, I agreed to keeping it as a pet IF it ate. But after a couple days it didn't, so we took it to the park and released it so we wouldn't kill it. 

Renwick & White House

While my parents were here visiting we got over ambitious and went to the Wonder exhibit at the Renwick Gallery. Despite our best efforts, the kids almost (okay, they did) touch the art few times, tried to jump through the museum like frogs, and had mini-meltdowns. We definitely got some dirty looks, but at least it was an awesome exhibit. (The kids, to their credit, were well-behaved eating pizza afterwards.) 

The art:

Laying on the floor to look up at the next photo's art. 

This room was decorated entirely of bugs!

Stopped by the White House since it's so close to the Renwick. 

Love this. She's obsessed with "blow flowers" and how "soft and fuzzy" they are. 

Finley is 6!

Look who is 6 years old!!!!!!

On his actual birthday, we went out for Finley's favorite xiao long bao.

On Friday we went bowling with Grandmommy and Granddad. 

And of course there was cake! Finley wanted a white cake with vanilla frosting, chocolate chips, and sprinkles. 

Happy birthday to our big 6-year-old! We love you!

Spring in SS

Oh IKEA. We simultaneously love and hate your massive store and completely disassembled furniture. We are still not settled into the house, but we're getting closer and hoping for fewer IKEA trips in our future. 

In more exciting news, Elise gained some new classmates this week! And there are 7 more waiting to hatch!

Not sure what these are, but they're all over the place. Vibrant purple color that looks so nice against the blue skies, even on a cloudy day. 

More Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossoms can be found all over the area right now, but there is one neighborhood in particular (which happens to be down the street from WES) that is solid cherry blossoms right now. The photos can't capture it, but it feels like a fairy land. All the streets are lined with the trees, and when the wind blows you get showered in little pale pink flower petals. Finley and I walked around the neighborhood over his spring break while Elise was at school. 

A pensive moment from Elise. 

Now this is a serious nap!