We Are Wild!!!

Maren:
This last weekend mommy found a coupon and got a great deal on some tickets to Wildlife Safari!  We picked Xxander up so that he could go with us too!  We got there right when the park was opening so we got to see some really amazing stuff.  It wasn't too hot yet, all the animals were out still, and many of them were being fed breakfast!! We got to see a young Cheetah being fed and were only a few feet away!  When we loaded up into the car for the drive through section, the giraffes were out and walking around just a short distance away, the hippos were out and munching on hay, right up next to the fence, and we got to feed some crazy emu birds right out of our window!  We even had an ostrich that tried to eat our car!  The crazy bird just pecked and pecked and pecked at daddy's window until he rolled it down.  It was so funny!  It was a really fun experience.
A few days later, my teacher Mrs. Safko invited me to come to a school board meeting so that I could show off my reading skills.  A few of the other kiddos in my class came too.  We each spent a few moments reading for the school board so that we could show them exactly what kindergartners are capable of.  Our teacher Mrs. Safko was so proud of us! 

Maddox:
Wildlife Safari was such a fun adventure!  Although I was like a wild animal in the car by the time the drive was over!  I liked looking at the animals but think I had a lot more fun just tormenting my sister and Xxander.  I even think I may have drove mommy and daddy a bit crazy too!  I loved looking at the bears... they were really close to the car (though a hot wire fence of course) and I thought the hippos were pretty cool too.  The funniest thing to me was definitely the crazy ostrich that kept pecking at our car.  I giggled and giggled at that!

Birthdays and Big Helpers

Maren:
 This last weekend our good fried Jasper celebrated his 5th birthday.  He loves trains so they had the party at the train park again this year.  The park was packed because it was opening day for the public, but we still had a great time.  We got some good rides on the trains, had cake, played some games, and wrestled on the grass in our dinosaur masks.  Birthday parties are fun!
I have been working really hard at my reading and have become quite the little reader.  I love to sit and read to mommy, daddy and even my little brother when he will sit still long enough.  Reading is so fun!  


Maddox:
I am getting to be such a big boy and love to be a big helper around the house.  I am a super hard worker and love to put my "workin' boots/gloves/coat" on so that I am appropriately geared up.  I commonly have my daddy's work helmet on but will play pretend in just about anything that I deem appropriate work wear.  Its fun!  The other day daddy actually let me help mow the lawn.  I was so proud of myself!  
I also got to have a special slumber party with Nonna the other night since sissy got to go to the coast for spring break.  She spoiled me rotten, of course, as only a Nonna can!
I'm still in swim lessons and doing pretty well.  Mommy plans on keeping me in lessons just a bit longer before pulling me out for the summer.  I'm in class with Bella now and she is really great at showing me how its supposed to be done.

Our first Spring Break!

Maren:
This last week was my very first official "Spring Break!"  To celebrate, Nonna and Nonno took me to the coast for a few days.  Really, it was a late birthday present since we were unable to go in August because of all of the fires but spring break gave us a good excuse to catch up.  We had a really great time!  The weather was beautiful, a bit cold and windy on the beach like normal but we still had fund playing.  I kept Nonna busy playing Uno as much as I could and got lots of special time. 
Just a few days after we got home it was Easter.  It was really early this year and it happened on April Fool's Day!  Thankfully the Easter Bunny didn't play any mean tricks on us and still brought us some really neat things.  I got a new swim suit and some new summer tank tops.   Mommy even made me a couple of new dresses for play time.  Unfortunately, Maddox was sick on Easter so we weren't able to go to church but we stayed home and had fun hunting for eggs.  Nonna came out to join us for dinner, Nonno was sick too, and we had a nice family dinner just the four of us... poor daddy had to go to work!

Maddox:
Last week was spring break and my sissy got to go to the coast.  I was pretty bummed that I didn't get to go too but mommy convinced me that it was pretty cool for me to stay home.  We spent lots of time playing together (so much that she didn't even have time to take pictures) and she gave me lots of love.  One of the days while sissy was gone Xxander came over to play with me.  We broke out the bubbles on the back porch and had a great time.  Jolene even joined in the fun!  When we blew bubbles in her face she would try to eat them out of the air!  Xxander and I thought this was pretty funny!
At the very end of spring break was Easter.  Unfortunately I had a fever and was pretty congested so wasn't feeling the best but we still had a fun day.  The Easter Bunny brought us some really neat stuff... a new swim suit, a cool tractor book, some new summer sandals, lots of gum and some candy too!  Nonna joined us for dinner to top off a good holiday.