Family Visit & NYC

Andrew made his annual trip to the New York Book Fair this week. Most years someone from the Richards clan comes East during this time, and this year was no exception!
The first full day that Grandma Richards, Aunt Mia, Tia (aka Aunt Natalie), and cousin Lincoln were around, we all went into the city then had lunch:Once we got home it was nap time. After the nap, however, the kiddos wanted to play together (in Nora's crib)!


Kissin' Cousins!

The next day I pulled out the Wii and we played Just Dance. You score points by following (dancing) along as a character dances on screen to different songs:


Later that afternoon, I headed to NYC to spend a couple of nights away from the apt. I didnt take many pictures. Here are some shots from the roof of our hotel:

Andrew, ready for the book fair!
I woke up feeling and looking exhausted (despite 8 hours of sleep!). I recommended Andrew just take a photo of my legs.
Story time with Grandma

Lincoln in the laundry basket
A favorite place of the little ones
Cousins, hanging out

Grandma gave Ella her watch to play with

Nora had a different idea. She was clearly proud.

Pretty girl!
Not even Mama can make them happy all the time
Last night together: waiting for our table a a restaurant

Finally seated:
Nora didnt eat much. But she did eat a lemon. The whole thing. Grandpa Richards would be proud!
Lincoln happily ate
Ella was telling a fantastic story, and Lincoln just couldnt believe it!
Ella trying out the straw
All the grandbabies together = a happy Grandma!

Happy Easter, Y'all!

The girls woke up to find a special friend in the living room:The Easter Bunny!




Nora, walking in to church
Daddy walking Ella in




Look, Mia. I wore the white gloves to church!
After church we went to the Melton's house for lunch and an egg hunt.

We brought the Easter Bunny with us
Egg hunt!




Ella eats the cheerios in her egg


Daddies
Savannah's goods.
Nora decides she needs to carry both baskets, of course.

So Ella puts a bunch of rocks in a bucket. And she was just fine with that.
The girls eat berries
(Savannah later came out with "an even better bowl" of fruit--we figured out after awhile she had put pieces of bologna in it. Apparently she just wanted to put things she loved to eat in the bowl and share it with the girls!)

The Girls Run Track

So, Ella has not been sleeping so well lately. She is a bundle of energy all the time, especially before bed. Since the weather has been SO nice this week (70's and very sunny!) I figured it was a shame not to be outside. But taking walks wears ME out because the girls are either in the stroller or wagon. The nearest park is a good hike and even tehn it's hard for me to rangle two little ones. So I decided to try the local high school track and football field. It's only two blocks away and fenced in!. It turned out to be a marvelous find. The track was recently re-done and the football field is now a nice, soft AstroTurf, which is excellent for toddler feet to run on. We have gone there the past two days and both night have been nice and quiet!
Here are some pics from today's adventure (I thought to bring some balls to play with today!)