Cook-Out

We had such spring weather today that we decided to have a cookout with the neighbors. I have actually gotten to know both of them well, but the husbands in each house have been busy working so much that they haven't really met. It was so beautiful outside today and we decided to unleash the garage overflow that was camped out on our deck all winter under a tarp. It was sad to do...Jerry is the one who tarped everything up for us last fall. We also unloaded the attic. John will be parking outside from now on because our garage is filled with plastic toys, bikes, Cozy Coups, etc. I think it overwhelmed our New York neighbors to see all of our toys--they only have one kid and have lived in Manhattan for the last 15 years. I put together the playhouse that I got for the girls at a garage sale at the end of the summer. They only had it for a few weeks before we moved, so it was like a new toy for them. They also couldn't get enough of the Cozy Coups and riding in the Jeeps. Jack was in heaven riding his green jeep and also running around with all his friends. Kristen and Mark (directly next door to us) invited a set of friends over that live very close by and they have three kids. So there were eleven kiddos running around! One second grader, one first grader, three kindergardeners, five two year-olds and a 3 month old! Plenty of playmates and eyes to keep watch on the little ones.

The food was great! Hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, chips, cole slaw, potato salad, fruit salad, pasta salad, cookies, brownie cupcakes and the kids' favorites---jelly bellies. It was a standing joke with the two bowls of jelly bellies and all the kids that came by, reaching for more when they were all gone. I think everyone had WAY too many of these, but oh, well, it was a party, right?

Kristen and John supervising the little kids

Sullivan and Anna

Elizabeth with a mouth of jelly bellies

Melissa and Jack

Alyssa and Helen

Seamus and Jack

John cooking the hotdogs and burgers with Jeff

New (given to us used right before we moved last fall) Barbie Jeep. We need to get another battery for it. The girls didn't mind. They just liked to sit in it and fasten their seatbelts.

Seatbelts on. Didn't have to prompt them on this.

Kate: "I think you have to push down on the that pedal to get it to move. Push as hard as you can."

Elizabeth: "No, there is no battery in the car, that is what Daddy said. The car won't move without the battery."

Anna: "I'll get it to move somehow, but for now, I am glad I figured out how to put the seatbelt on."

I think both these girls inhereted my lovely hair--"rat's nest" as the girls will call it.

I took Jack to see an opthalamologist here in town. It is hard for me to leave Dr. Kipp, but driving five plus hours for appointments every few months is not really going to happen. He referred us to Dr. Orge at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital. The appointment went well. He suggested that we strengthen Jack's glasses, so we got that done this weekend too. We will return to see Dr. Orge in June (first week of school out and the kids and I have dentist appointments and now the eye doctor appointment for Jack--we will be busy, busy!)