Oh What do you do in the Springtime?

The area we live in keeps surprising us with all the beauty and outdoor opportunities.  We discovered a free Provincial Park just 20 minutes from our house!  No buffalo here to be concerned about--lots of beautiful lakes and so many beaver dams!
  

Double Date Bike Ride

The boys discovered a cute little froggy and Tommy was the only one brave enough to pick it up.

Bursting blossoms--not there at all the day before!

The boys created their own "monopoly" boards one Sunday afternoon--the twins made an NHL-opoly

  

Tommy made a Pokemon-opoly

Owen made a Peguinopoly

Crazy Cousin Fun--we sure love seeing so much of our Edmonton cousins

Chef James taught the boys what he learned from a Chinese woman at the Institute one morning at breakfast

A strawberry-rose for you!

We strung up three hammocks in our backyard.  The boys love to chill-ax out here.  We all do!

Our two songbirds--or is it silly birds?

They put on a great final concert--the whole family went and really enjoyed it.  They will definitely join again next year! The boys sang "The Duct Tape Song," a battle marching song, and the combined choirs did Imagine Dragons "On Top of the World," and a medley from "Muppets."  

Crabapple tree in the back

Cheering on Will and Ry at their school's track meet.

I got to go with George on a field trip to the Science Center.  We sat in the back of the bus and had a very bouncy ride.  

They had a presentation on bugs--and watched an IMAX as well.  All through the movie George kept repeating, "I'm never going outside again!"  

 I was able to attend a peaceful rally at the state capitol about our new rules in Alberta regarding gender issues.  It was definitely eye-opening and I felt (and the women I went with) that our presence was helpful, as they were counting bodies.  There were over 2,000 of us.  Vast majority was against the rules.

Teenaged Ryrie

Sweet tooth Willy

A friend of mine who teaches her boys and a few piano students invited us to join them for a recital.  Because the boys all take piano from Nana, who lives far away, we don't always get to participate in recitals.  It was a good experience for everyone!  They all got nervous, and they all made it through.  George, who was prepared with two songs, "Snack Time," and "Book of Mormon Stories," got a progressively worse "tummy ache" as his turn approached.  He told me he couldn't do it, and he was sweaty and so nervous!  It was the strangest thing to see--he hardly ever seems to get scared or nervous about anything.  So he didn't end up playing his pieces.  :-)

I always enjoy duets--but doesn't having twins playing together make it even better?

George comes home every day with new facts about various bugs.  This was a cute ladybug crown they made at school.

And yet another beautiful location: Strathcona Wilderness Center

 I got to attend an all-day field trip with Owen and his class.  I got to wander around in a beautiful forest while they played a really cool game called Predator Prey.  Owen was an herbivore, and he had to hide from the omnivores, carnivores, disease, and hunters.  Also he had to collect lots of food and water while doing so.

The forest they were playing in was like a scene from The Hobbit

Spring Cleanup time!  This boy has way too many clothes...

Teachers/Mia Maids activity--I love being able to spy on my twins

Happy Spring!