Mimi and Mormor Visit

Mimi and Mormor came to visit for 8 days over Mimi's spring break.  But a day and a half after they were scheduled to fly home, Nate was going to Hawaii for a work trip, so my mom changed her plane ticket and stayed for just over 2 weeks total.  It was great to have visitors and when Nate was gone, it was good to have Mormor helping.  The kids sure wish that Mimi and Mormor both could have stayed a lot longer!

It was Mimi's job to take Karina to the bus stop every day:

Both girls always wanted to sit in the back of the car with Mimi:

Reading before bed:

Derek is always so thrilled when he gets to jump on the trampoline with the big kids.   

Derek also went through a trains stage where he had to make a train track every day.  He has since moved on to other things like playing dress up. 

We went to HyperKidz again with Mimi and Mormor and the kids had a blast!

We also went on a hike.  Cascade Falls in Patapsco State Park has become our favorite trail.  It is a couple minutes drive away and the hike takes 30-50 minutes each way (depending on pace and if Derek is walking or being carried) to the small waterfall.  

My mom found the game Guess Who that we had when I was a kid.  It was a big hit and brought back fun memories. At least for a few days, Karina and Lydia played it constantly.

Mormor taught the girls how to play chess.  After many sessions, Karina was really starting to understand some good strategies.  Hopefully we can play more and practice.

Lydia and Mormor playing Go Fish:

While Nate was in Hawaii and my dad had flown home to Miami, we got the biggest snowfall of the year - nearly 10 inches.  And that left me to shovel our over 100 foot long driveway:-(    Not to mention shoveling the deck stairs, deck and trampoline, that my mom also helped shovel. (The kids go up and down those stairs all the time, so I don't want them slipping).  It was heavy wet snow.   Next time, it will be Nate's job.

We tried to sled in our backyard, but the snow was just way too wet and didn't work well.  Everyone was disappointed after all the work of dressing everyone in snow gear.  At least it was pretty and fun to play in.

Muscle Derek pulling the sled:

Lydia making snow angels:

Derek got into my new, nice mascara that Mormor had just given me.  He also keeps trying to decorate his face with lipstick, and it has been very frustrating for me as he keeps ruining things.  Of course, he gets upset that he ends up with dirty hands too.

Nice to have Mormor stay the extra week: