Call Day #100, 4/9/12

In case you might have missed it, we've reached Call Day #100!

 After a quiet moment of getting things done while the kids played, I went to investigate.  They were in Claire's room and had totally taken apart the alphabet floor mat and moved furniture around.

This was all part of an effort to make a "trampoline" out of couch cushions under the window and establish a better vantage point for watching for the street cleaner to come.

After running errands this morning, we spent some time at a park.

Eleanor practiced pumping her legs on the big kid swings. 

 Climbing.

 Stomach swinging.

Eleanor and this girl played together better than I've seen her play with anyone else we've ever met at a park before.  They created all kinds of constantly evolving imaginary situations and acted out all of the Cinderella story.

 When we got home, Claire went right away to put the flowers she picked for Daddy in water.

 After nap, we went to the Arboretum.  They liked checking out a little brook.

 Not sure what Claire was expecting of our outing.  It took her a little while to enjoy being there.  She kept saying, almost crying, "I want to go to the ar-dor-etum."  Telling her we were already there didn't seem to compute.  Eleanor, on the other hand, took off running and exploring.

 Warming up to the ar-dor-etum.

 Finding Eleanor during a game of hide-and-seek.

Wanting to be like Eleanor and hide too.

 Can you find Claire?

 From hesitant to little explorer, leading the way, stick in hand.

Eleanor walked the full length of this dry rock bed.  Much better than the grass or the path, you know. 

 Playing in the dirt.

 Eleanor's main goal was to find the "purple trees" we had seen as we had driven by the Arboretum earlier in the day.  After much searching, she found one.

Rolling down the hill.

 Eleanor found a fun tree seat.  Claire wanted to check it out.

 Sweet.

 In a cherry tree.

 Wondering why it didn't have any cherries.

 Someone couldn't leave without another visit to the creek.  Like father, like daughter?

 Yes, it is a day later than most people, but we did Easter baskets tonight.  (I like a bit of separation from the celebration of the resurrection on Sunday.)  Eleanor was excited to have grass like some of her friends had at an egg hunt on Saturday morning.

 Enjoying goodies from Grandma and Grandpa.  (Thank you!!)

 Claire is big on saying "Cheese!"

Blowing her bird water whistle.