A Walk in the Woods

Last weekend we took the kids on a mini-hike...it didn't end all that well (bloody knees) but it sure started out sweet. 

A Very Wenzel Weekend

Hello, faithful five readers! Sorry it's been awhile. It's been a little crazy here, and this past week I worked all five days. I know I used to do that all the time with no problem, but it nearly killed me this time. I said to a friend at work who has three kids and works full time, "How do you DO this?" She replied, "Well, I have a husband who works from home and we have a nanny 45 hours a week." Oh. Point taken. Anyway, we survived, and while this week doesn't look that much lighter, I wanted to at least post pictures from our amazing weekend (last weekend) with Aunt Hannah, and surprise guests Robbie and Tom! The kids knew Hannah was coming, but were utterly shocked when the basement door opened in the morning and Robbie and Tom's heads peeked out. The joy!

OMG! Grandma Robbie is here!

What?! Grandpa TOM is here, too??



 This one captures our little flirt perfectly, no? :)

We had a great outing to the playground. The same one we go to four times a week...but it was totally new and exciting with Grandma Robbie and Grandpa Tom there! (On the way, Cody and Grandpa Tom had an intense conversation about what happens to cars with orange stickers, like the one broken down on the side of the road. As you can imagine, he has been replaying this conversation nonstop ever since.)
 
 
 
Swinging is just much better when Grandma Robbie's doing the pushing.
 
Or Grandpa Tom.
 
 
 
 Cody even convinced GT to take a swing with him. : )
And then Cordelia did a little persuading of her own...

Grandpa Tom, will you let me go on top of that death mobile? Mom says she can't reach but I think she's just risk averse. "Sure, Cordelia!"

Grandpa Tom, will you take me ziplining for REAL someday? Preferably in some really dangerous Latin American country? "Of course! Yes!"
 
WHEE!

 All in all, it was a wonderful weekend -- we missed you all as soon as you left!

Running Practice

She's A Lady

These might, possibly, be my favorite pictures ever of my little lady. They capture everything about her.

Birthdaypalooza

Cody and Cordelia had a wonderful birthday season. Between Easter, their actual birthdays, and their party day, they got presents for basically two weeks. Needless to say, we've had a few behavioral challenges the past few days as the inevitable letdown occurred. Last week they had an amazing party, with nearly all the people they love most all in one place. Below, some highlights...

Violet: "Cody, I think I am going to marry you!"

Cody, giggling like a fiend: "Oh! OKAY!"

Cordelia's cake: Cookie Monster!

My crowning achievement of 2012: Cody's cake!

He was delighted. As was I! :)

Here's Cordelia, belting out the Happy Birthday song...to herself.

She didn't blow the noisemaker so much as chew it.

Here's Violet, enjoying every last crumb of her (second, sorry Kim!) cupcake...

Meanwhile, Cody was just biding his time, waiting for the adults to get distracted so he could excavate his own cake.

Cordelia decided she was still hungry. Why wait for a knife?

Brenna, teething on Kim's coke bottle...

Cordelia and Violet had their first blow-pops!

Cody got a new excavator...and immediately went into his own little construction zone in his imagination, complete with whirring, dumping noises.

We had to resort to the shower to get the blow-pop off of Cordelia, who then demanded, "I want to wear my MONKEY PAJAMAS! They are CLEAN!" Then, she discovered the awesomeness of balloons.

Meanwhile, Violet tried on the new excavator shovels...never did any construction worker look so cute.

All in all, it was a wonderful day! Thank you, everyone, for your generosity and for coming all the way to Lake Ridge to celebrate! And a special thank-you to soon-to-be-officially Uncle Sean for taking such great photos.