Mother's Day on the Mississippi

Since we were already in Dubuque for the wedding on Saturday, we decided to get a hotel room and make a visit to the Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium on Sunday. It was the kids' first time in a hotel. The continental breakfast and pool topped the list of favorite things. But coolest of all was the Museum. We had a blast seeing all of the fish and critters that span the Mississippi eco-systems.

  

  

Whoa!

 

 

Oooh!

Chillin' by the coral reef

Working the locks

 

Checking out the snake in the tree

Jenna loves turtles

The turtle fell off the rock and startled her

Building a boat

 

Showing Grandpa how the fish swims "like this"

Mesmerized

Jacob checking out a crayfish (crawfish/crawdad)

Feeling the exoskeleton

Jenna checking out the crayfish

NO WAY!!

Listening to the "river" in a snail shell

Jenna hears it too

This is what happens when Mommy forgets a stroller

Petting a red skink - native to Austraila but also found in the US

Learning all about the red skink

The Captain and his first mate commanding a barge

Jenna kept trying to feed the tortoise straw that had fallen out of its enclosure

Look who's captain now!

Mommy's favorite -- Otters

Drop anchor!

Steering an old dredge barge

Sometimes, you gotta put your weight into it

Watching a choo-choo from the upper deck (3 stories) of the dredge barge

Back at the controls

Weekend Wedding

On Saturday, we traveled to Dubuque for Scott's cousin's wedding. The ceremony was outside in cold, blustery, drizzly weather. Thankfully, the reception was inside at the fairground ballroom. It gave the kids plenty of room to run. But once the music started, the focus was on the beat.

Little Lawn Man

Jacob is very proud to be driving the tractor by himself. He will be actually mowing in no time.

4-Wheelin'

Every year, our town sponsors "Amnesty Day". It is one particular Saturday that you can put anything (a few restrictions) on your curb and the city will haul it away for you. So, residents start placing their items on Friday for early pick-up on Saturday. This results in others roaming town looking for "treasures"....this year, I was a scavenger.

One of my neighbors down the street put out a Power Wheels 4-wheeler. Pretty dusty. Tires are worn. No battery. However, I have a handy husband, so I drove the truck down the street to retrieve it.

Today he got it running and has plans to spruce up the tires. Our overall goal is to not have any money into this toy. So far, he was able to use the battery from the jet ski. The plan for the tires involves worn out lawn mower tires and rivets. Fingers crossed.

Once the motor was running, nothing was stopping the kids from enjoying, not even the gloomy rain clouds.

 
 
    

Spring (Finally) Sprung

These are pictures from last weekend when Spring decided to arrive...and actually felt more like Summer. I took the break in the rain and cold as an opportunity to visit the newly constructed "Pirate Playground" just outside of town. Jake keeps asking when we will go back.

Then the next two popular spring/summer activities at our house are playing in the sandbox and mowing the lawn. Please note that Jacob is driving the tractor. I got video and hope to get it posted soon.