Meeting Cadence!

After 15 months we finally got to meet our friends' daughter, Cadence ... and Jarrod and Jessie finally got to meet Mallory. Dinner and a trip to the park ... good times in Champaign.

Roadside "Flowers"

If you've got dandelions in your yard ... she'll pick every single one for you. (And she doesn't charge much either.)

Being outside ...

...is so much fun! Especially now that the dogs get to play too! We don't have to worry about leashes or escaping curious terriers...
...a simple stick is acceptable for an exciting game of "keep away"...

...blocks work too...

Buckeye is nothing if not persistent.

Check out Mallory's new dump and fill wagon ... best Easter gift ever! (do you see the pinecones? they were soon followed by rocks and dirt and handfuls of grass...)

We had fun outside on Monday ... now if the rain would stop, we could get back out there!

It's always a happy day ...

... when there's time to go to the park! And it's even better when you make the decision all on your own to try the slide head first.

Happy Tuesday!

Auntie Karen

On St. Patrick's Day ... Jill, Ember, Mallory and I went with my aunt Sue to visit my aunt Karen at the assisted living facility she's currently in.

Thankfully the weather made it the perfect day for my favorite: a Shamrock Shake (it could have been cold and rainy and snowing ... I still would have gotten one).

We brought some toys to occupy the babes.
We took a tour and the girls had a blast
chasing each other around the cafeteria.

They also enjoyed the freedom of the hallways!

The four of us with Auntie Karen.

It was a gorgeous day so we played outside

a little waiting for Casey to get home.

Hoppy Easter!

We spent Easter with Grandma and Grandpa Butschli and my brother, Jill and Ember. Thankfully the weather cooperated and the Easter Bunny was able to hide eggs outdoors!

Looks like she's patiently waiting, doesn't it?

Ember & Daddy

Grandma & Mallory

The girls caught on pretty quickly and it was hilarious to watch them run around with their baskets "ooh-ing" and "ah-ing" at every egg they spotted.

And it didn't take long to figure out what was hiding inside!

She had something to say!

Putting the eggs through the railing for Daddy.

After dinner we played in the front yard.

Notice the "cluster" of animals on the porch...

Mallory was determined to have them sit together.

Then she became fascinated with the box across the street...
...so Grandma took her to get it...

...which made Ember curious too.

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!