Visiting our cousins in Maryland - and GG too!

Mama drove with Zachary and Zoe down to Maryland during the February break - they get an entire week off! The kids were SUPER DUPER stars on the ride, Mama was so pleased. Grandma Gaile was already in Maryland so when we arrived it was great to be with Joshua, Ethan, Aunt Rebecca, Uncle Brian and GG too! On our first full day we had formal pictures taken -- it went pretty well, and there was actually one of all four kids together and several other individual shots we like, and of course a cute pic of Zachary and Zoe holding hands. On the second day since there was still alot of snow around we were looking for some indoor activities and we decided to bake cookies - with m&m's in them. What fun. Here are some pictures of baking and eating those yummy cookies. They were especially yummy dipped in milk.
Of course Aunt Rebecca had a bakers hat, that both Zachary and Zoe wore while mixing. Also note the aprons they wore.

Joshy loved eating the cookies the best. He also loved eating the m&m's during the mixing. After we made the cookies, the kids also helped Mama and Aunt Rebecca make homemade pizza. That was a delicious dinner treat for everyone, even Uncle Brian who came home later hungry enjoyed eating the pizza.

How about Ethan, could he be any cuter! He is such a sweet easy baby, and Zoe especially enjoyed loving him up. She likes to call him Eeffey guy ... but don't worry she does know his real name. It is great seeing Ethan in the exersaucer that now all four kids have enjoyed. Thanks to Mama's labmates who bought it for her when Zachary was born.

Zachary has really shown tremendous development during this kindergarten year. His reading has continued to expand, and it looks as though he might be a bit of a book worm. While we were in Maryland, I (Mama) took both kids to a book store to pick out some new books for our ride back to Connecticut. Zachary found a Henry and Mudge (an early reader series he loves) and plopped down in the bookstore and began reading. He found a certain section of one of the stories that caused him to laugh out loud - so loud in fact that I had to remind him to keep it down. We of course bought this book, and again later he was chuckling as he read the story - something about Mudge (the dog) and an old shoe in the trash. Aunt Rebecca had another Henry and Mudge book which she gave Zachary and when he read that in the car, he found another part that made him crack up, giving GG and me a big smile. I am so pleased that now he is comprehending his reading and getting joy out of what he reads so I had to share this picture of him and his new books just after he had been giggling about the contents. We hope he always finds pleasure in reading.