Spring Break Weekend

It was spring break for the week of March 10th-14th.  This was the first year that it somewhat affected us since Joseph's school was closed for the week.  We stayed busy through the week with boot camp, lots of visits to many of the parks in the area , getting things done around the house and playing with friends.  I wasn't great about taking pictures throughout the week but I did manage to snap a few throughout the weekend.  

On Friday after boot camp we had 13 kids who were excited about taking the trolley around Market Street and Waterway Square.  The trolley is free and crazy enough we have never been on it yet so we decided to check it out.  Well, lo and behold, all of the trolleys were out of service for the week so as we are waiting at the trolley stop an air conditioned shuttle bus pulls up with a sign on the side saying "This is the free trolley".  After trying to figure out if it was really the trolley or just some cruel prank we decided to hop on.  The kids didn't care at all and kept saying, "This is awesome!"  I think they were just excited to be riding not in a carseat and with all of their friends!  It wasn't quite the trolley experience the moms were looking for, but we'll try again when Nani comes to visit at the beginning of April and hopefully we'll get the real deal then!  

Joseph was tucked away in the last row next to Kolton.  

 Ella enjoying the ride with me in the front seat.

After the "trolley" ride we headed to Cafe Express for a fun lunch with everyone.  

Here is Ella having fun with Kason after the ride.  

On Friday night the YMCA that is about a mile from our house offered the movie "Epic" outside on the big screen.  We decided to check it out and had a good time.  Not quite the relaxing movie experience since Ella was more interested in climbing in and out of the chairs the entire night but Joseph had fun and it was a great setting for his first real movie.   They had popcorn and lemonade and although it was a late night it was a good time!

 Joseph and his buddy Elsie waiting patiently while snacking on popcorn for it to start.  Joseph kept asking if there were going to be "bad guys" in the movie.

 They were finally sitting (thanks to the popcorn) after close to an hour of rolling down the hill and doing somersaults and dancing in the amphitheatre.  He slept well that night!

 Fun night!

The next morning we had a birthday party at the fire station (what a fun idea!)  They do free tours here that we have done before for playdates but the mom decided to start the party there and then ended up at a park nearby for pizza and cake.  The kids had a blast!

 Joseph and his buddy, Tierney, checking out the inside of the engine.

 And, later that day, we went to 5:00 mass and then to Crust for pizza and ended the day at Baskin Robbins for ice cream.  (Daddy is strictly eating Paleo to help with his training for the Ironman but gives himself one cheat day a week and that means he goes all out!  Mommy, on the other hand, gave up desserts for Lent which has been very hard this year!)  I had gone into Kroger to get a few groceries and to escape the enjoyment of the ice cream (see previous sentence about Lenten sacrifice being very hard!)  but when I came back into Baskin Robbins this is what I found!  He loved seeing this picture of himself.  And, yes, he is wearing his rash guard over a long sleeve shirt.  He was so excited about his new rash guard that I didn't have the heart to tell him that he couldn't wear it out.

Quite a busy Friday and Saturday rounding out spring break but so much fun!