Spring Break Daddy style!

Since I would be home during Spring Break, Sarah took advantage of the opportunity to get away for a few days with her mom and they flew to Santa Fe. While they were away, the kiddos and I tried to create our own Spring Break adventures back here in the midwest...

No, Bryn was not driving the four-wheeler out at Pickhardt's cabin. They did get a chance to ride on it (notice their bike helmets) and we went VERY slowly.

Here's Mr. Pickhardt making them hot chocolate on the woodstove.

Here we are after we helped load the four-wheeler with firewood.

Henry sharing his carrots during lunch after they stacked more wood on the pile (kind of).

Watching Mr. Pik put up a new Blue Bird house on a fence post.

The next day we headed to Chicago, where Henry got to spend a while staring at his recent obsession...jellyfish. We spent the morning at the Shedd Aquarium, and then pretty much spent the afternoon running around, then napping in Grant Park.

After a short break back at the hotel we wandered down to Millenium Park where we met Sandra, Eliot, Maya and Josie who were also in Chicago for the day. We spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out (and taking pictures) at the "Mirror Bean" and the faces waterfall/fountain things...it's kinda tought to explain of you've never been there.

We finished the day off with some deep-dish Chicago pizza, where Henry almost feel asleep in the booth. Little guy was really spent after all the walking. The next morning we headed home to check on the chickens, who were ready to officialy move out into their coop. We'll post more pics of that and of Easter weekend with Jen, Shawn, Mia and Allison, and Grandpa and Grandma A in a day or two.

March Madness

It's been a busy month thus far and here are some random pics to prove it!

Having some fun at a gymnastics gym where they also did an Easter Egg hunt for our local mothers of multiples group.

Bryn's new "baby pouch" which is a sweatshirt worn backwards. She carries her baby around and covers her head with the hood when the poor thing has a headache.

Whoo hoooo! Go Badgers! The Badger womens hockey team once again won the NCAA tournament so the three of us headed over to the Kohl center this past Monday to slap some hands.

Bucky doing his thing. Henry was crying on the way home because he didn't get to slap Bucky's hand. That is definitely progress, since months ago they still screamed bloody murder at the sight of the big headed badger.





We had a great spot for B and H to slap hands with every member of the team, except those hoisting the huge trophies.

It's amazing how big the chicks are already! They have quickly become awkward teenage like chickens and the soft fluffy chick stage is far behind us. Crazy that they are not even 1 month old yet. They seem to be outgrowing their plastic home so we took them outside for some fresh air. No air time, but they did try.

Below, we let them burn off some steam in the outdoor greenhouse. Miss Cucumber did manage to fly over the 2 foot chicken wire and was prancing around the green house until we grabbed her.





Bryn and Henry trying out the new chicken coop that Jay is building. They pretended it was a stage and were singing to me as I worked in the yard.



Later Abbey and Sam came over to see the coop for themselves.

It's dress up day just about every day at our house. Here are two of my recent favorites. Henry is busting out of the top but he still insisted on wearing it, although lately it's his UPS outfit or his camo pants and red tie.

Bryn kinda looking like some 70's style super hero?

Happy Birthday Grandma Grace!!!!

3 carloads of Hinsa folk all headed north last weekend to help my grandma celebrate her 94th birthday. Bryn and Henry couldn't wait to get to "Grandma Grace's hotel" since they think she lives in Holiday Inn Express pool area. We did get that straightened out on our long drive to Superior and then waited for everyone to show up.

When Shannon, Bruce and Liam arrived, the fun really started! Shannon and Bruce had been hard at work making dress up clothes for H and B. Recently Henry had asked my sister to make him a witch costume and they came carrying a bag full of colorful clothes!!!

Here each of them is wearing a piece. Henry's got a vest , with red tie, and then his purple witch cape. Bryn has on an Asian inspired red dress and Liam is sporting the purple version!! Thanks guys!

Bryn explaining one of her pictures she drew for Grandma Grace.

Uncle Bruce and kids (copying him) reading some Roger Hargreaves books.

We talked my mom into trying on one of the dresses. She did eventually get her arms in and modeled it for us.

A game of "run from the fox" with Grandpa in the hotel room! They even turned Gandma Hinsa into a human basketball hoop until she decided the backboard shots were getting too much!



Then on to the pool, where we spent hours of our weekend. The kids did not want to get out of the water and loved showing Grandma Grace their tricks!

What bathing beauties....... My cousin Wendy's twins Peri and Neve hanging out in the rocks with Bryn.

Birthday cake with Grandma Grace and the gang.

My cousin Luke's son Dillon. Is he cute or what. Unfortunately my pics of Luke and Katie didn't turn out ;(

Henry was pretty much one big splash in all the pictures I got. The relatively low depth of the water on one end of the pool made it perfect for nonstop jumping and splashing. I do have to say, it was nice for me to get out of the water and warm myself up and just wit and watch them go at it. Then next day Liam (of course he takes after my sister who is part fish) was the first to start jumping off the edge without any help from us adults. Eventually they were all doing it over and over and over.........



Several rounds of "Ring around the Rosie" later and they were still going strong!

Visit to Uncle Greg and Aunt Sheila's house outside of Superior with the kids.







My favorite picture of the weekend!!! We love you Great Grandma Grace.

Good bye, so long, farewell....

Yesterday was our last Music Together class with Miss Eliza at Happy Bambino. We signed up for her class back when H and B had just turned 2 and have been hooked ever since. Miss Eliza is an amazing music teacher and is madly loved by both Henry and Bryn. It's been so much fun to listen to them sing the songs they have learned, even those in other languages, and it's a great way to eat up some time on long car trips. Jay even has some favorites. I recommend her with the highest of praise. It is so hard to leave her since she has become a staple in our week, but I think the kids may be ready for something new. Me, probably not.

Below is a pic of them surrounding Miss Eliza when they were 2 at her Halloween music party.

This winter session they found it a neccessity to dress up to each and every class. Another mother told me how much she looked forward to class just to see what they would be wearing. This was yesterdays outfits. Both had on their special capes, while Bryn was wearing a fire helmet and Henry had on deer antlers. For whatever reason Bryn declared she was a rabbit-babbit-tabbit and Henry was a fox?!? You can't say they didn't make it interesting.

They also got to spend some time with friends and meet new ones as well.

I had to get a picture of their favorite after class activity with Hadley and Aidyn.....racing to the outdoor TYME machine and tapping all the buttons. Sometimes that would be the only time for us moms to catch up and chat as they tried to squeeze their way towards the magic machine.



The last song of every class was the "Good Bye, So Long, Farewell" song. It was ritual for them to cover Miss Eliza in hugs over and over. Below are Bryn and Abbey giving her some love.


Henry came running up to me after his 5th and final hug and said "Miss Eliza said that maybe she would see us on the bike path this summer." That made his day. Thank you Miss Eliza!!

The Eagles (Chickens) Have Landed

Well, while Sarah's away wandering the beaches of south Florida at her conference this weekend, all sorts of stuff has happened back here at the ranch. We got the call this afternoon that our little chicks had officially arrived. They were born on Friday (3/6/09), and mailed from Iowa in a special cardboard box along with about 2 dozen of their little chick friends. Once they arrived at the main Post Office here in Madison, our Craigslist friend Jessica was notified. She called us and off we went.

We had to meet at door 27 at the Post Office. Yes, we can confirm that all sorts of USPS stuff happens even on Sundays. So, on the loading dock floor inside, we sorted out our four little chicks, and Jessica took all of hers. After a quick drink of water, we loaded them into the car to head back across town.

Here's the little chick zone in the corner of the dining room.

This is "Tina Fey", a Silver Laced Wyandotte strutting her stuff shortly after touching down.


The four-pack...Tina Fey is joined by "Lady Lane fairchild" the yellow Buff Orpington, "Lady Marmalade", the Black Australorp, and last but not least "Miss Cucumber", an Auracana who will eventually lay blue-green eggs. The others will lay brown egss.


Keep your fingers crossed that we can keep these little fledglings alive. We'll keep you updated along the way, but feel free to swing by and snuggle 'em.

Taste of spring

Last week, we all got a small yet, sweet smell of the warm months to come. Too bad, it left so quickly and we are back to an ice sheet that won't melt in the back yard.

H and B were thrilled to get outside in something besides their winter jackets and started in by shoveling the puddles in the backyard. That only lasted until Henry got a faceful of the ice cold dirty water. We then decided to walk down to the park and convinced our friends Abbey and Sam to come join us. Of course they managed to fall headfirst and backward into several puddles along the way and once we reached the park, so Miss Kristi was nice enough to bring back them back up jackets so they wouldn't freeze on the way home!

I think they all found the merry go round puddle to be their favorite since they could run along side it and splash and also get a ride when needed.

Henry took the opportunity to show off his singing skills and lead singer stances. He was belting out his own rendition of Jingle Bells which had a sort of Eddie Vedder feel. Abbey was impressed, that's all that mattered.

Once we got home they were stripped down to nothing, since they soaked through to their undies... signs of a successful puddle jumping adventure! Cuter pics can be found on their blog at www.adventuresofthestantons.blogspot.com