Trip to the Dinosaur Park with Grandma

Grandma Molnar came to stay with us in early April. It was a pretty rainy few days, but we squeezed in a visit to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (of which we are proud new members).  Ainsley refers to it as "the dinosaur park."

Looking at bugs through a magnifying glass

The museum has a really neat section outside with live animals. Until recently, I didn't realize this part of the museum existed.

Gobble, gobble, turkey!

This photo could have been taken in our backyard on some days....

Ainsley with the raccoons

Ainsley couldn't wait to get to the bobcats.  She dragged us through the rest of the exhibit saying, "I want to see the bobcat!"  We were surprised to discover there were actually two bobcats; in previous visits, we'd only seen one. They were very playful on this day and were quite entertaining to watch.

Ainsley's budding photography skills
(apparently she was focusing on the bear, and I was just in the way)

Exploring the Mayan excavation site

Putting together pieces of broken pottery

Happy Easter Day!

Happy Easter!  Ainsley had been busy singing all season in preparation for the Bunny's arrival.  "What's the next verse, Mommy? Sing the whole song!"  Here comes Peter Cottontail.... 

The Easter Bunny family?!

The Easter Bunny hid eggs with clues inside all around our house.  It was a scavenger hunt leading to the location of Ainsley's Easter basket. 

A clue in Clio's bowl

Another in the office

Where's the next clue?

Ainsley's basket was upstairs!

Chocolate Easter Bunny

Yum!

Ainsley got a new Easter dress, which is very similar to last year's favorite, the Blue Dress.

Ainsley displays our colored Easter eggs

We went to Great Grandma & Grandpa Paul Shellhammer's house for Easter. The Easter Bunny hid a basket here, too!

I found it!

Uncle Brian & Aunt Jenn also brought some Easter goodies, including a cool mesh basket with a pink elephant on the front and a stuffed bunny that Ainsley named Beanstalk.  No idea where "Beanstalk" came from, but that's what she calls the bunny.

Pez!

Finding her basket must have made Ainsley hungry.  She chose a seat at the table and crawled up, waiting for Easter dinner.  The table wasn't even set yet!  Ainsley loves Great Grandma's ham and broccoli casserole.

....Hippity, hoppity, Happy Easter Day!

Easter Egg-stravaganza!

What's Easter without a few (thousand) eggs? Check out our Easter Egg fun!

Easter Egg Hunt

The weekend before Easter, we joined an Easter Egg Hunt at the Church of the Savior in Cleveland Heights. There was separate hunt for kids not yet in kindergarten, and the eggs were all hidden outside, despite the light blanket of snow.

The event was BYOB (bring your own basket!), and Ainsley was excited to use her new basket from Auntie Meg & Uncle Nate. Each egg contained a piece of candy.

I got one!

Here are some more!

A big crowd

Eggshelland

On Ainsley's first Easter, we discovered a local family who displays tens of thousands of colored eggshells in their yard every year. We decided to make it an Easter tradition to visit this house each year. 

Unfortunately, Ron Manolio, the gentleman who led the whole process - draining & painting each egg - passed away last August at the age of 82. His family decided to do one last display in his memory. They incorporated a picture of Ron and the words, "Thank you all, and goodbye" in eggshells. After 55 years, the community said goodbye to Eggshelland.

The line of people went down the street and wrapped around the corner.

We waited about 30 minutes to get to the house.

Owl

Ron's portrait in eggshells

We even met the Easter Bunny!

Coloring Eggs

This is the first year we colored Easter Eggs at our house, and I'd say it was a success!

Daddy reading the directions

Ainsley is ready!

This is fun!

Ainsley making a purple egg

Lots of colors

I can do it all by myself!

Mommy & Ainsley adding stickers