Fun in May

Memorial Day Weekend
Memorial Day weekend was a bit colder and rainier than we would have liked, but we made the best of it with lots of activities.

French Horn, donuts and coffee
Saturday morning, we heard a French Horn solo at Severance Hall. Hans Clebsch, a Horn player from the Cleveland Orchestra, put on a half-hour concert geared just for pre-school-aged children as part of PNC's Grow Up Great program. He played songs we recognized, like the Itsy Bitsy Spider and Somewhere Over the Rainbow, which brought a tear to Mommy's eye (so beautiful!). We also sang Row, Row, Row Your Boat in a round and learned how to buzz our lips like a French Horn player! 

Enjoying refreshments at Presti's after the concert

St. Anselm Festival

On Saturday evening, we went to the St. Anselm Festival. Once again, Ainsley loved the rides and the games. 

Ainsley made sand art

Memorial Day

We rode our bikes to the South Euclid Memorial Day parade this year. Ainsley liked the marching band and all the groups throwing candy the best.

At the park after the parade

My view during the ride

Trying out her new roller skates

Other Fun in May

Ainsley was invited to her friend Henry's birthday party at a local park.  Here's Ainsley playing in the sand with her friend Veronica.

Another birthday party we went to had a bounce house - Ainsley loved it! (Mommy & Daddy did, too!)

Playing in the Rain

Mother's Day
To celebrate Mother's Day, Ainsley & Mommy went to "Muffins with Mom" at daycare.  And on Saturday, we visited Chez Wills West, as Auntie Meg was in town!

Muffins with Mom

Mommy's Concert
Grandma & Papa Molnar came to visit in May to hear Mommy's concert with the Cleveland POPS Chorus.  That also included some quality time with Ainsley!

I'm the first one on the left in the front row of the Chorus!

Big Girl Bed

A few months ago, we started discussing Ainsley's transition from a crib to a big girl bed. I wasn't sure at first how she'd handle it, but she was clearly ready. She started by telling me she wanted a purple Rapunzel bed - let the sheet shopping commence!

The morning we decided to make the switch, Ainsley told Nathan, "Daddy, take apart my crib right now!  I don't want anyone to think I'm a baby!"

It's been about two weeks since we switched, and Ainsley loves her new bed. She had no problems adjusting and is excited to be growing up!

Mattress in place!

More Ainsley photography, as we moved furniture

Ainsley captured Daddy washing walls

Ainsley helped wipe down the mattress

On her new Rapunzel sheets!

Goodnight!

We also worked on the big girl potty that day...

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!