Ballet, the Lake and the museum

We have had a fun few days.  Monday was Daddy's last day off before starting work again in the New Year.  It was a beautiful day so we went to Lake Crabtree.  We started at the playground and ended up spending most of our time near the water.  Madeline and Ryan loved running through the fields searching for sticks to throw into the water.  It was sweet to watch them run together and help each other find sticks, though there was the occasional argument over to whom the stick belonged.  We ended our afternoon together with a trip to 5 Guys Grill and a special treat from Kilwyn's, a nearby bakery/ice cream shop.

Tuesday was Madeline's first day of dance class.  I WISH I had my camera with me.  It was so sweet to see all these 3 and 4 year old girls in ballet attire trying their best to learn the basics. They were constantly running into each other and hitting each other with their arms, but they were having fun and trying their hardest.  One of my favorite memories of the day is Ryan in dance class.  We stood to the side the whole time, but he did his best to replicate the ballet moves that Madeline was learning.  Of course it was a very masculine form of ballet. . . :)

Today we spent the day with Ms. Tara, Riley and Tyler at the Life Science Museum in Durham. The favorites of the day were the owl, the alligators, petting the cotton snake and playing outside.  Actually, I think Madeline's and Ryan's favorite part of the day was riding in Ms. Tara's car and watching Curious George.  Ryan and Riley are really beginning to enjoy each other and Madeline has always has a soft spot for Tyler.  Poor Ms. Tara is due in just four weeks, but she did great with all our walking!

Hopefully tomorrow will be a quiet day at home.  Wait, what am I thinking.  Jackson is coming over for an afternoon visit.  There is supposed to be some napping going on, but we'll see. . . :)