Tag Archives: Great-Aunt Molly

January 27th, 2019

Eleanor is shocked to find out there’s another trip to the water park after breakfast.

After seemingly panning splash pads this past summer, she spent a surprising amount of time here- flittering from one to the next to wash her hands, and those of whoever else is near

Des is just tall enough to grab a firm pull on the lever…

…wonder if the first time he knew what it’d do?

Sister gets in on the big splash action too

Wash all the hands

Team llama looking (surprisingly) in the same general direction

Then someone was merciful and offered to take a picture

Des for one last trip down the big slide (which is apparently constructed in such a manner that it is mathematically impossible for kids to careen down and arrive in a jumble of no fewer than two)

Well-rested after a long nap, making the most of the opportunity to gather for one last pizza dinner. Ella and grandma in the mermaid blanket-

Story time with grandma, for a repeat reading of Car’s “Tractor Trouble”

Looks like Eleanor had fun at the water park

The boys construct a fairly ambitious car track, though a few actually made it all the way

January 26th, 2019

Waking up to fresh powder

Eleanor learning fifth position in her first dance class

Lunch with (great-)(aunt) Molly at Lalibela Ethiopian

Napping with all of her friends- Margaret, Blue Bear, assorted animals and, clutched guardedly in hand- beloved monkey.

Now officially a tradition: dad’s birthday weekend celebrated with an overnight hotel stay, swim and pizza party. Des is just as excited as dad-

Eleanor wastes no time finding the nearest slide, dashing down with only mild hesitation

Desmond fearlessly conquering the two-story waterslide

All washed up after the pool, the pizza arrives! The pixar gods shone down on everyone with a quick find on the cable (re-explaining that concept to Des for the fourth time) with Finding Dory

Ella snacking with some of aunt Molly’s candied pecans (so yum!)

Snuggles and Nemo- the best birthday present

While Eleanor takes quite some time to fall asleep, Des and dad build a fort in the corner with a laptop viewing of The Empire Strikes Back (or with all the pause-and-explain-the-plot-details breaks, up until meeting Yoda on Dagobah)

January 25th, 2019

Ella just kicking back with grandma for dad’s birthday dinner

Great-aunt Molly (!) imparts some of her famously skillful coloring wisdom with Des

Possibly Ella’s favorite dish- mom made dal!

Opening Ella’s masterfully-signed birthday card to dad

Everyone four-and-under is excited about dad’s vinyl gift of a unknown Omaha songwriter covered by an even less known Omaha guitarist (woohoo!)

Cousin hugs are the best hugs

The first birthday dad has spent with the entire family in years, let alone with great-aunt Molly was truly, and tearfully, a special night.

June 2nd, 2018

At a friends birthday party (followed shortly by Calvin’s birthday party coincidentally in the same park), Eleanor tries on the on-theme unicorn costume for two seconds

No unicorn horn and running free, that’s better

Des ducking the goose

Eleanor decides to jump in and just start running around in circles

The result of some adult yelling, “CUPCAKES!”

The look of young jealousy-

Upon being reminded he too was getting a cupcake momentarily

That’s the stuff (gone)

Unicorns are pro-juice

Not a single “bonk” occurred, surprisingly

A quick walk around the lake before the birthday festivities started again

Eleanor, doing some light lifestyle modeling

Back together for Calvin’s birthday dinner, the group somehow scored a 12-top at Block 16 on a Saturday night

Eleanor looking at “horsey” pictures from Grandma’s outing to the equestrian show

August 27th, 2017

Watching the poor victims of little bunny foo-foo scurry about

Chasing penguins, trying get a mouth on one

Fishy glee

Still trying to figure out why she can’t touch anything

Finger-to-eel

Skyfari- the fastest way to see the new south end of the zoo. Saw the elephants running around below on the return trip

Driving the rover

The boys getting brave and petting the snake

Trying for the extra-long nap with dad for…

Ella’s nine-month photos, con cousins

After a long weekend and a good effort with photos, it was time for a treat

Wishing pa happy 60th on his birthday proper, Des demonstrates the prototypical toddler phone call. A patient pa, “I’m not sure what that conversation was about, but it sure was long.” 

August 25th, 2017

Des shortly after getting both hands stuck in Sydney’s cage, if there was any doubt, mom suggests why he may not want to do that again

Des, a first time visitor, giving great-aunt Molly a tour of mom’s new backyard 🙂

Eleanor is content to exploring the grass immediately adjacent to the back deck

Flowers all around!

Giggly girl(s)

Ella pondering how much more food could be tossed around the floor

Sleepy, cuddly, shy Ella

Low-fives with Cal

Fastest escape crawler

A successful first gathering at grandma’s new house!

After deep-cleaning the bedrooms, dad organized Des’ books. Photographic evidence of this temporary order:

Decorah 2017, part 3

Last morning hike

With all the kids in good morning spirits, it was good opportunity for a couple family photos

Great-grandpa Irv and the boys

The original grandchildren crew

The morning adventure was to the Decorah Fish Hatchery

There were indeed tons of fish, eager to eat the pellets tossed their way

Waterfall at nearby Siewers Spring state park

When leaning over a stream, always hold grandma’s hand

After naps, another trip to the pool

Drying off and snuggling with mom

Back at grandpa’s for dinner, the boys read Des’ dinosaur book with great-aunt Molly

The cousins discover the piano

Coloring ensues while the grownups are at the table looking at old photos

Decorah 2017, part 2

With everyone sleeping in the same hotel, mom is kind enough to take the earliest wakers out for a morning hike

It took a while to finally fall asleep the night before, so Des slept in with dad

After American Hot Breakfast at the hotel, everyone makes their way over to grandpa’s house

Des is just happy since Cal brought even more cars and ninja turtles to play with

Grandma reads an opera “adopted for children”

…which puts Eleanor to sleep, so it’s time for naps back at the hotel

After a good rest, everyone is ready for the pool!

Despite the apparent face of apprehension, Ella was all too happy go splashing

Back at grandpa’s house, the boys rediscover the pool table (a prominent fixture in aunt Kellie and dad’s childhood memories of Decorah)

Gathering around the end table for hors d’oeuvre, like the generations before

Des patiently observing as Cal plays with his new car trailer

Eleanor not sure of what to make with dad plinking on the piano and signing

Time for PJs

and some standing with grandma

Des and great-aunt Molly reading Dragon’s Fat Cat

Cousins being silly