Fun with a few fish

Yesterday we took the boys to the New England Aquarium for the very first time. I had never been there myself, and was really glad that we made the trip.

We were going to be in Boston anyway, for a follow up visit with my neurologist, so we thought we'd make a day trip out of it.

As we walked up to the building, there was an outdoor seal exhibit, which was such a great introduction to the aquarium experience! Sadly, I think I've only ever seen one or two seals around here. I know that we have many many more, I have just never been lucky enough to see them!

Isaac and Ian got a really big kick out of watching them swim upside down past the glass. I couldn't get over how fat some of them were! I'm not sure how I would feel if one swam up to me at the beach, but I liked watching them in their tank.

When we walked inside, I was surprised at the size of the place. Michael and I both thought that it would be larger. As it turned out, it was the perfect size for us after all! In the core of the building, is a gigantic, round tank, which has a coral reef habitat inside.

We saw an enormous shark, ( I kept my distance, even with the thick glass enclosure, you can never be TOO sure) a wicked big sea turtle, who Isaac named Mama Tootle, and who he thought was her baby, thus Baby Tootle. A few tarpon, some parrot fish, a moray eel, a large sand shark, two huge rays, and a whole bunch of other fish that I would never be able to name, even if I tried!

Then on each floor surrounding that large tank, were smaller exhibits, we were lucky to see most of them getting fed. We saw their new penguin exhibit, which was fascinating! Ian liked the ones with yellow feathers coming out of their ears. Very cute.

We saw sea dragons, mesmerizing jelly fish, of many different varieties, star fish, clown fish, octopus, lots of familiar fish, and a whole bunch of new ones.

There was a petting tank, with baby sting rays, and baby sharks. We saved that for the very end. I wasn't sure how Isaac would react to the whole thing, but I let him have a go. Ian went right up to the tank and started exploring them. Isaac watched all the kids for a minute or so, then pushed his way through the crowd like a little bull dog, crawled up onto the ledge, and with the help of a very eager 4 year old next to him, got to pet his very first sting ray. He wasn't 100% sure that he liked it, until the eager helper told him to pat the ray like you would pat a kitty. Well, that sealed the deal! We had to practically pull him away!

I think that he must have bonded with one of them, because as we were stepping down to leave, a ray came up to the glass, almost as if to say goodbye. It was very sweet, a fantastic end to a remarkable experience!

Easter

Easter was a beautiful, sunny, sugar filled day here in the Trance home. Isaac had his very first taste of chocolate bunny, white chocolate of course, and his first taste of marshmallow Peep!

He had a really fun time emptying out his basket, and playing with all of his new toys. I think his favorites were a bubble gun, a wind up bunny, and a bunny with a parachute!

His Auntie Melissa graced him with his very first set of golf clubs, complete with an adorable, toddler sized golf bag!

I can't wait to get him out on the green!!

After we let Isaac run around for a while outside, hoping he would burn off some energy from the jelly beans, we headed to my parents house. We enjoyed a big family dinner, along with gluten free cake, lots of love, and even more laughs!

Tomorrow we will do the whole celebration (minus the marshmallow Peeps cupcakes, they were left at my parents' house) over again with Ian! Hooray, I can't wait!

Easter Treats!

This afternoon, Isaac and I made the best out of a dreary rainy afternoon. . . We made Peeps cupcakes!!! I for one can't stand Peeps, but they're usually a big Easter hit. We lucked out and only had a mere two casualties!!

Easter is on it's way!

We've been very lucky to have our very own Easter Bunny pay us frequent visits lately! Well, that was until our Alexander the Great (baby bunny stomper) caught on to it.

I thought it was a great time to color some Easter eggs yesterday, with both the boys home. Ian did a great job trying to show Isaac how to do it. They both made fabulous designs on their eggs. Unfortunately, there were a few casualties. . .

Our baby meets more babies

Last weekend, in honor of Earth Day, we had a beach clean up weekend. I didn't realize that there would be a big gathering at one of our local farm and feed stores until we showed up looking for onion bulbs!

There was an adorable, but very lonely little lamb, ducklings, goslings, chicks, and teeny tiny bottle fed piglets!

We had a great time, and can't wait to see that little lamb grow, apparently it's mama didn't want it, so the store has adopted it! I love this island!

And so it begins. . .

I just happened to glance out the window the other day while I was getting dinner ready, and what did I see? Ahhh, so it begins.

Seedling success!

I opened up my seedling trays just now to see if I should water them, and vwuala!! Sprouts!!!

I think I'm just about ready for my Green Thumbs tee shirt!

Fun at the farm

It was such a gloriously sunny day today, I really wished I didn't have to work. Lucky for me, my sister took the boys to the park for a few hours, and they had a blast!

When I got home, they were both sleepy and fed, which was a bonus for me. Isaac went down for a nap, which gave me time to zip around the house like a super hero mom, and clean with the speed of a cheetah, while Ian played outside.

As soon as Isaac was up, we were out the door! At one of the local farms, there have been allot of new babies arriving. I thought it would be really great to be able to visit them while they're so small, since we're there so often. We will be able to watch them grow up!

We saw four baby lambs, one of them was even born just hours before we got there! There were two litters of piglets, one was barely a week old, and each piglet was smaller than my foot! The other litter's piglets were a little bit bigger, but not by too much. There were two separate bunches of chicks. Both were equally adorable!

We tried to see the baby cows, but they were very far out in the pasture, and although the farmer told us we were welcome to go out there with them, I decided that I was more comfortable at a safe distance.

I'm hoping to have some professional shots of the boys together this week, and I think the farm would be a perfect spot for them!

Hello green thumb

Until a few months ago, I hadn't ever planted anything. Well not successfully anyway. My mother gave me a little Calla Lilly kit, and it seemed easy enough, so I gave it a shot.

That lilly is now two feet tall! Basking in my achievement, I decided to use another little kit that we had to plant some trees. Those Norway Spruce trees have indeed sprouted to a respectable inch tall!

Feeling that I am really on a roll, I've now gone on to starting seedlings for an entire veggie garden, along with a new flower garden in our yard. I'm planning on seeding the yard for grass as well.

I guess I figure strike while I'm hot, right? Right!