New York fun part 3

In addition to group get-togethers with family, we got to spend some good time together in smaller family settings. We went up to visit Grandpa and Grandma Mary again, and we got to visit the new chicken coop getting built, trim the bottoms of the grape vines, and (of course) ride the tractors again!

After dinner, the girls asked Grandpa to play ring around the rosie with them - it was so sweet to see him happily oblige them. For people who get together infrequently, they got along so well!

We also got to spend some fun times with Grandma. First, we played at her house, where she generously let the girls pull out her yarn and play "fishing" with it.

Such silly girls - this was the big fish Christina caught.

Then she took us to a park by the river. The girls loved it, although the day didn't cooperate much with it being so hot and muggy. Here, Clara is playing her bridge game with Grandma. In a take-off from Dora the Explorer, she will chant "No one can cross my bridge, no one no one no one, unless you solve my riddle." Her riddle will then be the beginning of a nursery rhyme (usually Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) which you have to finish before she lets you pass.

Swinging together- Clara was having a blast, but was being very serious about learning how to "pump" on the swing.

Grandma helping Elena across the monkey bars.

Elena, doing her own version of the bridge game (on a real bridge, this time!).

The girls also spent some time playing their favorite "throwing rocks" game with Daddy.

The next day we got some time alone with Laura and her girls. We met up in Congress Park to feed the ducks.

It starts out mildly enough, with all girls tossing bread.

But these were the most insistent ducks we have ever seen - they walk right up to your feet to wait for their bread! This went over better with some of our crew than it did with others, but in the end everyone had a fine time.

Clara and Elena especially liked the baby ducklings who came up for scraps of bread.

Then we rode the carousel in the park (we really never pass up a carousel) and the girls all clamored around Auntie Laura for entertainment as they waited in line.

Happy, happy, happy girls when they get to ride their ponies.

The results of a camera-shooting standoff between Christina and Laura.

Silly Aunt Laura, who was bobbing up and down like the ponies to entertain our crew as the ride slowed to a stop.

Then it was off to lunch at a sandwich place up the street. A rousing "Cheers!" with their smoothies and PB&Js, and then it was each girl on her own as they refueled for the afternoon.

We wish the girls got to see family more often - they are just having such a wonderful time being part of a big mix and being enveloped by so many people who love them.