Flash mob

Here is some the footage of the flash mob we missed by like 5 minutes today at MIT. (See previous post).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQeiHix9mEw

Saturday at MIT

Dan's brother Brian is finishing up some masters degrees at MIT this spring and told us about an open-house festival thingy they were having. We all thought it would be fun to bring the kids and check it out. This also meant that Sebastien got to take a ride on the T (subway in Boston) for the first time. He seemed to really like it. Look at those smiles:

Below: Brian and Jaclyn lead us around MIT and also did an exemplary job helping us manage 2 toddlers and 2 strollers on the T.

We walked around campus for while and saw all of the activities going on. There were lots of smart-looking people leading fun scientific experiments and activities for the public. I especially enjoyed listening to an Indian accapella group's performance of a Lagy Gaga song in Bollywood style. The only unfortunate thing about the whole day was that we were minutes too late to see a flash mob. I've always wanted to see one! (I wonder if they danced. Maybe I can find it on You Tube.) We also hit up some inflatables as you can see below. Here's Sebastien climbing up the ladder to the huge slide:

Below: Inside a different bouncy house Below: There were also 2 Blackhawk helicopters on the ground, open to the public.

Below: Us in the Blackhawk

Below: Soon after we saw the helicopters, we were ushered to the side of the field to watch them take off. Here are the kids behind the designated fence awaiting liftoff. You can see one of the Blackhawks in the background.

Below: And of course my child who is still afraid of the vacuum cleaner, did not like the sound the helicopter made while it was getting ready to take off. Below: My other child, the one who chases the vacuum cleaner, didn't mind the noise at all. She was quite content to sample the grass.

Below: I somehow missed taking a picture right as the helicopters took off (stupid self-timer button) but here they are flying away over Dan and Genevieve's heads.

Below: We ended the trip with a picture of MIT's mascot.

Easter 2011

Happy Easter!

Below: Genevieve with Grandpa and Grandma Masse at their house

Below: Sebastien shows Phil and Grandpa the Easter eggs

Planting the Apple Tree

We decided it would be nice to have an apple tree. Yes, we know it's a lot of work. And yes, we know that generally they require a lot of pesticides, but we're going to try and do it as organically as possible - even if that means tying little bags around each apple bud to keep the pests out. (Don't laugh - we saw a show on this once on PBS or something!) And again, yes, we know that in order to get apples, you have to have at least 2 apple trees (for pollination reasons), and we'll be planting the other apple tree after the next apple season so we can sample other apples and see which kind we want. This little apple tree is a dwarf Cortland. If all goes to plan, we still won't have apples on it until Fall of 2012. Dan and Sebastien were troopers on Saturday when they planted the tree. It was cold and pouring rain but they got the job done. Sebastien loved playing outside in the cold rain (such a boy!) but also loved coming in to the hot bath and lunch mommy had waiting for him.

Below: Dan & Sebastien show us the tree, which is in the bucket on the wagon. Below: Off to the tree site!

Below: in the ground!
I realize I should have posted a "final" picture, but did I mention it was pouring rain? I'll post one soon on a nicer day. Oh, and I see you noticed our VERY dead grass in the front yard. Dan was hoping it would come back this year after last year's drought, but it doesn't look like it will. Last night we placed on order for grass seed that does well in dry areas. We'll see how that does.

Below: This picture is actually from Sunday (Easter), but it's Sebastien showing us the Easter Eggs that Dan dyed.

Below: While Sebastien was outside planting the apple tree, Genevieve got to play with her "new" toy (a teaset that I saved from Christmas presents) without Sebastien stealing it.

Easter Prep

Easter preparation is in full swing. Plastic eggs have been hung for a while now on the tree outside. The kids had the town's Easter Egg Hunt last weekend. We had an Easter themed playgroup at our house Thursday and by now Sebastien is very familiar with plastic eggs and the candy within. Hopefully tomorrow we will help Sebastien dye his first Easter eggs. Today we went to meet the Easter Bunny at the Hampstead gym playgroup. Just like with Santa, both kids had no fear running right up to the Easter bunny. Genevieve actually had to be held back from crawling up to the bunny while other kids were taking their turn. Here are some of our pre-Easter pics from this week:

Below: Genevieve showing me her little rascal face Below: We took a little walk to the bridge during Thursday morning's playgroup to feed some crackers to the ducks. Unfortunately no ducks made an appearance, but we had fun anyway. Here is Adrianne with all the kiddos.

Below: Becca models Genevieve's backup #2 Easter outfit, that she wore to the gym's Easter party. (Yes, that's right. Somehow she ended up with 3 possible Easter outfits.)
Below: Sebastien sometimes REALLY likes posing with Genevieve for pictures. This was one of those times.

Below: We love you Easter Bunny!

Below: Sebastien and Luke rode around like this for quite a while. It was pretty darn cute.

Below: At the end of playgroup at the gym, when all the toys are put away, the kids love to run back and forth. Moms love it too because it completely wears them out for naptime afterwards.

Below: Back at home, one last picture of her in her cute outfit.

Tomorrow should be a fun day since it's the day we plant our apple tree! It came via UPS today and Dan (and Sebastien) have been talking non-stop about planting it. That, coupled with dying Easter eggs and baking the Easter bunny cake for Sunday, should keep us happy and busy.

Warm weather and friends galore

We had quite a busy week last week. For once, we didn't spend one day entirely at home. We were blessed with different friends to visit and having different places to go. The weather (for the most part) was excellent too.

Below: Genevieve trying to open mommy's phone

Below: Grinning because she knows she shouldn't be on the stairs. Below: The kids playing with the O'Brien boys in our backyard.

Below: And when we weren't playing outside, the kids longed to be out there.

Below: My pretty little girl at 13 months.

Below: Saturday morning was Windham's annual egg hunt. Sebastien did much better this year than last year.

Below: We didn't want to wait in line for the Easter Bunny so we sat in front of him and took a picture instead.

We also planted the first bit of our garden (snap peas) and Dan fertilized and seeded the grass in an attempt to bring it back from the dead. Luckily for the grass (unluckily for the kids and I), it's supposed to rain a lot this week. We also plan on planting an apple tree in the front yard soon. More to come on that later. Have a good week!

NH Family Literacy Fest

We went to the NH Literacy Festival on Saturday not knowing what to expect. It was fabulous! When we arrived, they gave us 10 tickets to use to get 10 free books from any booth in the festival, which was held in a high school/grade school. As you walked around the school, there were different activities in each room. Some were Legos, some were animals from the zoo, some were "make your own bat house," etc. There were characters dressed up too. Outside there was a firetruck, ambulance and some race cars that the kids could go in. Sebastien loved it. We had really nice weather too, and of course that always makes things better. I forgot my camera (duh!) so these poor-quality photos from my phone must suffice.

Below: Sebastien in the fire truck

Below: Sebastien and Dan in the fire truck Below: Sebastien inside the ambulance. Below: The kids watching the police dog demonstration. Below: Kim and Sebastien with one of his favorite TV characters, Super Why. He was VERY scared though of seeing Super Why in person though.

Below: Dan and kids in front of a race car.

Below: Sebastien in said race car.

Below: Sebastien petting a land tortoise

Below: Kim and Sebastien with the land tortoise - who was only 20 yrs old. (You'd think it would be older for being so big.)