#70. Hoppy Easter!!

Spring...the season of C-A-N-D-Y!!!

I'll begin this blog post, posted on Mother's Day, with a shout out to my two favorite moms (and Luke and Clare's favorite grandMOMS!!).  We think they are both pretty great, so great that Luke 'Stephan'(ie) and Clare 'Pamela' will always share a name with their grandmothers.  Fortunately, Luke and Clare have seen both of their grandmas already this spring.

Technically, Grandma Steffie came in for a visit a few weeks before spring, but she's coming back again this week!

Grandma Knapp got her hands on the twins when we visited Central Illinois for a family 'spring break' trip

The weather/season has FINALLY changed, and that has been a GREAT thing for the Knapp-Heald family.

What??  You mean being stuck inside with us for months wasn't as fun for you as it was for us?!?

We have tried our best to take full advantage of every nice day we have been given...

...and dusted off the wagon for another year of rides!

Showing off a new swinging technique for the new season

Speaking of swings (Spring '16)...

...these 2 are swinging higher than ever before!!

And slides too...

...this year with a twist!!

We spent part of spring break in Eureka visiting family and friends.

Luke enjoyed visiting his great grandma Knapp!

Grandpa Knapp let the twins run all over the ambulance garage

Vroom! Vroom!  

Grandpa and Clare...out to save some lives!

The highlight of spring so far has been Easter.  

The twins took part in an Easter egg hunt at Chase Park

Happy faces after a happy hunt!

As if the candy wasn't enough, Luke and Clare enjoyed some special treats

Mmmmm, that cupcake was good!

Back home, the twins dyed some eggs, 

Look at that concentration!

and we had an Easter egg hunt of our own on Easter morning!

Clare filled up her basket fast!

No eggs were out of reach for Luke!

Since two egg hunts clearly weren't enough, the twins also participated in a 3rd when we visited family in Naperville.  

More eggs = More Candy!

Clare and Luke had to facetime with Grandma Steffie and Grandpa Dan to tell them all about it!

Since we were in Uncle Paul and Aunt Lisa's backyard, we had to re-enact this classic dumptruck photo from Easter 2 years ago!

Thanks cousins for having us over (also...thanks for the clothes cousin Nick, since someone had a potty accident!)

Holidays are becoming so much fun, but WOW, these two are growing up way too fast!!

#69. What Winter??

So much for those snow suits and boots we got last fall for the long upcoming winter!

The twins atop 'Mount Ravenswood'...a BIG hill around the corner from our townhouse...wishing there was some snow on the ground

Having taken limited pictures of the twins in the snow back on Dec. 10,

Luckily, we managed to snap this shot of our 2 little snow angels!

it looked like we would be shut out from having a nice group of snow photos from Luke and Clare's 3rd winter. Thankfully, in typical 'Chicago winter' fashion, the snow came back again in mid-March, and the twins had a chance to enjoy the white stuff one more time!

The snow was a lot more fun this year with more tracks through the snow and snowballs...

...compared to last year!

Taking a break from the snow to pose on our courtyard bench

As the last few months have been winter, the majority of twin time was spent indoors.

We'll stand for that!

That's fine by us...

...cause we're even goofier inside!

I could probably write an entire blog post about the day we 'played' Yahtzee.  Teaching 2-year olds a game involving 5 dice was a cross between a drama, comedy, and tragedy!

Don't get the wrong idea...this type of focus didn't last long

This is way more entertaining than the 'dice game' you're failing to explain to us, Dad!

This winter, the twins became more interested in helping cook dinner (this will hopefully pay off someday!).

More like sampling...they even eat chopped onions!

One afternoon Clare and Luke helped bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

Luke carefully pours in flour while his sister judges his technique

Favorite part of the process...yummy cookie dough!

Are they done yet?!?

Wow, those look good!

Cheers to our first batch of cookies!

The twins also tried their hand at making pizzas.

Next up is cooking a full course meal!

Outside of the kitchen, Luke & Clare found a variety of ways to enjoy the indoors.

Making music...Papa and Clare on guitar and Luke on keyboard

The band has come a long way since last winter!

Everyone loves Play-doh!

Lots and lots of books...Papa reads 'Wacky Wednesday'...on Wednesday of course!

Lots and lots (and lots) of TV (Peppa Pig, Bubble Guppies, Sesame Street, Super Wings, Cars, Minions, etc.)...

...and the same level of captivation as last year

Making homemade Valentines

Learning how to eat stir fry with chopsticks!

And dancing...

...of course!!

Anytime the temperature allowed, we did our best to leave the house, even if only for a quick trip to the grocery store.

Last year, these two hung out in the cart with the purchases...

...and this year, they were helping to make them (under the supervision of adults over 21, of course)!

Pulling the wagon out and heading over to Clark Street...silly hats and all!

Living next to a train line has it perks..the twins love to go train watching

Clare gives Daddy a break, while Luke enjoys the ride

Practicing a new swing technique for Spring '17

One of the twins' favorite winter excursions was taking the train downtown for lunch.  The twins see many trains pass by through our kitchen window daily and they know Papa goes to work on the train.  So, this proved to be a real treat!

Luckily, we picked a nice sunny day!!

It was so exciting waiting for 'our train'

and even more fun riding it!

Once we got downtown, it was time for lunch at the French Market

The food was great, but the lollipops at the end of lunch were the twins' favorite

Perhaps the highlight of winter was when the twins attended a Valentine's Dance at Chase Park.

They had so much fun...

dancing...

...and eating heavily iced cupcakes!

Unfortunately, they were too tired to pose for a family photo, but a good time was had by all!

We're looking forward to the spring and more outdoor time with these two!

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