First, thank you to those of you who reached out during my little blogging break. I was overwhelmed by your emails, comments, and phone calls checking on me- though I certainly didn’t mean to cause any alarm! You know, sometimes it’s just good to step back for a few days, take the pressure off, and make sure that blogging is still fun. And you know what? It is! 
On Friday (the last day of Andrew’s spring break, though he didn’t get to take any time off until Friday afternoon… bummer), Andrew came home from work early so we could enjoy what was to be one nice warm day in a sea of cold rainy ones. He came home to find us with the back door wide open, music blaring, and kids playing in the mud on our back deck while I snapped some photos and basked in the sunshine.
Then we headed to Laumeier Sculpture Park to check out the outdoor exhibit, which was pretty cool. And though we respected the signs that asked us not to climb on or touch certain structures… 
We took liberty in trying out the few that didn’t have signs… and then found out later that we weren’t supposed to (oops!). So if you go, don’t climb. 
Which begs the question… would my kids have had fun here if we hadn’t let them touch anything? Probably not. But it sure was great to get out of the house and into the open air! 
And this is officially “The Face of Three.”
Actually, he just banged his knee pretty hard on that rock seat. But, you know, it’s a face we have been seeing a lot of lately. Especially around bedtime. 
Today kicks off spring break for the boys, which I am trying to pump myself up for! Around this time last year, we were already starting our garden, spending every waking hour outside, and even playing in basins of water in the back yard. We had weeks of weather in the mid-70’s and 80’s, and spring was in full-swing. But this week looks bleak. It’s snowing as I write this, and we are looking at temperatures in the 30’s and 40’s all week, plus rain. Sigh. It would be nice timing for you to show up now, spring.
Not sure what I’ll be up to with the boys while they are out of school. I am kind of up to my gills sick of indoor activities, and we have worn out all of the children’s museums around St. Louis. So… do you have any ideas???
Also, Happy Birthday to my mama today! We love you, Grandma!
I think it is a shame that they don’t encourage climbing on the sculptures. I think the idea of the “viewer” interacting/ engaging with art is so much more exciting than passive observation, ya know?
Anyhow, good luck with a drizzly spring break. Sounds like you guys might be spending sometime puddle jumping and making mud pies.
Where did you get the orange dinosaur pants????? They are fantastic.
Have you tried the newly renovated library downtown?! It has a great children’s section and fabulous renovation…my daughter and I love it! Take your camera-it’s gorgeous!! If you haven’t been-go! Have a fun week!
Sara- I got the dino leggings here:
http://prsprkids.com/collections/pant/products/dino-pants#.UUcXT6XiM20
Just beware, they run a bit small! I ordered a size 4 for Oliver (he’s 3 1/2 and average-sized) and they are pretty snug! He loves them anyway!
That looks like so much fun! Although if you hadn’t climbed on anything, it would have been kind of boring. This makes me wish there were more outdoor areas that encouraged climbing and physical activity. I know people say it’s a huge liability and blah blah blah, but we always have the most fun when we’re outside and moving around. I want to be in a society that encourages play more.
That eyeball is kind of freaky. Did you feel like it was following you?
Mud wrestling? I’m with you, Lauren. Spring can’t come soon enough. I feel like I don’t have the right to complain because we decided to move this far north but MY GOD I just need something about 30ish degrees. I will remain grateful for the sun though.. It has poked itself out the past few days so at least there’s that. Good luck with the boys this week. xo
I love that park. It seems like a waste if call you do is see, not touch. I like to play too much. 🙂 Such sweet little babes.
It’s always a bummer when sculpture parks don’t let you touch the art. Generally I think the artists design those large scale pieces to be interactive… our sculpture park does allow touching for the most part, but no climbing typically (which I think has more to do with liability than art damage). Anyway it looks like you all had lots of fun.
And you got the dino pants! I love those.
Great photos! That looks like SO much fun (and no, surely not nearly as much fun without all the climbing). We just finished spring break up in here and my house is in chaos (professional cleaners here now… I’ve given in and actually it’s the best thing ever), my work is backed up (dealing with that now, too… and/or… catching up on blogs!) and I’m so glad we let the work and tidiness slide because we had a great time romping around all week. That said, school days are a beautiful thing. Indoor fun, oy. It gets tough, though I’m admittedly a little jealous of your winter right now. Never thought I’d say that back when I lived in the Northeast. Summer’s now our cabin fever season here in Texas, and I’m actually starting to fear the impending season as spring has most definitely already sprung (to the tune of 90 degrees) and I am gonna be extra busy AND hugely pregnant by the time August rolls around. So, post about your indoor activities, yeah? I’ll save ’em for when our heat waves hit! Have a fun spring break!
Oh, but how could you not climb when the climbing looks so fun? This drawn out winter has been difficult for us as well. As a Missouri mama I feel your pain on trying to keep up the activities and exploration when you are just well, at least in my case, totally burnt out on the cold weather. We really took advantage of those couple of lovely days as well. It reminded me that renewal is right around the corner. We just have to hold on until spring decides to grace us with its presence.
So fun! I love seeing your boys enjoying it all. I am with you on the Spring. I thought we were supposed to have an early one, but this weather says something very different. It can’t be too long!
We go to play near a outdoor fountain about once a week that has grass area around it that the kids aren’t allowed to play on – still haven’t figured out why. But we tell the boys “you can play on the grass but keep your eyes open for the security guard!” Haha! My husband likes to call it civil disobedience. – I’m glad you guys got to get a bit of climbing and playing in on the sculptures outside!
p.s. I’m coveting Oliver’s leggings for myself!
xo
cortnie
I love the first image in this post! And that park looks like a lot of fun, I’m a little jealous that there isn’t anything like it near me.