Short but sweet visit with Erin and Sonia

Erin and Sonia drove down to see us (I'm pretty sure meeting the new kitten was a big motivation!) this week and boy, did we have fun!

We visited the Story Bus (an old converted school bus sponsored by our local school district where kids can hang out at read).  Sonia was wearing her famous All Aboard Diner hat and wearing one of my favorite shirts handed down from Charlotte (but originally bought by Auntie Ernie!).

Peter wanted to sit in the storyteller's chair.  He was having a good time until he rocked the chair too hard and I was afraid he would bust out the emergency door window!

CHEESE!  We lined up our little goofballs in age order.  Charlotte is only 14 months older than Sonia, and Sonia is only seven months older than Petey!  Considering Erin and I are four years older than our closest cousin in age (Lindsay) and knowing how much fun we had playing with her when we were growing up, these three should have a blast together over the years!

There are always lots of huggles and schnuggles when these three get together.

My sweet niecey!

I taught Sonia my patented death-defying toddler acrobatics routine.

Then Charlotte needed a turn.

Then Peter finally got his turn.  Then each one of them needed a bunch more turns.  Then Auntie Niki needed a chiropractor.

Ring around the rosie was a good diversion from their pitiful pleas for more acrobatics.

Sonia took Peter's hand and led him around for quite a while.  She is following right in Charlotte's bossy little footprints.

Sonia dove into Charlie's dress-up clothes head-first and came up with this outfit.

After a few toy struggles, Auntie Ernie and I decided the cousins needed to watch a show while we made dinner.

The littler ones had other ideas.

The next day, we went to the Discovery Center.  Turns out all Sonia wanted to discover was the train table.  That girl is nutty for the choo-choos.

Finally a photo of Auntie Ernie!  We dragged Sonia away from the trains by luring her over to the fire truck.

Lunch time giggles outside the Discovery Center!  Unfortunately, the weather was rainy both days so this was the most time we spent outside.  Pooh.

Well, we did jump in the hot tub a few times.  Sonia had a great time splashing around and BARELY being able to stand up on her own in the middle like her tall cousin, Charlotte.  That is one water-loving little niece I have.  Charlotte has been asking for Sonia ever since.  I guess that means we will have to make a trip up there sometime soon!

P.S.  Remind me NEVER to let someone take a photo of me from that angle ever again.  Erin shared her secret with me too late -- hide BEHIND the child!