The passing of the toys

With Grandpa and Grandma back from Florida, we took a day trip down to the Cities on Sunday for a visit and to celebrate all the birthdays they missed over the winter. It's the first time the entire family has been together since Christmas, and it was fun to see how much the youngest cousins have changed in those four months.

I knew Sydney had a growth spurt, but seeing her tower over Zane, she suddenly looks huge. What happened to my baby girl?

For his part, Zane has become quite mobile since we saw him last. At 14 months, his sturdiness seems to be surpassed only by his determination as he motors around to wherever he wants to be.

We used the trip as a chance to get rid of some toys my kids have outgrown. This little "house" originally came from my sister. Both of my kids loved it when they were younger, but have since lost interest in it. I figured this was the perfect time to return it, so that it could be passed along to Zane. Sydney initially didn't want to share, but eventually we were able to convince her to show Zane how it works.

Of course, moving the toys to a new location made them absolutely fascinating again. The rocking bumble bee that has been collecting dust in our basement once again became a favorite.

With Sydney happily rocking, Zane finally had a chance to check out the mailbox and all the other fun features.

There's something about this house, especially the mailbox and plastic "envelopes", that is so appealing to toddlers. And just how durable of a toy is it? Look at it this way: it's now been well loved by everyone in the photo below.