Bike rider

Of course we think that H is good at everything, but two things that he is really good at are bike riding and puzzles.  Our neighborhood has some hills in it, and H has learned (with his daddy's coaching and encouraging) to walk his bike up the hills, "go zoom" down the hills, and go to the grass immediately if a car is coming.  It never ceases to impress us seeing this little guy going so fast on his balance bike (thanks Pop and SweetHart!).  Enjoy a little video of him "going zoom!"

Party time!

 Two of the boys' buddies, Hayden and Kyler (also brothers) had a birthday party today!  A get wet kind of party!  

C was a little clingy until he saw a bucket of balls, and then happily carried around a ball in each hand for the rest of our time there. 

 H wasn't quite ready for all of the fun activities, but stayed close to the swings and he enjoyed entertaining the babies for a bit.  I tried to get him to take his shoes off so he could go play, but he wasn't interested.  We can always tell that he is comfortable when the shoes come off. 

 H took his shoes off and was ready to play!  They had a huge slip and slide up for the kids.  H just scooted down it a few times,

 And then was full steam ahead!  Once conquering the slide, he was also ready for the pools, swing set and bounce house, too!

 C did some swinging and a little swimming, but was all about the food!  Some other mama's got their plates before we did, and C tried to convince them to give him some, but we convinced him to wait for our plates!  Whenever he wanted another bite, he would pat his tummy.

The big boys enjoying their snacks!

Makes me want to give our boys a joint birthday party next year...  easier to do one big party instead of two smaller parties?

Fizzy fun

 I've had several ideas of crafts or activities we would do this summer, and some we've done here or there, and others like this one are just now getting done!  I saw the idea online to get a dish of baking soda and color some vinegar with food coloring, then let the little guys have fun putting droppers of the vinegar on the baking soda and watch it fizz up. 

Some of these activities we have to do after brother is asleep, or plan accordingly and do them during snack time or a good sitting still time... the stars don't always aline for these things!  I'll look forward to when they can both do the same activity to some capacity.  If that ever happens.....

 

 We had to work a little bit on the coordination of squeezing the bulb of the medicine dropper and keeping it in the vinegar while letting go.  We almost had vinegar all over the floor in a few instances!

 C had his snack (goldfish, cheerios and cranberries, and some pedialyte (tummy troubles the night before - poor guy)) and played with his gear caterpillar.

 These activities take concentration!

 

 Concentration can make for silly faces!

 Silly faces on one boy can lead to silly faces on the other boy!

When we were just about to run out of vinegar (or patience?) H decided to skip the dropper and just pour the vinegar on the baking soda!

A fun and not too messy activity!  I recommend it!

Up!

Someone has discovered that he can climb and now likes to do it a lot!   We are having to be more aware these days, because C can climb up on things much better, but his climbing down has not gotten much better!

Here are a few of the places I found our little climber today:

 

 On the fireplace,

On the bathroom stool - trying to brush his teeth

 Trying to climb on brothers bed

In the laundry basket.

I hope that climbing out of the crib is not his next project!

Stir Crazy!

 Rainy day with "Wots of funder!"  We just needed to get out of the house!

 While H made use of his umbrella, 

 C did some swinging in the rain!

The rain actually let up after just a few minutes, and we could explore a little further.

H enjoyed splashing in the puddles!

(His feet are actually in the air in this picture!)

(Notice the empty snack cup C is carrying around...)

I don't remember what H saw in this picture, but it must have been something exciting!

Rainy hair makes for good "moo-hawks!"

H was finding an alternate use for his T-ball bat. 
C doesn't look to sure about it.

 We enjoyed rolling the balls down the driveway

Angels in training!

Good Saturday

Out by myself for a bit this morning, both boys napped today, swimming this afternoon, N grilled supper and we ate it on the deck, then more glow sticks in the tub, beautiful and not too warm sunset family walk, and now a little relaxing.  

Good Saturday!

At the park

 *A lot of pictures, I know!  I just couldn't exclude any of them!*

We went to the park this morning, we go somewhat regularly, but I realized I hadn't taken any pictures there lately.  Most of the previous pictures are from the little kid side of the park - now we spend most of our time on the big kid side!

Let's go!  There is plenty of room to run around on this side of the park.

"ah!"

Here's a pecan, Mama!

Found just the right spot to sit down!

(I remember H doing this when he was about the same age - he just had to sit down anywhere that looked just the right height for him).  Yesterday C carried around the snack cup all over, today it was the sippy cup!  He must just like to hold on to things.

Notice his shirt pulling at the buttons?  It fits just fine when he is standing!   He is still chubby, but is slimming up a little bit.  He is down to two rolls on his thighs now.

A little yoga in the park?

There are lots of little tunnel/crawl spaces here, and H likes to explore them.

Weee!  

I am trying to teach H how to pump his legs when he swings, but for now he gets farther on his tummy.

Here comes brother!

 C is very into trying to climb these days.  He does okay climbing up things, but not so good climbing down, and that is the part that worries me!  A lot of following around...

 C and H were chasing each other around the posts here.  Sweet brothers.

 I found you!

No time for pictures, Mama!  I've got to run!

It may be just because I am their Mama, but these pictures seem to show their personalities so well.  

I've been in a bit of a funk this week, and not feeling like the best Mama - but looking on the blog, we've gone swimming in the lake, to the park, to visit Daddy, to play at Square Books, and we've done art projects, made muffins together and played with glow sticks in the bath tub.  Maybe I did a little better than I thought!