My Morning Helper/entertainer

C and I keep each other company on mornings when H is in school.  This morning when I was getting ready for the day, C was in the bathroom with me 'blowing' his nose and putting the tiny scraps in the toilet.  I'd noticed we were going through toilet paper a little faster lately....  This is the hat that C likes to wear around the house.  

(Sorry for the sideways video - I took it on my iPod!)

Really?

 I was cleaning out the memory card for my camera today....

 

 It's hard to imagine that this little one:

really looked like this:

not very long ago!

I can't even imagine where we will be in another year!

Maybe the years last swim?

 We've been gone or too busy, or it's been too rainy the last few weekends to get the pool out, so we really wanted to this weekend, and then I think we will probably dry out the pool and store it until next summer!

The boys really enjoyed having it back out!  They both even figured out how to use their floaties to create pretty big waves in the pool.

 H:  "Cheese!"  C: "Eeeee!"

 This little guy is looking a little more mature these days.  He has also become quite the charmer!

 Swimming break!  

H was walking the "balance beam" and C was trying desparately hard to climb up too!

 Back in the water!  It was a little too cool for me today.  H was going round and round and round and round....

C was really enjoying laying back and dipping his head in the water.  We were worried he would tip over, but he never did.  Just enjoying the sun and the water!

'Nastics

 The Moms group had another open gym day at the local gymnastics ('nastics) center.  They have one of these about every six-ish months.  We always have a blast! For most of the morning, the boys were never too far from each other, but I did have a few times where both boys were going in opposite directions and I had to quickly grab one to go save the other from being run into or running in to another little one.  I feel like I got some good exercise too!

 Come on, brother, like this!

 H never stayed at one activity too long.  I had a hard time keeping my eyes on him.  He just went from one thing to the other.

 One of C's favorites was the big foam wedge that he would just roll down.  The first time, I really had to work to keep him rolling, but eventually he got it and would roll himself.

 Weee!  Miss Shannon helped H jump to and swing up onto the bar.  He couldn't stop laughing!

 Up or down?  This was another one of C's favorites!

 He eventually got the pattern of moving hands and feet.

H's favorite activities were the rings and the trampoline, but I didn't get a good picture of either - too much motion! 

Let's do this again, brother!

(It's hard to tell, but they are both sitting on top of the kid version of the pommel horse and loved it!)

The Second Day

 Daddy is going to be on "take to school" duty this semester.  It works well with his schedule (helps me out) and I think it will also be something a little special for H and him.  We got an extra car seat just for Daddy's car, and H was pretty excited about it.  When I went to pick H up from school, he fussed that he wanted to ride in Daddy's car instead!

 After H left, me and C had a VERY quiet breakfast.  I had to turn on some of H's shows just so it wasn't too quiet!  I was okay all morning, me and C kept each other entertained, went to storytime at the library, ran some errands, and then headed over to pick up H.  I was okay until I was in the pick up line, and then I wanted to park the car and take off running to see my baby!!!! I missed him!!!  But I didn't do that... When he got to the car, he was telling his teacher that he wanted to go back to his class "right now!"  I guess he liked it!

 I think it is safe to say that the boys missed each other all morning!  After we got home they were pretty inseparable.  Lots of hugging, loving, wrestling, a little more wrestling and a little snuggling! 

I look forward to seeing what next week holds!

The First Day of School

 Today, this little (or big) guy had his very first day of school!  I wasn't worried too much about how he would do, he is a very social person (like his Daddy).  I was more worried about how I would do!  I only went back to check on him twice, and only teared up once.  No actual crying.  I would say it was a successful day!

 He was very excited about going to school!  Our sweet neighbor even made him an awesome cape in honor of his first day.

 He is in the ladybug class.  Surprisingly, we already knew a lot of the kids in his class, so there were some familiar faces.  He was happy to meet his teachers, Miss Stephanie (Miss Teffany), and Miss Kathie (Miss Haffy).

 Decorating their placemats.  Most of the kids stayed at their seats and decorated their own mats.  H put a few stickers on his paper, and then went around the room giving stickers to the teachers and parents.  I wonder what role he will take in the classroom....?

 Listening to the story with his classmates.  Today was only a 45 minute "Meet Your Teacher" day.  The parents had a meeting in the gym, and then picked up the kids.  It was a good way to start the year - especially for those who haven't gone to day care or Moms Morning Out, but I hope he doesn't expect every day to be that short!

He was excited about his school bag. and finding his hook.  

One day of school down, eighteen (or more) years to go!

Sandbox fun

 We've been getting the pool out a little less these days and finding other ways to entertain ourselves outside.  A friend gave us a fun Sprig Toys sand set and we tried them out today.  I am glad that C is not a big one on putting things in his mouth, otherwise we might not try out the sandbox. ( I don't think I would have dared do this with H when he was little - he always puts things in his mouth!  He did then, and still does! I feel like a broken record, telling him "out of your mouth" all day long.... I'll be glad when he stops that.  )  But we had a good time playing in the sand!

 Enjoying the feel on his toes

 C discovered quickly that eating Cheerios while playing in the sand is not a good idea!  It didn't help too much when he tried to wipe the sand out of his mouth with a sandy hand...

 C had fun going in and out of the sandbox.  I think it took him a little bit to realize that he could actually get in it like brother.

 All the Sprig's, buried in the sand.  The Sprig sand toys are pretty neat.  Trucks to build that come apart to make scoops, funnels, shovels and more. 

 C and his ever present snack cup.  H entertaining himself.

C kept taking hand fulls of sand and throwing them.  I told him "no" and finally took him out of the sandbox because he kept throwing the sand.  You would have thought that I broke his heart!!!  "No" is a hard lesson to learn!