Art in the Park

  There is an awesome Art to Go program here and this summer they are traveling around to the local parks and hosting an art activity.  We went today to check it out, and they were doing leaf rubbings.  We selected a leaf from a nearby tree, and got started.  H wasn't too sure about holding the crayon on its side.  He kept trying to make it upright, but eventually got okay with the idea. 

He was very excited about the glue!  It might be time for us to incorporate it in our art at home.  He quickly noticed that it was sticky, too!

Look!

This was also C's first time at the park as a real walker, and the first time I let him out of his sling!  He was happy to explore and pick up a stick to take to a pole to bang.  

He has swung before, but he still loves it!  It makes him giggle the whole time and pull his neck in - like maybe it makes his tummy feel funny.

His first slide experience!  He loved it!  And H loved sliding with his brother.  I think we'll be going again!

A little summer fun

I found this little sprinkler thing that hooks up to your hose and we tried it out today.  C played with it for a few minutes, and then tried to keep his distance from the water. 

 He was happy as long as I was close by and as long as he had some cheerios in the cup holder on the chair.  We are still trying to figure out whose nose he has!

H had fun playing with it even though he started shivering after awhile.  

C looks like he's trying to sneek past H without getting noticed.  

What event is complete without buddies stopping by?  We enjoyed seeing them lined up next to each other.  They did a pretty good job about not spraying each other or trying to snatch the other persons hose.

But Clara Hartwell had to make sure the boys knew who was the boss!

The Ole Miss Airport

This morning, the Moms group went to the Ole Miss Airport for a little tour.  It is only about five minutes away from our house, so we often see planes overhead.  Thankfully they are only tiny privately owned planes so they don't get too noisy.  Daddy stayed home with C so he could get a good nap this morning, so me and H got to have a little date!

Waiting with Payton for the tour to begin.  These boys are good buddies!

Right as I was taking this picture, the fire alarm went off in the building.  One of the other curious little boys pulled the alarm!  I felt bad for the other mama, it so easily could have been H.  All of the kids enjoyed the beeping and flashing of the alarm.

Hayden was telling H about the propellers and that they go really fast.  Only a minute later, Henry came up and H spouted out his new knowledge of propellers like he was an old expert!

"Cheese!"

I think we are in that silly smile stage...

Look at the lasso, Henry!

Right now any kind of rope or length of wire is a "lasso" for H.  Not too sure where he got that.  

Where is the pilot?

I'm flying, Mama!

 We got to see a plane take off and land, which was pretty special.  

H was covering his ears, even though it wasn't that loud.

Too bright, mama.

H was telling me that it was so bright that it was Sunday. 
I think he was trying to say sunny, but I liked his mix up!

Yokna Bottom Farms

A local farm, Yokna Bottom Farm, had a 'family fun day' this afternoon.  So, after naps, we loaded everyone up in PawPaw's truck and headed down the road.  

 

The boys enjoyed sitting next to each other and looking at each other, giving each other fives, making silly faces and sounds and just being silly. 

Once we got there, there were chickens to check out, all sorts of crops to  check out (tomatoes, jalapenos, fennel, herbs, tomatoes, bee hives (!!!) and more), music to listen to, friends to talk to...

There was a large area of black berry bushes.  We spent awhile picking them, watching out for pricklies, ant hills, and poison ivy, and picking more berries.  PawPaw got the most, I think, because he was brave enough to go into one patch of bushes to find the good ones!  Based on our blueberry picking experience and how C liked to reach for leaves and berries, me and C just watched.  I didn't want him picking any thorns!

H was very protective of our stash!  He didn't want anyone else to hold the berries, either!  By the time we left, he had some pretty purple fingers.  The berries were a little small, and a little tart, so I might cook them up and make an ice cream topping or jam... any thoughts?

 The next activity was potato digging.  It was sort of funny to watch all of these little and big kids trying to navigate the ridges of the field.  What a fun experience!  Half of the potatoes dug up were to be taken to the local food bank, and the other half could go home with the people.  We now have some beautiful red, white, and purple potatoes to look forward to.  Yum!

Potatoes!

Washing hands off from the well by the chicken coop after digging in the dirt.  

 They had some colorful hula hoops to play with.  Both boys had their own way of playing with them....

We didn't have to rock these babies to sleep tonight!  I probably won't need to be rocked to sleep either...

Now, we just need to figure out what to do with all of our blueberries, black berries and potatoes that we picked, and the plums and squash from our neighbors yards.... Recipes, anyone?

 

Blueberry picking

Yesterday, the local moms group, went to a blueberry farm to pick our own blueberries!  Our buddies from the neighborhood, Henry and Clara Hartwell, came too!  It was fun!  They gave the kids a little hay ride over to the blueberry bushes, and let us loose!

H loved the whole experience.  I had to keep reminding him to only pick the blue ones, not the green ones, and not to eat too many of them!

C was pretty entertained, too!  Everytime I would lean in to pick some blueberries, he would grab for a leaf or a blueberry.  He got a couple of leaves and a very green blueberry in his mouth before I noticed... I can't imagine they tasted too good.

They had some little birdhouses for the kids to paint after picking.  

They were very colorful....

On the hayride back to the cottage.  I wasn't sure if H would stay seated, but he did pretty good!

There they go!

They had blueberry muffins and blueberry lemonade waiting for us back at the store.  H loved the juice, and C loved the muffins.  What a great day!   I almost didn't go because it was very early (so we would miss the heat) and a little ways away, but we had a wonderful time!  We might even go back again! 

Now, I just need to figure out exactly what to do with a gallon of blueberries!

He walks!

It looks like soccer games might be in our future...

He started walking, and then the next day, unprompted, he started kicking his ball around too!  

Am I going to become a soccer mom?

ONE!

Yesterday, this little guy turned one!!!!  I can't believe it!  I have been with him all day, every day, but I still feel like I missed some of his first year...it went way too fast!  I feel like we have adjusted to life as a family of four, and are really enjoying the cute, fun loving little guy that Charlie is becoming. 

Newborn

One month

Two months

Three months

Four months

Five months

Six months

Seven months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

ONE YEAR!!!

Likes:  his orange ball, little cars, his blankie, anything that taps, moving around, his family, food!

Doesn't like:  having water poured/splashed on him, being still

Food:  Is totally over baby food.... loves peas (especially), carrots (cooked or a baby carrot to gnaw on), strawberries, goldfish, raisins, grapes, chicken/pork (especially with Trader Joes bbq sauce), yogurt, cheese, bananas...I could continue...this boy loves his food!

He says "hi," responds to "Bubba,"  can sign milk, more and cheese, gives kisses and blows kisses, waves, and understands more words, and loves to smile and laugh, and play, play, play!