Eating, Music Programs, T ball, and Such

I found some pictures from February with Elias going to town feeding himself for one of the first times with a spoon. He's done it before but I usually stop him as to avert a mess. This time it was all him for the whole meal. I thought it was funny.

Success!

Our little thumb sucker.

 He kept doing this all over the material I laid out on the floor in order to trace him. We were all laughing so he kept doing it and laughing too. I trace each of the kids every birthday they have to see how much they've grown. I'm not always on time. He is 15mo, not 12. Close enough.

 Olivia took him on a sweet ride.

 We went to the zoo. Kids were excited that the cow utters were on. (They were off for the winter...milk freezing I suppose...haha) It looks like one had a leak.

 There is a giraffe in the picture.

 The Troop.

 Thought this was a fun look.

 I set this block of cheese out to cut but Elias got a hold of it before I did...and then he wouldn't let go. So I let him eat off the block till he was done.

 And Isaac couldn't wait on me to refill his cup. So he found another way. There's a word for that. I just can't think of it.

Olivia was SOOOO excited for her kindergarten music program last week. I was too really. Fun to watch.

 There she is. During the last song she was one of the ones who got to wave a bandanna.

 This past weekend we went to IJAMS nature center. We stopped and talked to the couple who owned this big dog. There were actually 2 of them.  I think the kids are glad Luci is not that big.

 Isaac did not fall in the lava.

 Happy to be out of the lava. My foot was burning off.

 Bird's nest.

 On the trail, Olivia found this rock but Elias thought it was so funny to carry it around and throw it down every now and again. My back will be glad when he can walk all by himself. However, I think I will have to do A LOT more chasing with this one.

Isaac started T ball practice last weekend. Coach Trever is in yellow. Assistant Coach Justin is there too! Justin and Trever worked together last year and 2 prior to that.

 Assistant Coach Derrick helping him bat.

Elias has absolutely loved the water/rock table. He's only gotten to play a couple times with it. Summer will be fun.

 Thanks Gramp and Nana for the soccer goals!

Snow, Fun Run, & Painting

Before it gets too hot, I figured I'd post the "last snow" which Elias was able to take part in finally! I'm really glad we have the trampoline because it's about the only place where the snow actually sticks enough to play in (besides the deck).

 He laughed lots crawling back and forth on the trampoline brushing snow with his gloves. His boots were a little big (hence one off, and the other backwards) and he wore my mittens. Still fun.

 See. There it is. Fun.

 Olivia made a 2-ball snowman. Elias and Isaac were making snow soup.

Olivia had a "Fun Run" to raise money for her school. Isaac, Elias, & I got to watch. I thought it was fun, but it was a little long for Isaac & Elias, running into their nap time. The Grumpy Gills showed up. Olivia is the one in black pants coming out of the tunnel. The event was in the gym because of weather. All the kindergartners ran at the same time. It got a little comical watching so many wipe out (no one hurt)...until it was Olivia. But she said she only fell 2x. Glad I only saw one. All the kids were really good about helping each other up.

 Is that Dash? No, it's Olivia!

 They had to get their shirt marked off every lap they ran. She made it to the cap lap of 35.

Thanks to my sister for the idea, we had a painting frenzy. It started with the Q tip painting, and then turned into Olivia showing Isaac painting activities she had done in art with paper plates, and then turned into drawing pictures and painting them on a bazillion pieces of paper. 

Elias LOVED it. He even ate paint and rubbed it all over his tummy.

 The point of the activity was to practice fine motor control. In the pictures were circles to be painted by only the end of a Q tip.

 The final products. Olivia wanted a white bunny.

And the last few....Elias played at the kitchen sink for the first time. Splashed all over with that spoon. He can say bubble.

 Rainbow pictures. The entire paper was filled with rainbow colors. I kept 2 out of the 10 that were done.

 And the last news, Isaac is going to start t ball! More pictures to follow when he actually goes to practice!

Out and About

We spent the night at my parents house so we could enjoy nice weather and be outside. Justin, Olivia, Isaac, and I took the "longest bike ride ever" while there. My dad picked Isaac up and drove him back in the truck towards the last little bit of the ride. We went all the way to the end of their neighborhood (it was long).

Here Elias was REALLY enjoying a cookie. He would throw his head back and give the biggest smile after every bite. 

 They were playing Mother May I. Very funny to watch!

 Though you can't tell, Isaac and Olivia were walking backwards up the hill.

 We gave a concert. Mom taught me how to play the autoharp. I've got one song so far in my repertoire: Rejoice in the Lord Always.

 Olivia played a little one.

 Isaac played the drum (I forget what it's actually called). We played the flute and a mini violin too. I was inspired and came home and pulled out my trumpet for Isaac and Elias one day. Isaac was able to get a sound out of it!

 This is Elias's first sucker. VERY FUNNY to watch! He was so happy!

 I took Isaac and Elias to the zoo one day. Every single one of these blue blocks was put away in the bins when we got there. Isaac made a friend (ducked behind a tower) and built this with him. It's so cool how Isaac can make best friends with anyone whose willing to play wherever we go.

 Elias liked the puppet show booth.

 Olivia had President's Day off but Justin had to work. The kids and I went to Tataru's open gym. They were so proud to pay with their own money they had gotten from Gramp & Nana.

Around the House

A few are from awhile back...but around the house none the less.

Here Isaac and Olivia were painting their "valentine boxes" they made at Lowes.  Don't ask them about them because I already threw them away. They were not very functional...plus I have been watching a few "Hoarders" episodes.

 It snowed, of course not lasting long, but they got out and played hard.

We had a family bead making festival.  We made necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings then strutted our stuff.

 Then we had a lesson on what NOT to do when you get older.

 This picture isn't that funny except for the events around it.  He was supposed to be getting ready for bed and Justin found him here. He was petting it and "loving" his cold leftover snack.

 Isaac was watching stories on the "Playaway View" we checked out from the library and eating a snack. I think he sat there almost 30min.

 We were making cupcakes for our new neighbors that moved in across the street. It was kinda for Valentine's Day and kinda for moving in since we didn't give them until 4 days after V-day. It was the first time we met them....I hope they don't think we are crazy already!

 Filling the cups. I can't believe I didn't get a picture of the final product. They had LOTS of sprinkles and icing. The kids got to "squeeze" it out of my icing bags. Olivia really liked doing that.

This is the box that Olivia made for Valentine's Day at school.  They had a party...no parents so no pics.

 We played hair salon. Olivia did my hair. And then Isaac. And then Olivia again.

 He is quite the funny one as of late. He's like a magnet to the fridge when it opens.

 He found this tomato and took a bite. I don't think he liked it. He likes to also climb on chairs in order to see what is happening on the counter.

I turned around one day and saw this. Which one is bigger? Humm.....looks can be deceiving.

 This was pretty funny. Elias was having a great time with my dad and the ball that deflated and was made into a hat! Check out their facial expressions and how similar they are!

 Isaac and I spent some time outside when Elias was sleeping one morning. It had just rained so it was a perfect time to go worm hunting. These are the worms he caught.