Going to the Movies As FOUR

JUNE 2013
Isaiah 3 years old, Jonathan 1.5 years old

First Movie As a Family-
Jaime and I have always loved going to the movies together but once Isaiah and Jonathan arrived it has become a rare occurrence.  Jaime being more of a movie buff than me has insisted on routinely taking Isaiah to go see the latest children's feature film.  Jonathan still being to young would stay behind at home with me.
But that all changed this month when we all went to ENJOY our FIRST movie together as a family. We had a blast sipping on our cherry  ice-es, munching on our buttery popcorn, and laughing at the movie Monster's University. Jonathan did great sitting on my lap the whole time.  Can't wait to do it again.  I love a family outings.

June 2013

JUNE 2013
Isaiah 3 years old, Jonathan 1.5 years old

Let the Swimming Begin!
    I go back and forth with putting the boys into swim lessons.  I'm in the pool with them so much I feel like why waste the money?  So for now, I've decided to do just that, teach them myself.  They are both doing great holding their breaths under water.  Jonathan shows less trepidation than Isaiah when taking the plunge under water, but Isaiah being older has better motor skills is able to swim back to the step from a distance.  They both love to get in there floaties (well floats that have been left behind by friends and nieces, hence the pink) and swim all over the pool.

All A Board- May 2013

MAY 2013
Isaiah 3 years old, Jonathan 1.5 years old

    Along with fishing the boys have taken a great interest in trains.  We frequent our Toys R US often, because it is located in the same parking lot of a restaurant we regularly visit for breakfast.  The toy store has strategically placed a Thomas the Train Table along with all its bells and whistles right in the middle of the Thomas&Friends toy aisle.  It has not gone unnoticed by either of the boys. Jonathan and Isaiah have become obsessed with their set-up.  They became enthralled with maneuvering the train figurines around the track, over the bridges and through the trap doors.  They would stay there for hours if I let them, so of course I want to take it home with me.
    But anyone who knows Thomas the Train toys, knows their prices are RIDICULOUS!!  One small wooden train alone is $15.00. To enjoy the same set up that TOYs R Us has to offer would be over $1000 to buy. So I tried my luck on Craigslist our (online local classifieds) and SURPRISINGLY there was a family of a five year old boy who had recently grown out of his train fever who were looking to sell his entire Thomas the Train collection.  We got hooked up with a table, tracks galore, countless Thomas the Train figurines, structures and 12 Thomas the Train DVDs for an unspeakable price of $150!!!!!  The boys can't stop playing with it.  It makes my heart sing to hear them in Jonathan's bedroom playing with one another. Even Jaime and I  have been enjoying setting up the train tracks for Thomas&Friends to chug along on.   Jonathan even sings "it's two, it's four, it's six, it's eight...(the Thomas theme song) as he pushes his train caravan along.  After breakfast Jonathan will excitingly turn to Isaiah and say,  "want to play trains brother?  "Come on brother!"  "Want to play trains?" And then he leads Isaiah upstairs.  COOLEST TOY EVER.

Embracing ALL That IS BOY

May 2013   
Isaiah 3 years old, Jonathan 1.5 years old

    As much as I love a great smelling perfume, getting my hair done and at times dressing up to the nines I was born a TOMBOY.  So now that I have been blessed with two beautiful boys, you better believe I am going to vicariously partake and (bask) in some of the glory of being a boy.  This includes but is not limited too:  mixed matched clothes, short, dirty fingernails,  going shirtless, peeing care-free in the bushes, wrestling continually,  wearing muddy shoes, sporting wild hair... or no hair at all for that matter.  NO HAIR AT ALL FOR THAT MATTER!?!
    This perk only dawned on me two weeks ago, while Isaiah, Jonathan, and myself waited patiently for their hair cuts.  The boy ahead of us sat down to get his head shaved and the light bulb went off. Although I was hesitant at first because it was such foreign territory for me, I knew I had to indulge.   The summer heat was approaching and this was just another HUGE perk that I...I mean... my boys get to relish.  No hair coming after baths, no taming the wild hairs with spray bottles in the morning, and especially no hair in the face or struggling with chlorinated tangles after swimming.  It's been wonderful, embracing all that is boy.  Here they are with their shaved heads:

Fishing Obsession

    Isaiah and Jonathan are obsessed with fishing.  They eat, sleep, and breath the words, "I want to go fishing with Dada."  Jonathan wakes up and goes directly to his fishing pole stored in the garage.  Isaiah quickly follows to make sure Jonathan is not touching his pole or  any of the dangerous hooks that will cause an "OUCH!"   Then they will stand there together and jibber jabber over Jaimes's rigged up fishing poles possessing eccentric tackle of wooden fish and plastic worms.  Isaiah will keep reiterating how if Jonathan touches the hooks he will get an "ouch and wow! look at the "wormie." And then the begging ensues from both of their mouths, "Mama, I want to go fishing with Dada."
    When Jaime calls to say hello from work all the boys can say to him is "fishing with Dada? or  "I want to catch a BIG FISH!"  I'm pretty sure they only see Jaime as their fishing guide these days.  It has become great encouragement for Isaiah to behave.   He was giving me grief today about not wanting to take a nap and all I had to say to him was, "do you want to go fishing with Dad later?"  and he quickly grabbed my hand to lead himself to bed.  He knows only good boys get to go fishing.

     So everyday we fish.  Isaiah and Jonathan throw numerous casts in our pool to prepare for Jaime's arrival home from work.  Our evening ritual has become fishing out at our community lake.  It has become quite the obsession that I never realized was possible in an nineteen month and three year old!!!

Welcome Spring 2013-Part II

Last Sunday we went to the ride the train and take in some amusement rides at Roeding Park.  We are already experiencing mid-nineties temperatures here so I feel like we are on a race against time to enjoy all these outdoor "Spring" activities before the heat becomes too unbearable and the only things we will be doing outside will involve pools and water.

Train Ride.

  

Welcome Spring 2013

What better way to kick off Spring than starting back up our frequent visits to the Zoo?  Isaiah, Jonathan, and myself enjoyed our visit so much the other week.  The warm sun was shining and there was a slight breeze that cools you down ...the type of weather that makes you want to LIVE outdoors.  All the animals were out to be heard and seen.  Spring was definitely in the air.  Jonathan now (turning eighteen months) knows how to say all the animal names and it was as though he was seeing the Zoo for the first time.  Isaiah was loving every minute of his little brother's new found excitement.  I was giddy myself seeing how happy Isaiah and Jonathan were enjoying two of my favorite things-ANIMALS AND BEING OUTDOORS.  It was such a great day!!!!

Step One-Enjoy feeding the ducks and geese outside the  Zoo.

These birds have NO FEAR.

I've never seen the elephants so close to the viewing  area.

Lunch time on the bench right in front of the giraffes' viewing area.   

Petting Station

Having a great time.

Here comes their second wind!

A cup of ice cream to finish off a great day.

Two minutes into our car ride home.