Well, thanks to our friend, Christi, we've found M's new favorite place. If you didn't already know, Pump It Up is a place of giant rooms filled with giant bounce houses. The last time we were at a place like this, M was really apprehensive and was content to just play on solid ground. This time was different...
M took no time in climbing up onto not so solid ground. Not one bit of apprehension.
Even the dare devil of a little brother got into it after a while.
He and I climbed up and slid down together many, many times. I'm sure E would have taken the entire trip by himself, and I think he would have been fine, but the mother in me just wouldn't let him go. Maybe next time...maybe.
There have already been many a request to go back...so we will. It IS fun.
We shook things up at playgroup last week and worked a craft in with the playground time. Father's Day was coming, so that's where applied our creativity...so to speak. We had to outrun the rain, but this was a short and sweet project that I think all the daddy's will be proud to display on their desks at work.
First, a little pre-craft preparation. Place letter stickers however you like...spelling whatever you like...on a canvas of whatever size you like. Since we went with a Father's Day theme, I chose "dad", "daddy", and "xo" on thin 5x7 canvases. (live and learn tip: use substantial stickers for easy removal.)
Then, everyone gets to paint...
...and paint...
...and paint.
Let them dry. This might take longer for some of the more thorough artists.
(pretend there is a picture of M's final piece here)
Peel off the stickers and what you're left with the negative space of the letters you used. (here's another tip: Use a white paint pen to clean up the edges after removing the stickers.)
Andrew took M's art to work before I could snap a picture...how anti-climactic, right? Bad mommy...
Today, playgroup ended with the sky opening up and pouring rain. I mean, pouring. We were all safely stowed under a pavillion in the playground but the bigger kids kind of inched their way out until they were having an all out, let's get soaking wet, run and play in the rain. As you can see, it.was.fun.
Clothes came off and smiles came out.
posted with her momma's permission.
Mother Nature smiled upon us by giving us a little reprieve so we could make the walk home...but really, she smiled upon us by giving us this wonderfully fun opportunity to do something new. Today was good.
We met up with some friends at the pool yesterday. M was excited...mommy was nervous.
I was so nervous that we almost didn't go. There is really nothing like the anxiety a mother feels when she fears for her child's safety. In hindsight, I know that I didn't really have anything to worry about...it was just something new and I didn't know exactly what to expect out of M...out of the place itself. After an emotional, anxiety ridden cry for myself, we all had fun. So much fun, in fact, that we got season passes.
not one ounce of hesitation
wet little toes
E wasn't too sure about the water, but didn't seem unhappy to play in it. One of the highlights was when M announced, "Mommy, I swimmed!"
April 12, 2010
Maguire turns 4!
She is quite simply, one of M's best friends, so we were excited to celebrate with her (and her newly pierced ears) on Sunday. The weather was perfect and even though we had to wake up all the kids from their naps to go...it was worth it.
...so glad they're friends...
Her party with the playgroup was today...after I woke M up from his nap to go. Seeing a pattern? Anyway, we went to Maguire's new house (of which they haven't moved into yet), and let multitudes of kids run around an empty house, pausing briefly for pizza and cupcakes. It was loud, it was chaotic, and it.was.fun...just like a kid's party is supposed to be.
Melissa's mad skills in the kitchen shown in pink cupcakes with pink frosting...per Pie's request.
I see three pizza faces...in the closet???
April 6, 2010
We're outside of the house!!!
A friend of mine recently said that she feel like she's been asleep for the last few months. I would agree, but yesterday, we woke up. This winter wasn't brutal, but it always feels long so we were happy to take a nice walk to a playground today to meet up and play with some friends.
M and a couple of the pretty ladies of the group.
Mommy, I'm riding a racecar!
Mommy obsessed about sunburns while E was cute...
There he goes AGAIN!
He was reaching and grabbing for handfuls of dirt. I'm SURE 6 month olds aren't supposed to have dirt under their fingernails when they get home from the playground.
I noticed some adorable shirts on my friend, Christi's, blog about a week ago and just took it for a - Wow, what cute little shirts Christi bought for her cute little children.- scenario. A subsequent post of hers led me to believe that she, herself, made the shirts. I immediately left a comment, "Am I to understand that you made these shirts??? If so, I would like order two..."
So, Christi, over at Ni Modo Todo, brought my boys a special package a mere four days after I made my comment. Yes, in addition to being a sick, pregnant, super-mom of two, who is working on opening her own coffee shop...she made my kids shirts...& these are only the things I know about. That's right, I have awesome, talented friends.
Enjoy the cuteness...
I swear, I didn't pose them like this...
& thank you, Christi, for being such a kind, thoughtful friend to me and my boys. This was a wonderful surprise.
October 31, 2009
Trick or Treat
We had a really hard time getting M excited to put on his costume and go trick or treating this year. I don't think he knew exactly what was going to happen, so...he just didn't care to do it. Well, once we met up with our best-est friend, Maguire, his attitude did a 180. All of a sudden, he was ready.to.GO! He started doing all the little things we coached him to say and do to get into character. In the end, he had a great time.
Here we are! Frankenstein and a NICE bear. As Melissa said...you can't fake those smiles.
No costume for E this year. I mean, he was hidden in a carrier the entire time we were out anyway. We just dressed him for the day...and he was adorable.
These two held hands to get to every house, until Maguire realized that M was holding her back. He just moved too slow for her after a while!
Only 1 piece you two!
It was a race to knock on each door. Is anyone home?
Let's go to the next house!
Walking like Frankenstein...and saying, "Fire, Bad!"
We were cold and the babies were letting us know that they were done too, but these guys are STILL cute!
Then it was time to go home. Big hugs! M then told Maguire that he loves her so much and briefly chased her with puckered lips. oh geez...
August 19, 2009
M and Maguire
They have quite a sweet friendship developing.
July 14, 2009
Some fun with our friends
There isn't anything too special or out of the ordinary about today since we get together with this group about 3 times a week. I just managed to take some good pictures and wanted to share. Enjoy!
Making our way to the playground. We've recently released the steering of the tricycle into M's power. As you might expect, we are all over the sidewalk these days.
