Chalk it Up

Even though this was "L's" second year involved with the Easter hunt, this really was his first experience as a true "hunter." Last year's hunt was spent napping with Aunt "B" in the car ;).  So, I carried his bucket and worked to guide him in finding his loot.

"L" was really interested in gathering rocks, so we had a couple of meltdowns over this, but survived and did successfully gather all his items.  "L" loves sidewalk chalk.  I guess he likes to taste it at the childcare center.  So, I will need to keep an eye out for chalk licking!  I thought this picture was too fun of "L" trying to get inside his bag of chalk.

Egg Insides

"K" absolutely loves the plastic Easter eggs!  He now has the dexterity to open and close the eggs.  Some of them are still tricky, but for the most part, he can do it himself.  I think his favorite thing about this year's hunt were the eggs that contained quarters.

Each child found 4 mini eggs with quarters inside.  When he found his first egg (all eggs are labeled with the child's name), he shook it and said, "Jingle bells Mommy!"  Well, after the hunt concluded, he combined all the quarters inside a larger egg.  He carried the egg all night, slept with it, and carried it in the car to childcare the next day.  I am hoping that some day, we can get those quarters inside his piggy bank for safe keeping!

Easter Family

Our family has the best tradition for Easter.  All the "10 and unders" get to "hunt" for "stuff."  We go to the local park, and roam around gathering goodies.  This year's haul was sidewalk chalk, toy cars, bubbles, glue sticks, water bottle, ball, and books.  So much fun!

"K" really started to understand how this process worked this year, so that was fun.  "L" was not quite sure why we kept walking all over this park, when he could not get into that first bag of sidewalk chalk.  He really was not concerned about the other items left to gather!

So, I snapped an after hunt photo of Mr. Fixit and the boys.  They were tired (no naps for either) and it was a long night.  I told Mr. Fixit that I do enjoy seeing everyone, and the kids have fun too, but wow, do I hate that evening and the next day.  Let's just say the cranky-meter was reading on the high end of things!

Yard Work

Daddy do -- then little boys must also do!  Mr. Fixit was doing a bit of raking to clean up a bit of pasture area, and, well, the boys wanted to pitch in also.  So, each boy had a rake, and I am not really certain that any more work got accomplished, but they certainly did have fun!

I would say that we need to work on the follow through a bit.  Also, it is important to not be around anyone else when a small child rakes.  It is hard telling where the debris or the rake will end up!  Thankfully, we seem to have plenty of raking space to keep everyone occupied ;)

Firetruck

One cannot imagine the excitement of a small boy and big trucks and equipment.  Wow, I honestly never thought I would get excited to see a cement mixer, rock truck, wheel loader, trash truck or any other type of large equipment truck-type-thing driving!

Imagine the excitement when "L" saw there was a firetruck at the spring picnic!  I think he climbed on and inside that truck at least half a dozen times before the day was done.  "K," on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with it.  He wanted to look at it from a distance, and not go on board.  I think this truck was the highlight of the picnic for "L!"

Spring Picnic

The annual spring picnic was held for the boys' childcare center.  The weather was absolutely amazing.  Honestly, it was a bit on the hot side: 87 degrees, but fun was definitely had by all.  There was the playground, sidewalk chalk, parachute and an art station.  Plenty of fun, for 300 kids and parents!

"K" recently moved up to the pre-school room, but he still remembers his two-year-old friends.  Here one friend and "K" are having fun with the new sidewalk chalk.  Later we enjoyed hamburgers, beans, fruit, cookies and chips for lunch.  We had some tired, but very happy boys after the lunch picnic was completed!

Mr. Silly

I think we have a little "ham" in the house!  I love it when "L" is feeling great, because he has quite the sense of humor for a 20 month old!  I snapped a silly pic of his ornery grin, just to prove, that he is up to something. 

He is pictured with his favorite blanket, and of course, the "pa-pa" aka pacifier.  Someday we will need to say good-bye to this little friends!  This photo was snapped when Grandma and Grandpa came for a visit, and "L" was having a great time being silly.  Here's to many more days of wellness and silliness!  There simply is nothing better!

Jammies

I am slightly behind in posting photos and blog posts, and well, just plain behind!  Work has been busy, as students are deciding that it is time to change their major -- and it is time to enroll for fall and summer classes.  So, I like having things to do, and hope to be back to blogging soon.

Grandma and Grandpa came for a little visit in March.  Since "K" had his birthday, they brought some gifts as well.  "K" received some new race car jammies, as well as some shirts and pants.  Hooray, we really needed some of the "next size" of clothes!  In addition, "K's" favorite item was Grandpa's homemade beef jerky.  Have you ever seen a three-year-old get excited - and ask - for beef jerky?  I honestly, don't understand it, but Mr. Fixit, Grandpa and "K" sure had a great time snacking on that!

Spaghetti

Mr. Fixit gathered us some tickets for a recent spaghetti dinner fundraiser at his place of work.  Ironically, "K" believes this building is a "restaurant," because he often accompanies us to varies non-profit dinners held there!  Usually we dine on breakfast fare (pancakes etc.), but this time featured an evening dining adventure!

"L" loves spaghetti!  I honestly can't express his excitement enough for this long-noodle creation.  "L" also gets into every aspect of eating.  He is not concerned with getting messy, but gets totally into the food experience.  I admit, I often choose a less-mess pasta shape when I make this meal at home, to avoid elaborate clean up!

So, I thought all might enjoy watching a toddler enthusiastically dine on noodles and sauce.  I did remove his shirt for this experience, packed several wash clothes and wipes and cleaned the floor, table and child thoroughly after dining was completed!

Donut Cake

Ok, last post on donuts -- I promise!  You see, we just don't really go many places, so this was definitely the highlight of our March!!  So, this post is dedicated to the donut cake.  Check it out!  A three-tiered tray designed to stack the donuts into a cake-like structure.

The top of the cake features the coveted (at least in the three-year-old's eyes) Cookie Monster donuts.  Wow!  Let's just say the small people were quite impressed.  All Cookie Monster donuts had a home in some boy's tummy at the party.  They even had eyes!

We selected one donut, and placed three lit candles in it.  Wishes were made, and donuts were devoured, along with glasses of apple juice.  It was definitely a sugar-filled day!  Note: the donuts without frosting were the ones that the kids decorated.

Wall of Chalk

I have heard that there is a special paint that you can put on your wall which allows kids/people to chalk on it.  Well, that is true!  The donut place we visited for a birthday party had an entire wall painted "black" just for that purpose.  Three buckets of assorted colors of sidewalk chalk lined the wall.

The shop cleaned the wall just for the party.  So, it was entirely clean, and ready for lots of writing and drawing!  "K" loved this activity, and came back for a second turn after decorating and eating his donuts.  Such a brilliant idea, by the way!  I almost wonder if I shouldn't try pitching this idea to Mr. Fixit as a basement activity?  It really is fun!

Donut Party

"K" was invited to his first ever birthday party!  The party was for a friend turning 3.  Both boys happen to have March birthdays, so explaining that the birthday party was for his friend was a bit confusing!  However, both boys received donuts with candles in them, so I think the day was a success!

Each party participant was able to decorate a donut or two, write on the wall with sidewalk chalk and eat a donut or two.  The perfect party for the three-year-old crowd!  "K" was particularly enthusiastic about the Cookie Monster donut!

I thought this snap of him eying all the donuts was fun, so I hope you enjoy it as well!  It was amazing to me, the number of people that came to buy and eat donuts in the middle of the afternoon!  I guess anything goes in a college town. :)

Buddies

The boys' childcare facility was closed for three days during spring break.  As a result, this meant we needed to devise alternate childcare plans for the latter part of that week.  Thankfully, Mr. Fixit's sister "L" came for one day.  Mr. Fixit took the second day, and I took the third day.  So, this photo is from my day.

"K's" friend "W," moved to the preschool room at the same time.  They have both been together since they began at childcare.  We had a grand day!  They enjoyed play-doh, outside time, driving trucks, blocks, books and just running after each other.  Not to worry - "L" was sure to get in the action as well! ;)  This was the first friend that "K" has had for a visit.  I think they both had a great day!