down time

Neland's room is the place to be.  Neland likes to listen to music in his room.  Teague usually barges in, climbs on the bed (those pesky guard rails are perfect for climbing) and wrestling ensues.

such a daddy's boy

Teague is all about daddy!  On Mondays he walks around the house saying "daddy" and pointing to pictures of him. 

apple pickin'

On Saturday we went apple picking with our playgroup.  We've never been apple picking before and weren't quite sure what to expect.  When we arrived, the chickens and roosters running around were all we needed to see to know this was going to be a fun day. 

 The boys spent a lot of time chasing the chickens (there were many Rocky references).  Teague ran around saying "chicken chicken" which I didn't know he could say. In their chase, they came across this.

Teague of course said "dog", but they were instead 3 week old piglets.

 

Then we got around to apple picking

With bags full, we headed back for a picnic lunch, apple smoothies and apple cider doughnuts to celebrate Reese's birthday.

Oh and we did a little apple painting.

The apple cider doughnuts were definitely a favorite.  I'd drive back just for those!  We also picked up some apple butter and pumpkin butter.

Before leaving, we headed to the top of the orchard to see the big pigs.

I lost any desire to take home a baby pig after seeing these guys.  At the end of apple season, they let the pigs go in the orchard and eat the rotten apples.

My boys had such a great day.  We left covered in dirt, doughnut sugar, rotten apple (Teague sat on one), and smiles. 

the stories that can be told

from toys left around the room.

I never thought of it until Chris arrived home from work one day, he walked in the playroom and said he liked seeing the toys around the room and thinking about what went on during the day.   I think that particular day it appeared that Buzz and Woody had hitched a ride on the Little People airplane that seemed to travel back in time to visit the dinosaurs.  While toys being out is not always our favorite thing (especially since Neland knows he needs to pick up his toys when he done), it does make me think twice when I see them out and I usually end up smiling.

It looks like Neland took Big Bird and the Panther bear grocery shopping for some milk, a birthday cake, some tuna (or whale).

 Teague is obsessed with every car and truck having a driver.  I saw this Dragon finger puppet in the firetruck the other morning and giggled.  I wonder if he's a fire breathing dragon and needs the job security. 

cookies

My boys love some cookies (especially the big one - it truly was the way to his heart).  Neland especially likes to help make cookies.  My parents picked up some green dinosaur cookies.  It was the neatest mix we've ever done.  It starts out normal, then you add water and the entire thing turns green.  There was icing (that turned green as well) and sprinkles too.  We may or may not have iced our entire hands along with the cookies.

Last Saturday we tried out a new way to work on letters and words. 

It was a total hit, but lasted only until Chris came downstairs and ate some letters crucial to our spelling!

summer days

Oh how I wish summer could go on and on!

These days are so much fun.  Waking up without having to be anywhere, sunshine already peaking through the window.  I'm going to miss this as school starts and fall comes.  I love the dirty, smelly toes from sandals and little sweaty curled hair.  Thank goodness that where we live, it will hopefully stay warm for another month - or two! 

 ~I think my boys are enjoying lots of time together too~

the best days....

seem to be the ones when nothing big is planned.

This morning we met friends at the park.  I thought we'd stay for an hour or so, but 3 hours later I was heading home with two very tired kids. 

 

The WHOLE splash pad to play in and my child goes to the mud hole - 

The boys also got to play on the playground and have a picnic lunch.

 Obviously this park must be near a nuclear plant with this purple mutant bunny around....

 

I hope we can recreate this day before the weather turns cold (if only summer lasted longer!).

Ah the differences

Today at breakfast, a woman came to our table and told us we had the most well behaved little boy.  At church this past week and the week before, the couple in Neland's room has come to tell us how polite he is.

This morning at breakfast, our other little boy had to be removed from the restaurant for screaming. At church the comments about Teague are, wow he's fast, you really have to watch him and he's a climber. 

organized chaos?

I think my dining room is in there somewhere.... 

the water slide

This weekend for an hour and a half, we all took turns taking Tman down the water slide.  His loud screams were too embarrassing and his huge smile too cute to not give in.  Neland enjoyed it as well, although he liked playing on the steps just a little more. 

Thank goodness for nap time!