The Terrifying Slide

When Matt got out of preschool today, I took the kids over to the church playground to burn off some energy. This playground has a rather clever design, and both boys loved playing on the equipment. Nolan, however, met his nemesis in the slide.


Oh, the terrifying, terrifying slide.


In what amounts to a great feat of courage for a two year old, he finally let go and enjoyed the ride. And then he showed his big brother how to conquer this foe!


Slides everywhere, be warned: Nolan is coming for you, and he is NOT afraid!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Brothers, At 33 Months

Matthew, August 2008

Nolan, March 2010

Dandelion Joy

I know that dandelions are weeds, but if I have a favorite weed, dandelions are the top pick. The kids have endless fun with them, if only because they are allowed to pick as many flowers as they want. Matthew brings me endless little-boy bouquets of dandelion flowers, which dot the house in short glasses filled with water.

A dozen roses has nothing on a handful of crumpled dandelions brought in by a four year old with tousled hair.


Dandelions are also the preferred flowers of fairies, so they must decorate our fairy houses. Fairy house building is a very serious business, which requires a solid afternoon of finding the right sticks, acorn caps, dandelions, and wood violets. Nolan prefers the log cabin style fairy house, because he can stick more flowers in the spaces. Matt prefers to build a tepee, "because they need a roof in case it rains."

It won't be long before the dandelions have all gone to seed and disappeared from the lawn for another year. In the meantime, we have some more fairy houses to build!

Deconstructive

The boys were running around like little crazy people, so I did what any sane mother would do and kicked them outside. I told them to find something constructive to do.

When I looked outside, I realized they had taken apart a few toys in the backyard. Upon further questioning, I found out that they were "constructing." Next time, I'll choose different words when I send them outside!

Peek-a-boo.

Saying hi to Mom.

Uh-oh. We got caught.

Are we in trouble?

They were worried they'd get in trouble, but I wasn't upset. These toys snap apart and are easy to put back together, so it isn't a problem to fix their "construction" work. I do have a feeling that they are outgrowing the toddler level toys, however!

Wordless Wednesday: Frankenfood

Short Trip to Lakewood Beach Park

I had to make a quick trip to the post office, so I thought I'd take the boys to the playground in Lakewood to burn off some energy (Matt) and to get some fresh air (Nolan). Nolan is still recovering from his tonsillectomy, so he took it easy and just played on the bridge, but Matt was all over the park, chasing other kids and two friendly golden retrievers. I am sure this will renew his pleas for a dog!

Nolan in the playhouse

Matt, AKA "Spiderman"

Climbing to the top

Getting some fresh air

Wordless Wednesday: I Wear My Sunglasses At Night

The Tree Climber

Matt has taken to climbing trees. Any tree with a nub of a branch for a handhold is fair game, and I have found him as high as 15 feet off the ground, hanging from a branch and shouting "Wheee!"




I saw him eying the huge cell-tower in the woods behind our house the other day. I am going to be very, very gray by the time this boy reaches adulthood!

Easter 2010

Easter has never dawned on a more perfect day in our little corner of the world. The sun was shining, the temperature was warm, and we were able to have the first outdoor Easter Egg hunt ever.

The boys woke to find their Easter baskets waiting on the fireplace. Matthew whispered with awe, "The Easter Bunny came!"


Then the egg hunt began. As parents, we wildly overestimated the number of jelly beans any child should have. The boys, of course, were delighted with the ridiculous amount of candy at their disposal!

Nolan finds an egg

Sometimes you need a little boost

Matt searches high for an egg

Nolan, mouth full of jelly beans

Scarfing down candy before Mom takes it away.

I wasn't sure exactly how much of the Easter story Matt understood, so I asked him what Easter was about. He placed his basket on the ground and said, "The bad guys tried to get Jesus, but they couldn't keep him dead." Good enough for a four year old!

The boys spent the remainder of the day playing outside in the sunshine with the neighborhood kids. Matt watched the neighbor boy bite the ears off a hollow chocolate bunny. He looked into the candy bunny's head and exclaimed with horror, "Where are his brains?!" I, for one, would have been far more horrified if there were brains in the chocolate rabbit.

We ended Easter with a nice ham dinner, complete with scalloped potatoes and jelly beans for dessert. The boys went to bed early, possibly falling into diabetic comas. Easter is now over, and I must begin the process of eating eliminating all of that candy and chocolate from the house!

Allen Park Easter Egg Hunt, 2010

The warmest April 3 on record in Jamestown!

Waiting for the hunt to begin

Enjoying the spoils of the egg hunt

Meeting the Easter Bunny

Preschool Easter Party

Matt's preschool had an Easter party on Wednesday. I am in constant awe of preschool teachers everywhere: if you don't believe in miracles, consider the following:

Twenty three 3-4 year old children, hyped on candy and rumors of a visiting Easter Bunny, jostling at the door to the preschool courtyard. The children are supposed to hunt for an egg, take only that egg, and then line up again.

If you have a three or four year old, this is an amazing feat when huge amounts of high fructose corn sugar aren't involved. Add in the promise of neon-colored jelly beans, and maintaining order is a miracle.


The preschool teachers did just that- organized the kids, and had them lined back up with their eggs in about 5 minutes. They walked back to their classroom in a line, and waited to open their candy-filled eggs until after class. They were actually civilized.

Preschool teachers everywhere: You are amazing. If someone handed me 23 sugar-laden three year old children, I'd be heading for the hills. You manage to take those crazy, hyper adorable kids and turn everything into a learning experience. Amazing.