Growing up I played basketball, not just a little bit but year round for 18 years. At everyone of my games, as I was shooting a freethrow my mom would scream, "Bend your knees Chels!" That was always her advice, not quite sure why she felt the need to scream it from the bleachers everytime I shot the ball, but it was a nice gesture of advice! When we went to the state fair this year we checked out the MN sports building and I snapped this shot of Taylor and it reminded me of my mom and her advice. Will I be the mom in the crowd who yells "bend your knees"???
"BEND YOUR KNEES!"
Growing up I played basketball, not just a little bit but year round for 18 years. At everyone of my games, as I was shooting a freethrow my mom would scream, "Bend your knees Chels!" That was always her advice, not quite sure why she felt the need to scream it from the bleachers everytime I shot the ball, but it was a nice gesture of advice! When we went to the state fair this year we checked out the MN sports building and I snapped this shot of Taylor and it reminded me of my mom and her advice. Will I be the mom in the crowd who yells "bend your knees"???
Nature walks
We live across the street from a rather large pond. The boys have come to love the ducks, turtles, deer, and beavers that live in the pond. Anytime we go outside to get into the car, Taylor has to say hello to the duckies and blow them kisses. Taylor has a special bond with the ducks, a bond that I can't use words to describe. He will sit or stand for hours and talk to "his" ducks. He often cries when we don't have time to go visit the ducks. I often talk about the big crocodile that lives in the pond, which seems to be working to keep the boys out of the water. We fed the ducks every Saturday morning and each week more and more come. I'm not sure how we are going to handle the winter months without the ducks! Most afternoons I take the boys on a nature walk, mostly for the exercise and the educational value. THEY LOVE THESE WALKS!
Saturday morning feed.

Riley often tells me that he was in the jungle and he wasn't even scared. Today as we were entering North Oaks to go to school, Riley asked, " Mom what is this jungle called?" I explained to him that it was the North Oaks jungle and he gets to go to school there this whole year. Today was also the start of the first day of the North Oaks soccer team, made up of 3 year old boys and girls. It was pouring rain so they canceled, so next Thursday the team will take the field after class.

Riley not to happy about the group shot.....

Other updates:
Riley is starting to read. I realize that it is word recognition and memory but still the time I have invested in books is starting to pay off. He can also write his name, spell his name, and complete dot to dot exercises. He is learning Spanish in school so I better start studying! Every night before bed, we practice tracing letters, and learning new sounds.
Taylor is 18 months and has learned that public restrooms are quite a lot of fun. As I am trying to hurry to use the bathroom he has climbed under the stall and is splashing away in another toilet. Taylor's vocabulary is expanding by the day and he can easily say 50 plus words. He also says "thank you" and "excuse me". ( my boys may never be clean but they will have proper mannors!) Both boys are looking forward to Halloween, the costumes are already bought and hung.
Saturday morning feed.
Riley often tells me that he was in the jungle and he wasn't even scared. Today as we were entering North Oaks to go to school, Riley asked, " Mom what is this jungle called?" I explained to him that it was the North Oaks jungle and he gets to go to school there this whole year. Today was also the start of the first day of the North Oaks soccer team, made up of 3 year old boys and girls. It was pouring rain so they canceled, so next Thursday the team will take the field after class.
Riley not to happy about the group shot.....
Other updates:
Riley is starting to read. I realize that it is word recognition and memory but still the time I have invested in books is starting to pay off. He can also write his name, spell his name, and complete dot to dot exercises. He is learning Spanish in school so I better start studying! Every night before bed, we practice tracing letters, and learning new sounds.
Taylor is 18 months and has learned that public restrooms are quite a lot of fun. As I am trying to hurry to use the bathroom he has climbed under the stall and is splashing away in another toilet. Taylor's vocabulary is expanding by the day and he can easily say 50 plus words. He also says "thank you" and "excuse me". ( my boys may never be clean but they will have proper mannors!) Both boys are looking forward to Halloween, the costumes are already bought and hung.
Lunch
Today at the lunch table this is what the conversation was:
Riley( as he is picking up his grape) " I love you grape but I have to eat you."
Taylor(as he is slinging his noodle across the living room) " Shit"
Riley (picks up his second grape) "Oh you are really a grand grape but I must eat you too."
Taylor (with a handful of noodles in his hand and throws them at Riley) "YEAH!!"
It was a wonderful and charming lunch we shared, thanks boys!
Riley( as he is picking up his grape) " I love you grape but I have to eat you."
Taylor(as he is slinging his noodle across the living room) " Shit"
Riley (picks up his second grape) "Oh you are really a grand grape but I must eat you too."
Taylor (with a handful of noodles in his hand and throws them at Riley) "YEAH!!"
It was a wonderful and charming lunch we shared, thanks boys!
Splash park!!
One of the favorite things that the boys love to do is go to the new splash park in St. Anthony. It is totally free and has a playground, and a water splash pad. We have gone often and every time the boys get a little more daring in what they do. We were watching our friends daughter Lilee who just turned one, so we decided to head to the splash park, three kids in tow. ( I was pretty much in heaven having a little girl to dote around!) We all had a good time, although having a 12 month old, a 17 month old, and a 3 year old running around the park was a little hectic. Matt and I would often make eye contact from far away and then realize we were missing one. We both would scan the park and thankfully they never got loose.
Here is sweet Lilee with her new Barbie shades!
Riley decided he could climb the climbing rope tower, and did farely well!
Lily going wild in the water!
Okay I think I need a little girl!!!!
Need I say more....
Of course no outing would be complete without some fighting....
My Litle Ring bearers
The Slice of Shoreview
We took the boys to the "slice" of Shoreview and they had a ball. They both rode many rides and Taylor even went on the big ferris wheel. The whole time he was saying, "WHEEEEEEE". Riley decided he was ready to do the bungy jumping. The age limit was 8, but Riley charmed the owner into letting him do it. He did great and was very proud of himself. An old man had an antique train that he pulled with his tractor. Each boxcar was only big enough for one child, so I put Riley in one car and Taylor in another. Matt and I watched as they rode the train, and then I noticed Taylor standing up in his boxcar. Then I noticed some bouncing in his legs, he thought he would try to leap off the car while it was in motion.
Here we are on the Flintstones ride, the only ride I could stomach.
This is the boys on the old mans' train. Shortly after this was taken Taylor was standing up and jumping!
Riley jumping on the bungy ride! (Notice the age of the kids waiting in line!)
Taylor loved the big slide, and Matt was a trooper he ended up going down several times.
Popcorn and a movie
Walt Disney World
For Riley's third birthday we took him to Disney world in Florida. He has been talking about meeting Mickey for about a year and he finally got to. We also spent a week out on Anna Maria Island, where Riley and Taylor swam in the ocean and pool. Riley and Grandpa went out on a boat and got to see a whole bunch of marine animals as well. A special thanks to Grandpa and Gram for tagging along and helping out so much with the boys! This is a trip they will always remember:)
Congratulations!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)