good list

Bouncing on the bed with the dino hat from the Walking with Dinosaurs Arena Spectacular.

Building garages for cars with books.  Aiden likes to pretend that each garage has a function - one for eating, one for washing, one for sleeping....

Gran and Pop gifted Aiden with this bag full of Cars card games (part of their grandparent spoiling mission).  He loves playing WAR especially (and mama likes the number sequence learning that Mater and buds can bring).  Aiden says war with such a fierce little tiny voice that it makes me giggle.

Pumpkin seed kernels are a new favorite treat.  The little chubby Gerbs bear from this made in RI brand are fun too.  Here is an empty box of flavored treats.  I think Aiden's palate somehow became broader than mine... um, maybe last year.  He loves the strong flavors just like Daddy.  He even eats raw red onions!

Who doesn't smile at a box of Boston Baked Beans (besides my peanut hating husband that is)?!  Aiden picked out this fun little lunch box at the candy shop in Cape Cod.  Here he is holding it up to block my camera angle in the park in Chatham.

C's first birthday color book.  I love that Aiden is old enough now that he will play next to me while also "helping" create things.  He was excited to help me sort fabric bits by color and push my hand down on the big scissors to create this patchwork quilted book of colors.  If you're curious, I used this tutorial.

mime show

We cruised over to the library on Monday night for their summer kick off program.  It was tricky to explain to Aiden was a mime was before we got there, so we told him it was sorta like a clown.  He asked if it would be funny and I said yep (while I hoped that I was right).  It was funny mostly because of all the little kids laughing and giggling throughout the show.  The mime guy was a bit of a character - It made the show even more amusing because he was being so controlling of the little kids, which I thought was an act at first, but soon discovered he took himself very seriously.

Aiden was innn-tooo-itttt.  He pretended right along with the mime and giggled on and on.  He was desperate to be called up to perform with the mime (in his first attempt he invited himself up on stage with a big group of kids but was quickly ushered off because he was "too little")  He eventually got his chance to follow through the seasons with the mime and a stage full of kids.  He was by far the youngest kid there, but he kept right up with it and looooved the whole hour long show.

The top photo is him attempting to do criss cross applesauce with his legs while still standing on the stage - because the mime was insisting that he "go sit back down and do criss cross applesauce." 

Here is turning from a seed into a big tree:

mini n big

Aiden was so excited to give J all the Daddy's Day present he picked out (almost) all on his own for him.  I asked him what he wanted to get his dad and his first answer was a "tick tock clock for his wrist!"  Sounded good to me, so I trotted him out to the store with the goal of letting him pick out the presents, although I had to veto his first watch choice because it was over $500!  I guess this kid has good taste.  We did end up with his second choice though.  When we got home from the store with them he spilled the beans on most of the treats, so J knew what to expect.  They had fun with the robot car all week thanks to Aiden's big mouth.

On the actual day, J willingly wore his "big daddy Elmo shirt," as Aiden likes to call it, to the zoo and splash pad.  We also ventured out to see Toy Story 3 in 3D. The two of them walking together were like celebrities to all the other little kiddos wandering around... One kid pointed and shouted, "Look mom, it's a daddy elmo and an elmo boy!"  Aiden was super happy and told me he was happy daddy liked his "daddy elmo present shirt" - this kid - ha!

My boys on Daddy's day playing Me and Mini Me:

The card he helped cut and decorate with specially selected buttons.  He ran out of steam on this project and ended up not finishing all the letters in Daddy, but that's how it goes sometimes... I'm not going to force him.  He was proud of the heart he drew all on his own.

Whoops there is a Mini Potato Head without shorts playing Boggle!  There are many photos like that this month since he gets his undies down a lot easier without shorts, so he can potty on his own on the big potty. 

walk with dinos

We stomped over to the Dunkin Donuts Center in downtown Providence for the Walk with Dinosaurs Arena Spectacular on Sunday.  It was a daddy day present for J.  Aiden was giddy with excitement before the show as we prowled through the convention center to the arena.  We were there so early we had to wait at the gate to get in with the other early birds.  The kids became instant friends and entertained each other pretending to be dinosaurs.

Just by chance as we came out of the restroom, I saw my friend and her son that we hung out with Saturday... then by chance again we ran into them amongst the hundreds of people leaving the arena.  It was a nice surprise and Aiden was happy to share his dino hat.  We got sorta suckered into buying that hat because there were people sitting near us with them and Aiden is actually old enough now to ask for stuff...fabulous.  It started ripping right after Aiden started try to chomp with it, but oh well... he had fun with it.

When the show started Aiden was so excited, I literally started crying I was so touched at how happy he was...crazy I know (admittedly I cried at Toy Story 3 too).  He kept asking what the next dinosaur would be and was pumped to see his favorite Brachiosaurus and T-Rex.  I have a bunch of snippets of him singing songs about the "friendly dinosaur puppets" that give each other "potties for training" and other unique thoughts from Aiden beforehand and during intermission. 

The production is very well done and educational (originally put together by the BBC in the late 90s).  It's not too scary even for little kids.  It belongs on the good list. 

Here are a few snippets strung together by the Flipshare:

Walk with Dinos from LB on Vimeo.

sylas' 4th

After nap yesterday we headed over to celebrate Sylas' 4th birthday at the Little Gym.   Aiden knows the birthday routine and loved this version of the Little Gym party.  It was a space theme and they had an alien voice giving directions which Aiden took pretty seriously.  They had "space rags" and had to follow directions like "polish your space ranger tummy!"  He's so independent at these parties now it blows me away.  He just loves it!

A whole smorgasbord of photos: http://flickr.com/gp/brennans/08rTf1

play friends

We met up with my friend and her son for story hour at Books on the Square this morning.  It was a nice small crowd and the boys really seemed to enjoy it.  I had asked Aiden if he remembered Will before they arrived and he was so excited to introduce himself... over and over again, he said "Hi Will, my name is Aiden" - even about an hour after we met up he decided to introduce himself again ;)  Aiden seems to really be into making friends lately...especially bigger kids.

We headed to the park around the corner after story time. It was a perfect breezy day for a picnic and running around introducing yourself to strangers ;)

Playground from LB on Vimeo.

beavertail

Happy First Day of Summer!

This weekend we got to see the sunset again... and J commented as we drove home over the bridge that we should get out at dusk more often.  I agree.   It was the last weekend of spring, but the sky definitely looked like a summer sky to me.

We headed to Jamestown, RI to Beavertail Park to picnic and play on the rocks with some friends of ours this past weekend.  I can't believe that I hadn't been there before.  It was a feast for my camera!  I felt like a truly normal person walking around on the rocks - ya ligaments DO heal!

Aiden had fun playing with his buddies and especially with his Daddy.  While I was distracted getting some family photos for my friend, they climbed around on many rocky areas - some of which J specifically said would've made me nervous... then I tuned him out after he said something about jumping over "chasms" with Aiden in his arms... um.

My friend's daughter is about 3 and half years older and just finished kindergarten (right around the perfect age according to my mom).  She was so sweet when Aiden came running up and asked to hold her hand.  It was just too darn sweet.  The boys had the most fun just playing in the dirt...in the perfect spot for a photo - thanks boys!

father's day

To my Dad, Aiden may call you an old man, but I think he just realizes that you are older and wiser.  I think it's pretty sweet that you call to talk to Aiden when you need a cheer up, and you should know that it cheers us too.  We love you!

To our Daddy Rock, Aiden says you make a "pretty good mountain," and mountains (and moons) are "made of big rocks"... so that means you are like a rock.

Dad's Day 2010 from LB on Vimeo.
P.S. Thanks for not cringing too much at my song choice.  You can watch it muted if you want, but don't miss the first few seconds where Aiden explains how he's going to grow up to be a big strong daddy.

pea picking

We took a trip to the farm again on a nice overcast cool evening (another school night!) to pick some fresh peas.  They really do taste fresh!

A cheese on the way to the field with his recycled strawberry box.

Concentrating on finding good peas to pick.

Aiden describing this tiny tractor wheel and telling me that it should be bigger.

When we got home with our fresh peas, Aiden was very diligent about cracking them open and shucking the first two peas in each pod.  He really kept at it and concentrated on getting them all into the bowl.

The roundest, most perfect little peas in a pod.

The peasto made from our fresh peas on top of some pork chops J made.  I had a bunch to enjoy and another batch to freeze for later. 

I made up this recipe after looking at a bunch of pesto recipes and trying to copy this awesome farmer's market pesto I've been craving for months.  I was pretty happy with it, although its light green color probably wouldn't fly in a test kitchen.

Since it is my sister's 25th birthday I figure I'll name the recipe after her ;) Happy Birthday Lizo!
I  hope this recipe measures up with some good nutrition.

Lizo Peasto 

1 1/2 cups fresh shucked peas

1/2 cup spiced pumpkin seeds (ours were garlic and onion flavored)

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 teas. lemon juice

1 teas. sugar (or honey might be even better)

1 teas. salt

Grind pumpkin seeds in food processor, add garlic, cheese, and peas.  Drizzle in oil.  Add lemon juice, sugar, and salt to taste.

jelly

I wrote about our time spent picking strawberries on a school night, but those strawberries made for even more fun a couple days later. We made strawberry jelly! Or I should say I made jelly, while Aiden splattered strawberry guts around a little bit and ran around giggling with his strawberry winter hat on in an 80 degree house. At first he was armed with a potato masher and plenty of excitement, very intent of smooshing each strawberry I placed in his bowl. But as soon as he managed one accidental squirt from a strawberry he was only interested in trying to get more strawberries to squirt. His giggly little self helped wipe up the smooshed bits he "accidently" got on the cabinets and the floor, then he ran off. He came back a minute later with his strawberry hat on and a huge giggle smile. Then he ran off again and layered it with his pumpkin hat, asking me "do you like strawberry pumpkins?!" Our just over 4 pounds of strawberries made about 3 and half pints of jelly. I remember making jelly/jam with my family (thanks mom for cleaning up the sticky messes!) and I hope Aiden has happy memories of strawberry season.

windmill

The Higgins Farm Windmill is located on the Drummer Boy Park grounds in Brewster.  This park also boasted a nice playground that we had to visit before the windmill.  The sky was brewing some rain so it looks kinda spooky.