sharing

Keaton's class had a big book of all the kids sharing throughout the year. His teacher gave us all the pages at his last day on Friday.  She also passed along all the remaining art projects. She created butterflies with all of them wrapped in a blanket "body". Then she asked them what they would say when they emerged from their chrysalis and Keaton said, "What the?! Goodness!" Phew, glad he stuck to his "polite words" as he calls them.  He will miss being a ladybug but on to the dragonflies!

visitors

Visitors this week including really great old friends and a slimy frog! It was fun to meet up with friends and break out of the normal routine around here. I ate well at two of my favorites, Founding Fathers and True Foods.

brothers

These huggie guys want to give a thumbs up to Friiiiday!  It's Keaton's last day of school, but three more weeks until Aiden is freeee for more brother hugs/head locks on the couch alllll day long.

putters

These guys have shared a mystery virus that Keaton dubbed the cruddy, but in between their cases of persistent coughing, we made it over for a first putt of the season. Keaton is getting the hang of it and hits the right direction most of the time. Aiden teased me by being pretty tricky with the water features, but didn't fall in. The favorite was the waterfall where the ball takes a ride and ends in a hole in one!

strawberries

We checked out a new strawberry patch (because the grumps at our usual place were waiting to open until after Memorial Day - when the humid funk was going to take over the wonderful weather) The strawberries were berry good, but the brother banter was even better. They really got along with the chickens with their funny squawks. Keaton named his strawberries and was especially fond of "baby" and didn't want to transfer that baby strawberry to the big container. Some names I can remember bubba, cutie, big guy, gunther, dusty and creep... He rattled on and on about those guys. My goal to avoid overpicking worked out and I think we came home with the perfect batch. We topped off our visit with an ice cream under the farmhouse trees.

pool is open

The pool opened for the season and Aiden was the first brave guy to make it in the chilly water.  He was even game for going back the next day and this time Keaton gave it a shot. At one point Keaton was sitting quietly at the edge of the pool and told me that he was just waiting for it to warm up. Sorry bud that's going to be a pretty long wait. Many people were taking that polar plunge, and the pool was probably busier than it will be all summer (minus the summer kickoff party next week). My favorite parts were  some warm up cuddles with this guy...

games

So many games in the cycle even with nicer weather...

This Egyptian game was a surprise hit, and even J was into playing it a bit. You sorta role play as a Pharoah.

Aiden made his own game called Doggie Ding Dong that had every different type of dog he could think of and all the dog care items to go along. There is some subtle dog desire around here because there are so many new puppies.

Matryoshka Robots from Keaton's party I find played with all over the place.

Katatu is another advanced tic tac tie type deal complete with cute magnetic crickets and bees.

Keaton just started enjoying games that Aiden loved like Boggle!

It doesn't matter how hot it is in the humid sun, these guys are committed to play a whole giant chess game.

Sneaky Snacky Squirrel has snuck back out into the game rotation!

Goldie Blox and the Spinning Machine is a fun creative "engineering" game and it's fun to hear the stories they come up with as they get the spindles spinning with the cute little characters - even a sloth!  It comes with a story book that kicked off the fun.

Goblet Gobblers is another popular modified tic tac toe where the bigger guys can layer on top of the littles - strategy!

tidbits

This week was just a little off and ended in poor Aiden losing his voice and being out from school for the first time this year. He's well enough to tear through nearly every unread book in the house, but he's mostly been laying low.

Keaton's Variety Zone included a Little Chef's class this week, where they "cooked" up these crazy cheese, pretzel, raisin, and cookie creatures.  The "cookie" was ground up graham cracker crumbs (banging those was a highlight) mixed with apple juice and powdered sugar - sounds strange but was actually pretty tasty.  He even got a set of supplies to take home and cook some for his brother and dad.

We made it over to Ted's for pot pie and milkshake night. After dinner, the boys were pretty gung-ho to play chess in the humid sun.

I finally finished the summer top my friend started with me as a knit along last summer!  It's just in time for this summer ;). It's a really nice, lace weight bamboo yarn in pretty much my favorite color, slightly variegated which causes the striping.  The pattern has tiny pleats along the chest and it really fits nicely. Aiden was pumped and clapped for me because it's the first time that something I knit fit well ;). I thank the nice pattern.

David Letterman closed out his last show this week and it feels pretty anticlimactic... Peaboy showed up in the final montage and it turns out his very first top ten list was about peas. So how are we supposed to ever eat peas without longing for Dave again?!

recital

The third recital for Aiden featured a few duets and dual duets (two people each on two pianos) playing classic and classical piano songs. We've had Aiden practicing pretty independently and keeping up with his assignments on his own, which inadvertently led to him not knowing about one of the songs he was supposed to play during the recital!  I literally opened the program and asked him what's that song?!  And his dad ran back quickly to get the music at our house… Luckily, he had it pretty well polished and pulled it off just like he'd been playing it over and over. That kid never gets his feathers fluffed and didn't seem too phased by it. Ah, the beauty of being a first grader…no stress. Next time I'm going to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

These four kids played Simple Gifts after practicing together twice!  The teacher said that this is the best they'd ever done:

Recital Quartet from LB on Vimeo.

this guy

Man o man, this guy walked up to me at just the right moment where the light was shining right in his eye and he was making the funniest faces… This is when I'm so grateful for the handy iPhone camera.

party people

It's spring party season and I've lost track of all the parties lately. Keaton's favorite was the very well run My Gym type party where the kids get nice and tired running around for an hour playing on safe stuff. Aiden's favorites are the backyard bash variety where the kids run pretty wild. Aiden's parties are usually drop off optional, but if I don't know the family that well, I stay for a bit. One was a survivalist theme which is only a little bit funny. The 20 foot tall zip line where you stopped by slamming into a tree (hopefully with your feet but Aiden managed to flip and hit his back one time and my blood pressure peaked), then they beat the thunderstorm on their creek walk (they went into the sewer tunnel and the graffiti had some choice words), and stayed safe around the fire pit roasting their dinner. I think I was the only parent with a little spike in my blood pressure, but Aiden was probably the youngest guy there. Another favorite was a big water fight with an inflatable water slide, water guns galore, and eventually a lot of mud. I don't usually get pictures from the parties, but I did get these...

live a little

Can someone remind this kid to live a little?!

tidbits

I should just start titling these tidbits sections... but geesh they are such random bits I want to remember.

We had our first hose day outside... Keaton was not interested in keeping anything wet on his body, not even a swimsuit... Um, I think the water was just too cold. Swimsuits not optional at the pool club.

Aiden's drawing class is really a big hit. He brought home this schnazzy flying duck last time.

We hosted a goodbye picnic at Keaton's school for some of the teachers that are moving on... Keaton kept the duo bike taxi in service for a big chunk of the patio party.  Love the nice party weather!

The watermelon that jumped out of my trunk made a double helix pattern of juice down the drive as I chased after it.  It landed at the end of the drive in two halves and I salvaged what I could while laughing. If that was the worst thing that happened that day, it was going to be an ok day... But pretty much sums up some days when J is out of town or any day really...just laugh and salvage what I can of my sanity.

Robot cat drawing!  Speaks for itself.

There are a few more weeks in what is likely to be Keaton's last music class. Next year he will go to school five mornings a week and it's tricky to fit in afternoon classes.  He's been hugging this same blue bear for the past three years and I'll be pretty sad when he hugs him one last time.  It's the end of an era...and boy, I'm getting sappy but it will be my last kiddie music class too... J and I made it out to see the Ben Stiller movie While We're Young and the scene where the wife visits the kid's music performance and is overwhelmed by it and has to leave really made me laugh because it's so, so true.

The bus stop has been full of tiny ants, so these funny guys sat down next to them and started naming them. Aiden says to his friend, "Dude, don't step on Jason!" His friend says "Isn't that your dad's name?" And I remember my thought that this could all just be a really bad sitcom... Aaaand scene.

tidbits

Some Mother's Day tidbits… 

Check out that gem from Keaton's school - That very enthusiastic smile looks pretty devilish.

Chi Chi's hair is getting long and he likes to be a funny joker with his hair in a whale spout.

My big guy knew that I otter love that card he made for me - complete with a set of mom coupons.

My mom and I went out and had some sangraritas - someone was brilliant enough to combine sangria with frozen margarita.

What Mommies do according to a bunch of four year olds…  I'm glad Keaton thinks I'm able to fix things for him.

My tasty breakfast in bed thanks to my thoughtful husband - that is a my favorite orange sauce on those cinnamon roll waffles.

A new game called Ink Blotz is fun for the whole family!  It is sorta like Balderdash with a Rorschach flair.  It was fun to hear what the boys came up with when they looked at the blots.

These bagged hunks of deliciousness are a very thoughtful mother's day treat from my smart hubby that mail ordered some Meeting Street cookies all the way from Providence.  Ahh, it took me back to the days where we enjoyed lunch together nearly every day and on a good day added a cookie.

Two happy guys, one with a plate full of watermelon and one with a new painting craft.

This guy enjoying his first Meeting Street cookie sandwich.

At Aiden's dress rehearsal for his show, there was an artist finishing a six month long transformative art project where he built this beautiful pagoda, invited people to write their angsty messages, and then he lit it on fire as a symbolic message.

Keaton loves the little stream next to the arts center where Aiden's show was held.

mommy treat

Keaton's class had a special performance to celebrate Mother's Day with three fun songs. All the kids really belted it out. Keaton was so excited and pumped up to have his Gran and Pop there too. He'd secretly practiced all the songs with Daddy so he was in on it ;) I had a preview performance of one of the songs, but it was so sweet to see them all up there so proud of their hard work.

I took a video which I cropped in on in this edit (so that I could post it online), but it gets cut off a little bit, but you get the gist:

Mother's Day cropped from LB on Vimeo.

after the show

We were grateful that Gran, Pop, and the Brennans were able to come to see Aiden's show. It's possible that Keaton, the huggie brother, is Aiden's biggest fan.

during the show

Aiden's spring performance of Wonderland Adventures fell on Mother's Day weekend which was a treat.  The many faces of the scarecrow were captured on camera.  I also got a little blurry video of a few snippets (but switching between photo and video mode made my focus wig out in those bright theater lights).  

Wonderland Adventure Snippets from LB on Vimeo.

He had so much fun on his fourth show with the same directors.  They are really good at casting and all the kids did a great job in their roles this year.  I am so excited to see what they do next fall!

school cool

This guy is going to miss school when it ends at the end of the month.  They are filling their days with plenty of play dough, growing plants, and letting their insect colonies go loose in the garden.  In between they find time to have a pretend doctor's office, and plenty of books and blocks...

treat

Keaton had a special visit to the nature center with his teacher that we won in a silent auction at his school. They had a picnic lunch together with another class winner. Then they looked all around the outdoor area at all the springtime activity. 

They found a lot of tent caterpillars which Keaton was especially excited about.

happy mom's day

Happiest of Mother's Days to my mom, you only held my hand for a while, but you will hold my heart forever...and now I love watching you hold my children. Thank you for all that you do! Love you!

To my sister on Mother's Day...it's so wonderful to see what a determined, thoughtful, and natural mom you are. I hope you feel the love today from your little guy who is so grateful for all that you do... Lucky kid has the most well researched truck collection in the universe. Love you!

tidbits

Oh my, more tidbits… that's all I've got lately as we bounce around with daddy on a bunch of trips and tons of editing work as the wedding season picks up...

Making cookies for Teacher Appreciation Week, which included a different treat every day for the teachers - a flower, a sweet treat, a craft, a card, fruit, and school supplies.  Aiden decided that his teacher needed a cd of dancing music as a school supply they use during their stretch breaks.  Those stretch breaks between work time are a highlight for Aiden.

My big guy continued the appreciation week by bringing these flowers home for me on the bus. He worked very hard to keep them nice for me on the ride home.

Another mom unloaded her son's huge collection of chapter books, and Aiden very happily accepted them, and then proceeded to read three in one day.

Keaton's Little Gardener class sessions are right up his alley.  He gets to dig dirt "carefully" and bring home fun planted things that he can watch grow (and hopefully not die given his mom's brown thumb).

We had a nice conference for Aiden this week, and afterward J had the idea to go out to an early Mother's Day brunch. We made it to the new Founding Fathers for a really yummy breakfast with bourbon crisp french toast and the most amazing fresh juice.  I had to get this one called Beets by J, and oh boy can J throw down some juicy beets. Yum!

This guy plus an echo microphone is a match made in a very loud heaven.

This giddy guy loves when he finds what he calls "just the right book he can share with Aiden!" Poor bub wore his first shorts of the season and promptly fell to scrape up both knees - bandaids to the rescue!

Playing bowling pins in the rec center is one of his favorites.

tidbits

I have lotsa tidbits to share lately…

This tiny freestyle BMX guy is getting more practice on his training wheels. Maybe he will join his brother and I on the bike path soon?

This guy loves his drawing class. He even tries to copy some still life like his dragon toy, which was a fun present daddy brought home from one of his many, many trips lately.

These two guys were hit by some strange stomach bug that came on hard and fast, but luckily faded away just as quickly. Aiden made it home from his acting class (to mess up all the hall carpet), but Keaton unfortunately barely made it off the soccer field (before he started projectiling in the grass). They took a day to veg and both fell asleep for actual naps, and then they bounced right back.

In between holding down the fort while J jets away for all these trips lately, I've had a chance to sneak out to a knit shop, cupcakes and can wine to celebrate my friend's new car, and date brunch with this handsome guy, a mimosa, and a duck fat beignet. Does it get any better?

Playing on the patio is a big treat as the weather changes over (and we work to grow some grass out back).  These guys like some squishy sand before bus stop time (and the ridic early wakeup with the sun ideas KC has lately). Having friends over and wanting to park the bike for an outdoor round of Pokemon.

tidbits

I got a bike as an early Mother's Day present -woot!  Aiden and I have cruised the bike trails that wrap around our neighborhood a few times already.  The path is so nice and shady, so I expect we will continue as it warms up. It's a great workout getting back to our house which is on top of a surprisingly big hill from all directions.

Aiden's school hosted a Lego night. The massive piles of legos were a dream come true for most of the excited kids.  They also had a giant collection of red duplos that many hands used to create a giant castle...

The tennis season kicked off with a fun day of perfect weather a bit ago.  Keaton was jamming on his "guitar racquet" as the ball cruised past, but he rocked the "net punch shots."

Aiden played Minecraft for the very first time at a birthday party. He somehow knows all about it despite never playing.  We are going to hold off on having it on any of our devices here at home because it sounds like a black hole of obsession.  

preview

The Scarecrow is ready to explore Wonderland with Dorothy as Alice gets lost in Oz! The cast party and preview of the show was really fun this past weekend.  The face painter had her work cut out for her. The scarecrow won't be quite this scary for the actual show.

tidbits

It's time to bust out some new sunnies (these KC picked out) and the Velcro throwers.  Spring is here!

Keaton, the pinney monster, evaded the other kids kicking the ball into him and eventually relinquished all the pinney 'lives' after lotsa dodging. His favorite game at soccer practice.

We've been taking advantage of an empty pool club parking lot for some biking.  Keaton keeps up with his freestyle baby BMX style moves. Aiden's training wheel free moves are fine tuned this season, he is totally confident now zooming down big hills, and stopping without yelping. Last year he was just telling me repeatedly how dangerous he thought biking was, but now he's zipping around without fear.

Visiting some old and new playgrounds, and celebrating some more spring birthdays are highlights in Keaton's week.

fun run

Keaton was excited to run the one miler for his school fun run. He says he ran "fast as lightening" and in fact was ahead of the pack coming across the finish line. He brought along his brother's leftover pompom to cheer on the big racers too. The playground and bouncy house was hopping to get out those post race wiggles.

interview with KC

Your teacher says you are articulate, and she loves to hear what you talk about… It's a glimpse into the minds of all 4 year olds.  Like the other day out of the blue, you asked me, "Do seals turn big and brown and become walruses?"  You are really trying to figure out how this world works and how to treat people. You absorb everything around you, and you think about things long after you've first heard about them. For instance, when you see your little school friend's dad in the hall after he'd just returned from 6 months in Afghanistan (where your class had a chance to Skype with him once), you did something you think shows respect, you offered him your tiny handshake and said "Hey, you're back here, that's good news!" That little handshake meant a lot to him.

One word to describe you would be: 

Dodger!

Why do you like being a kid?

Why I like being a dragon?!  Because I like it every time I hatch from the baby dragon egg after bath!

If you could be any animal, which one would you be and why? 

Uh, dragon, because I like that they breath fire!

Tell about a funny time in your life. 

Ok, when we were at the store and we got a mix up, when I thought that stranger was you!

What is your favorite thing to do? Why? 

Play with Aiden because it's fun when we get to fight those bad guys

What do you love most about your sibling? 

It's funny because he's really into crazy stuff like wiggling around and saying booobelleback

What was the nicest thing you did for someone? 

Cleanup toys 

What do you think you will be doing 10 years from now? 

Help people when I'm a doctor when I grow up

What is the grossest thing you can think of?

Aiden eating boogers

What is your happiest memory? 

Laughing at jokes