rock on

Poor KC got sick with a bad cough in Ohio - boo! - but thanks to some steroids and breathing treatments he has bounced back quickly (thank goodness for good docs here!).  So while he was recovering and exploring the chilly garden. (60 degrees here in August!):

Aiden was off exploring the Rock Hall (his verdict was eh) and the big Mather ship (fun!).

brothers

These brothers being brothers.

pen glen

A quick change from splash pad plans on a cooler, drizzly morning led us to one of our favorite nature center type places, the P enitentiary Glen.  We have been so lucky to meet up with our best Ohio pals, C and G a couple times this summer!  The inside arch building, the very active bees, and drum bird beat box (groovy legs were out!) were big hits. We even snuck outside and had about a ten second warning before the rain came down, but we still managed to enjoy all the backyard pals too.  

zoo

We cruised an entire loop of the Cleveland Zoo.  I was so thankful that KC was sleepy enough to sometimes appreciate a ride in the stroller we borrowed from Cam, because that is a hilly place.  The definite highlight was feeding the giraffe.  Keaton was giddy watching the big tongue reach out, while Aiden opted to take video (he forgot to turn on) because he didn't want to deal with the possibility of slimy tongue.  Cameron slept through most of hus first visit to the zoo, but I bet that will change next time!

faces

We found a new play space right near our house that is beyond wonderful.  It's perfect for big and littles to climb and play.  They even have a Lego space!  They have different activities each day of the week, including art projects, storytimes, and even face painting.  The boys pretty much beg to go there first thing in the morning, so we are making really good use of our monthly membership.  Best part is the coffee shop area for the moms!

Here is Batman and the crocodile Cragger (there were about four more crocs by the time we left)::

garden

The next morning we woke up and KC immediately asked if they had hershey's kisses at breakfast.  Not quite, but they did have chocolate waffles.  We headed over for a nice morning at the Hershey Garden, where we luckily beat the rain.  The overcast breezy weather was really nice to explore the Children's Garden. Aiden was given a mission by one of the garden volunteers to finish a scavenger hunt to earn a red shovel.  Apparently he's really motivated by real kid sized garden tools.  Good to know.  He stuck with it and filled out all the blanks very carefully as we explored the licorice fence lined garden.  We visited the butterfly house which is always a treat.  This time they had a really good guide sheet so that you could identify all the different types of butterfly.

riiiide

Hershey Park was our next stop and it was full of fun.  There was an entire zoo included alongside tons of fun rides!  Aiden measured up as a Reese, and Keaton was a Miniature.  There were plenty of signs that included both those fun chocolate treat emblems. I will never tire of seeing these guys riding together, even if Keaton is trying to wack his brother's hand away from the buzzy buttons. There were a few where I was surprised to see the Miniatures symbol including the Coal Cracker log ride roller coaster. J somehow convinced me that a sleepy KC would enjoy riding the water rush with us. I was hesistant but it was by far both boys favorite and they are still talking about it - despite those sour pusses in the big hill photo we bought to commemorate KC's first roller coaster.  The tilt a whirl with all four of us was much more intense than expected.  Aiden drove us in a jerky ride around the car track, an old favorite.  We will definitely be back to Hershey Park as the boys get older.

choco world

Enthusiasm was overflowing from these chocolate loving guys as we followed the herd into Chocolate World in Hershey, PA.  Luckily most of the crowd on the perfect 75 degree day was headed straight to the amusement park but it was still pretty crowded in what Aiden dubbed the factory.  The ride was a hit, and the singing cow trio I'd told Aiden about did not disappoint.  Aiden cracked me up when he could tell that some of it was plastic chocolate. Although the chocolate soup really had him convinced and what could be better than a ride that ends in a giant candy store?!  As J ordered a huge sundae - when in Rome, eh?! - the boys met Mr. Chocolate Bar.  Aiden felt like he needed to warn him that Keaton might try to lick him - too bad he didn't talk back and just shrugged his shoulders ;)

mill churn

It seemed like a good idea in theory but the timing was off.  We arrived at the pretty mill park for their "make your own ice cream" event.  We looked around before they opened and learned about how the mill worked.  They finally opened the ice cream area and we cranked the old, old ice cream maker for almost an hour.  A two year old who is missing his semi-needed nap doesn't get why you can't add extra rocks to the rock salt and doesn't want to wait for his ice cream.  But at least he thought the peach chunks added to the ice cream base were yummy gummies unlike his pick widget brother who thought they were creepy.  Our soupy ice cream was still a treat.

great falls

We hadn't been back to Great Falls in nearly ten years since we were first dating and living in VA.  I used to visit with college friends and actually hike out on the rocks.  We visited first thing on a beautiful humidity free day and beat the rush.  When we told KC we were headed to waterfalls he asked if he could dance by them (which we found out is something Minnie does)...which was pretty cute, but it was even cuter when he found a dripping gutter by the visitor center he thought was the waterfall and started dancing.  Needless to say, the actual waterfalls impressed him.  Aiden was especially excited by the swooping and soaring birds.  Their shadows would fly right over us.  Watching the kayakers was another highlight.

would you rather

Would you rather be a great big giant, or a little tiny person that can fit in my hand? A great big giant because then I could do anything I want especially about destroying things. 

Would you rather be hairy all over or completely bald? Completely bald because hairy all over would make you look like a beast cave man.

Would you rather forget who you were or who everyone else was? Who everyone else was because I always want to know who I am so I can remember that I like to play legos.

Would you rather always lose or never play? Always lose because then you still get to play anyways.


Would you rather only be able to whisper or only be able to shout? Only be able to shout because then people would be able to hear me!

Would you rather be a giant hamster or a tiny rhino? Giant hamsters because hamsters are cute.

28 months

Dear Keaton,

You like to imitate me and say, "Have a good one!" I think this month was a good one. It kicked off with a visit to your favorite "coot" baby cousin. I think hearing you say, "Hi coot babeee" will be etched in my memory. Your first fireworks display was just icing on a big fun family cake. It really blew your mind when some of that family fun came to visit us in our new home here in Virginia.

As I was working on emptying a big box, you asked, "How can I help mama?" just like your sweet daddy and all the other helpful people like your Gran and Pop. You are really a good helper at getting all your clothes in the laundry and days are numbered to when you can do your own laundry, eh?!

You looooved the fireworks display back in Ohio. I wasn't sure how it would go since it started about two hours after we are usually in bed reading stories and winding down the day. When I told you we were going to the fireworks you asked what they were so I showed you a display on youtube. You seemed a little concerned about what was going on in the sky.
But you were all in with the plan to take a long wagon ride with your brother as the sun was setting and the lighting bugs were coming out. Your brother kept explain how fun the big booms are and someone in the neighborhood set some off as we were walking. That preview thrilled both of you and I knew you were going to enjoy the rest of what your brother dubbed the "jumping boom tigers." You are equally excited every time you hear the Fireworks song come on too.

We've been loving the swim club just a half block away from our new house. You love waddling over there in your suit and drip drying on the way home in your hooded towel. We even went after dinner once and you announced "the dark is coming!" on the way home.  Your favorite night time books are the Pokey Little Puppy and the "Genie book" which is Aladdin. You like to give a full sleepy time rundown when I put you down for nap. This chatty time is one of my favorites, and you are usually telling a story that starts with "I really have fun..." which is usually filled with stories about memorable things like the time your rode a "giddyup horsey!"
You love playing with your little figure guys and saying "uh oh, not again!" You also have a pretty cute "wuh, wuh, waah" sound effect when something goes wrong. Your favorite guys shifted from toy story characters to these astronaut plastic guys. It's too bad we can't get you hooked on some bigger toys because you love to lose those guys in your bed sheets.


Everything that is good gets an "oooo, shiny!" reaction including a fresh cup of juice or the pool on a warm day. You remembered and asked specifically for me to dig out the marble race because the shiny marbles are your favorite. Every box of old toys I unpacked felt like Christmas because you were thrilled to see some of your favorites, like the old drum, kitty piano, and doggie guitar.  There were also some treats that you've already outgrown like the dino stomping costume.

If you are tired and a little delirious instead of getting fussy lately you will sweetly ask me to "tell me a joke pretty please, pretty please..." or "I have a joke mama listen!" Or my favorite giggle puss moment was when you asked me to cuddle your face with all seriousness. "Pretty please" does have a threshold were you can say it too much and you've tested that out.

If I'm sitting on the ground, you've taken to jumping on my back and yelling ride! You giggle up a storm as we jump around the room. Then when I put you down you run like a chimp with your shoulders hunched a little bit and your arms flailing. Your "do the baby bop" moves are also still around, but now they have a big jump in the mix.

You threw an epic fit when I said we didn't have our swim suits to go to the water park at the amusement park we drove to in Pennsylvania. You were genuinely peeved that after days of dreaming about water parks you weren't going to be able to go to the coolest one you'd seen in person. But you eventually came around when you saw the choo choo train and the other rides.
You loved the froggie hopper and the SS Wally glide ride the most. But the big park train and the little wheel powered trains were a close second. Your excitement to ride next to your brother resulted in bumping your head on the steering rail of the motorcycle ride, but it was mostly a successful first visit to the "riiiide park!"

You like to tell people what to do lately, but you are mostly sweet about it. "Aiden, wear dis pirate hat and come get me!" - "I ready for open arm cuddle please!" - "Pull his ear" while holding out your doggie friend - "Daddy monster me!" when you want to be chased around. If someone won't chase you, you try to chase them. It's funny to see you try to sneak up on someone. Your ready to pounce face makes me laugh.
You are mostly a summer crocs kid, but your new gymboree sharkie shoes are so darn cute. There is room to grow so those sharkies can stomp around this fall too. You love wearing your hand me down jammies with the orange elephant. You pretty much would prefer to put your swim suit on first thing every day. I just wish the pool opened earlier.
All notes and letters are missions! Since your brother likes to pretend to unveil a secret mission by reading it from an envelope, whenever I get the mail you think I have a big pile of missions waiting to be uncovered. At first I wasn't quite sure what got you so excited when I grabbed the mail as you hopped around yelling "Midsssons!" You and your brother love pretending especially when hiding under a blanket or what you call the "secret time machine"


The favorite make believe game you'd play with your brother is "Secret Spies" where you dress like pirates for a disguise and find gold (yellow paper cutouts your brother makes) with paper towel roll telescopes. You've dubbed yourself the "Gadget Matey" that wears a spy pirate hat and carries wood play hammers and screwdrivers.


Sometime you ask funny questions. "Mommy, What do I have in my mouth?" [sticks out tongue] You giggle when I tell you that is your tongue. "Mommy, why does that bug want to live in Keaton's house? I take him outside!" You actually managed to get a bug on your book and took him outside. Your brother said you deserve a bug man certificate.
You were such a big boy at your first dentist visit, and I still can't get over the power of your brother's influence.  At restaurants, you've graduated out of the high chair to the booster seat or just the regular seat. You still love ordering your favorite noodles at Orso. When we tied a white cloth napkin around your neck, you said "I look like Santa Claus!" It's Christmas in July!

You've got most of your opposites and you love to point out little/big and up/down. This month was full of lotsa little and big changes and plenty of ups and downs, but overall it was a good one. Here's to one more full summer month of fun! Love, Mommy