Open Gym

The boys and I went to the open gym at Grand Rapids Gymnastics last Friday.  James had a blast and it was fun to get out of the house and play with friends.  James did check everything out at the beginning, but end up spend most of his time in two places.  Here he is checking out a big red mat (I guess).

He bounced across it and was done.  He spent a good deal of time in the foam pit. 

He would not jump into it though.  He carefully climbed in and out.  He loved the cubes of foam. He stacked them up as high as he could and then knocked them over.

In the background, you can see his friend Knight.  Here is another attempt to get a picture of James and Knight.

James and Madison stacking blocks.

Knight and Madison are in Sunbeams with James.  In the background of this one you can see one of James's other friends, Tanner.

Tanner is still in nursery, and I know James misses being in a class with him.  James found a water noodle and played with that for a few minutes.

How does James always find the letters where ever we go?

He had a lot of fun putting together this puzzle.

He had a hard time sharing it when other kids came over to play too. However, other kids did not stay interested in it for long.  Here is another attempt to get a picture of James and Knight.

James was not sure he wanted to share.  Jacob also played with friends.  This is Jacob and Toby.

Would this be considered parallel play?  They were not in their car seats the whole time.  Jacob did like sitting there watching all the kids go by.  When Toby went to eat, I went and got Jacob so he was not sitting there all by him self.  It was a lot of fun and we will be going back again.

James and Jacob want to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNCLE MARK!

Growing

I love to use green onions in my cooking, but normally I do not need the amount that is in a bunch from the store.  There is always some that gets slimy and I end up throwing away.  Well, I saw this on Pinterest and had to give it a try (you can see Jacob in the background).

When you use the green onions, just cut down to the white part.  Then put them in some water.  I started out with just a little can from some green chillies, but they out grew that fairly quickly.  Hopefully, I will not have so many green onions go to waste, and I will not have to buy them as often.  It is fun to be growing something again!  I am really excited to have a garden again!  In the next few months I might start some garlic and beans inside for fun.  James would probably enjoy planting some things and watching them grow too.

FHE

We have had some fun Family Home Evenings recently.  At least, Jon and I have thought they were fun.  We have been using the Friend a lot of the lessons.  Last night, we had a lesson on telling the truth and choosing what was right.  Then, we made pretzels, which the Friend has a recipe. 

Before they were baked

We decided not make them in the shape of CTR (choose the right) as it said to do. 

After being baked and butter brushed on them

They were really good and it was fun. 

Cooling.

Jacob even joined in the fun.

We could not get James to help with the pretzels though.  Maybe next time.  A few weeks ago we had a lesson about staying on the "strait and narrow path."  Then, we did a scavenger/treasure hunt with pictures of things around the house for clues. Here is one of the picture clues.

James loved following the clues more than the treat at the end.  I hid the clues again and he searched for the clues again.  Then he also took the clues to bed with him.

James and Jacob want to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MORGAN!

4 Months

Jacob is 4 months!  Boy time is going fast!  He had his Well Check today and he is doing great.  He is 17 pounds 1 ounce.  Exactly one pound more than James was at 4 months.  Jacob is also half inch taller than James was, at 26.5 inches.  The doctor thought it was his 6 month visit (until he looked at the chart).  I am guessing because he is a big boy.  He started crying when the nurse gave him the oral vaccine.  He must have known the pokes were coming next, because last time he loved the sugary, grape flavor.  It took a little while to calm him down enough to get him dressed.  Poor boy!  This is what he looks like now (3 hours later).

I just looked back to see what James was doing at this age, and Jacob seems to be right there with him.  Although we were already putting James in the high chair at this point and I have not yet put Jacob in there. I guess I better bring is up from the storage room and clean it off.  Jacob will love it!

SNOW!!!!!!!

We finally got some snow!  It has been so much fun to take James out to play in it, but I have discovered that I need to get some snow boots.  My tennis shoes just do not cut it.  Most of the time, James and I (or dad) are shoveling the driveway and the front walks, but James has a ball.

Jacob does not always cooperate, and sometimes we are only out for a few minutes.

James often says, "I love snowballs!" while we are outside.

Here is one of Daddy shoveling in his pjs while James throws snowballs.

We are definitely loving the snow now that it is finally here. 

Hope we get more before Spring!

Yesterday, someone hit our mailbox.  I found it on the ground when I went to get the mail.  Our mail was inside.  We were able to figure out that it was not to mailman by the tracks left.  It was probably someone turning around and they now have a dent in their bumper.  We are working on fixing it fast, since the mailman will not leave mail if there is no mailbox.  I think it a little funny that they bring your mail to the door if you get a package, but if your mailbox gets flattened, then you just do not get mail.  The nice thing is that since we are renting, our landlords will cover the cost to fix it.  We just need to do the work.

Smartphone

No, I did not get a new phone.  I love this!

Rock Star

I am almost caught up!  Hopefully, I will be by tomorrow.  For those few following my blog, you might need to click on the "older posts" link at the bottom to see all the post from the last few days.

A few nights ago, James put on his sunglasses,

grabbed a spoon,

and ran around the house "singing" (more like yelling) into his spoon microphone, "Just like a rock star! Hey! Hey!"  For those who have not seen the music video on Nick Jr., the next post will have a video from YouTube of what James was imitating.  The post after that is a video of James singing.

A few days later, I put the spoon in the dishwasher.  James noticed, and kept asking my where his "rock star spoon" was.  Then he went to the silverware drawer and got two more out.  He was then so excited to have two "rock star spoons."  He makes me laugh so hard!

Fresh Beat Band

James, the Rock Star

Exercise

I have been trying to be better at exercising recently.  It is hard when I cannot go for walks outside, and having two boys to entertain (among other things).  I saw this the other day and while it is not entirely true for me, I thought it was really funny.

Thanks, Mom, for the laugh!

More Wildlife

On numerous occasions, I remember walking through Yellowstone park with my sisters, looking for "wildlife."  Well, I am not talking about that kind of wildlife here.  I am talking about deer, rabbits, squirrels, etc.

The other night, Jon looked up from the dinner table and saw this (sorry the picture is so blurry).

To bad we did not get a good picture of this intruder.  Going down the stairs of our deck.

In the weeds.

If you cannot guess from our attempts to get a picture, it was an opossum!

A Toddler's Rules of Possession

This totally describes James.  Except the last one. 

He will still play with broken and ripped toys until there is nothing left of them.

Meijer Gardens

We went to Meijer Gardens yesterday.  It was fun to get outside!  I didn't take many picture while we were outside though.  James and I were having too much fun playing.  James loves this gate.

It is just his size.  The tropical greenhouse.

James blinked.  Trying to get Mom's hand.

James still loved seeing the trains.  We saved it for the end as a way to keep James moving the rest of the time.  More pictures of the representation of Jon's work place.

The train.

It runs throughout a few of the greenhouses.  A representation of the greenhouses.

My boys.

James is pointing to a train that runs on a shorter track.  A representation of the lighthouse on Lake Michigan in Holland, MI.

Train about to cross a covered bridge.

Wreath made out of red chilies.

We found the pickle on the Germany Tree.

That is really why we had to go back.  We had to find that hidden pickle.  James sat on Santa's sleigh this time.

I think he is a little tired.

What do you think?  It was a fun day, until we tried to leave and James through a major tantrum.  He was tired and did not want to leave.  He was happier after a nap though.

Smile

Saw this and loved it.  It is so true most of the time.

"Not Yet"

 is one of James's favorite things to say.  There have been a lot of post for Jacob recently so I decided James needs one too.  I have this random picture of him.

Not sure what he is doing, or why I took this picture but oh well.  James has become the little chatter box recently.  He is always saying things that catch me off guard because I don't know where he came up with it.  He also has a great imagination.  Jon can never follow what he is doing, but normally I can figure out the TV shows he is putting together and reenacting with his own twists.  James also just started Primary.  He is the youngest Sunbeam in his class, but he seems to be doing pretty good with it.  He does really miss nursery (who wouldn't), but he loves Sunbeams.  This picture is from nursery.

He is so handsome in his shirt and tie!  James is growing up so fast!

Jacob Bear

I love this little outfit,

but it is not very practical.  The zipper hurts, so I had to at least get a picture of Jacob in it, but that is as long as he wore it.  Here is another picture of Jacob in this outfit,

and James.

So cute!  Fun to compare the two.  I think James was a little older in the picture I took of him, but not by much.