bits of summer

I’m behind on blogging, so I’m going to get a few random pictures posted to hopefully catch up.  It’s my goal to try to do something fun for the kids often and on weekends, since the weeks are full with work and daycare.  We’ve been busy and enjoying the warm weather.  The boys love to be outside, and with that comes popsicles…

A weekend at the lake in SD….Eli was very excited about fishing from Grandma and Grandpa’s new pontoon.

Silas enjoyed the view from his seat.  The life jacket was slightly confining, so he became quite angry shortly after this picture was taken.  As you can see, there wasn’t much wiggle room for his head :0)

Eli enjoying the captain’s seat with Grandpa Dobie.

Eli took a turn at the wheel…he’s his momma’s son…loves those steering wheels.

And he’s his aunt Sarah’s nephew….we had lots of dramatic interpretation throughout the weekend.   Here he is as the wicked witch.  Grandma Pat provided the costumes.

And here he is reenacting the ‘melting’ scene from ‘The Wizard of Oz.’

 

Grandpa Dobie even found the Tin Man to hang out with the Cowardly Lion.

While Eli was acting, Silas was looking for other forms of entertainment.

I’ve learned to pick my battles, and if there isn’t too much danger involved I try to let it slide….yes…it was empty :0)

My little lion.

Grandpa and Eli trying their luck at fishing. 

I’m ready for sun!

a lion at the zoo

Two weeks ago, we spent the weekend at Grandma Pat and Grandpa Dobie’s house.  It was a chilly, windy weekend, so we spent Saturday at the Watertown zoo.  Grandma Pat gave Eli this lion costume, and he decided he wanted to be a lion the rest of the weekend.  There was no convincing him to take it off, so we headed to the zoo with Eli in full lion attire.  First, we checked out the indoor exhibit.  Eli especially enjoyed the stuffed giraffe and parrot. 

Eli tried to scare the ducks, but they huddled together and kept their distance

We did a lot of walking – Silas watched the animals from his stroller.  One of the zookeepers saw Eli and said, “One of our lions must have escaped!”  Eli thought that was pretty neat.

Kind of a cool bird…can’t remmeber what it’s called.

Little lion-penguin and mommy-penguin.

Eli found lots of roaming birds to try to scare.

I don’t think this peacock was too scared.

Eli liked this little deer….he had a little talk with him.

The zebra didn’t seem to notice the lion lurking nearby.

The buffalo slept while the prairie dogs barked and dug.

A lion-tiger and grandma-monkey.

Silas and the donkey checking each other out.

Eli loves elephants…

Eli tried to convince us to leave him in this ‘cage.’    He was not happy that he had to get out of the cage to go home.

Eli and Grandma saying goodbye to the indoor animals(both stuffed and alive).  It was nap time, so we told Eli that the parrot needed a nap too.  He looked hard at it and asked, “But where is his bed?”  Mom and Grandma explained that parrots don’t lay down to sleep.

All the walking and animals tired little Silas out.

silas is 1!

Our baby turned 1 on May 26th.  I can’t believe he’s 1….time sure flies…maybe faster with #2.  The day he was born was so great.  He came in a hurry, and changed our life just as fast.  Our ramp ticket for the hospital says 2:10 a.m., and our little boy came into this world at 2:35 a.m.  The nurses taking care of him said, “Wow, he’s sure mad at us for messing with him.”  I knew then and there that we had a spirited boy on our hands.  The first 6 months of Silas’ life were a bit of a challenge for Mike and I.  Both getting used to another child, and learning how to calm our littlest boy.  He loved to be swaddled and held.  He has always been such a smiley guy.  He’s definitely got some of Daddy’s humor and looks.

We had a little pool party/barbeque for Silas’ birthday.  He opened a few of his gifts at the beginning of the party so the kids could play with them.  He got his first hockey stick from anut Sarah and uncle Oscar.  He loves long sticks of any kind, so this was right up his alley.  It’s got a foam end, so hopefully this will limit the damage done?

He loved the attention he got at his party.  It was as if he knew he was supposed to smile and be gracious for his gifts. 

The ‘big’ kids enjoyed the little pool.

Silas wasn’t so fond of the water.

The kids sure had fun…and we got lucky with a beautiful sunny day.

Eli helped Silas open his gifts.

Silas got a good book on how to grow up.  Slowly, I hope.

Silas preferred the sand to the water…..he even had a little sand appetizer.

Eli tried out his new watering can from grandma Kay and grandpa Wayne.

Silas tried out his party hat.

The bubble mower was a hit. 

Elmo took a few hits before supper….guess it was a little too tempting with 2 year-olds sitting within reach of the cake :0).

Silas was pleasantly surprised at the taste of frosting.

Mmmmm…this stuff is good.

Fatigue set in, but he attempted to clear his tray.

What a fun day it was.  It was so great to have our family gather to celebrate Silas.

Daddy took Silas for his 1 year check.  Eli wasn’t a fan of the nurse giving Si shots.  He told her, “Don’t hurt my brother!”  Then proceeded to hide under the exam table.  Our little Silas is on the small side (only 20#, but 95% for height).  He’s a great eater, but a mover too.   He’ll be taller than me before we know it.

my auntie esa and salad hostas

Eli was swinging on our swing set the other night, and talking to Jordan, our next-door neighbor girl who is 2 1/2 too.  He said, “Jordan, my auntie is called Esa.”  Eli has always called my sister Sarah, Esa.  It started when he couldn’t say Sarah, and it kind of stuck.  Anyway, Jordan kind of ignored Eli, so he repeated….”Jordan, my auntie is called Esa.”  Finally after a few times of repeating that, Jordan said, “Oh.”  Eli replied, “and she loves me very much!”   It was so sweet.

Eli and I planted a vegetable garden this spring.  I also have a perennial flower garden.  Eli loves to help water, and Silas loves to explore in the mud.  Our vegetable garden is coming up, so I was showing Eli what everything was….carrots, radishes, peas, etc.  A while later we were up by the perennial flower garden and Eli stopped and looked down at a tall hosta leaf and said, “Mommy, what’s this one….salad?”