Amelia & Jocelyn's Birthday

Mark's cousin Camille lives only about 45 minutes away from us, so we were lucky enough to get invited to her daughters' birthday party. Two of their girls (Amelia & Jocelyn) share a birthday! It was requested that kids come in costume and bring a swimsuit (both of which our boys were super excited about)! So, on April 16th we headed down to celebrate. Here are Lincoln as Batman (the Batman hood, shirt & shorts were made for Mark by his mom when he was a little boy!), and Noah chose to wear his Captain Hook costume - sans wig & mustache this time. Aren't they two cute little party goers?

At the beginning of the party they started things out with some dancing for the kids - both fast songs and not as fast songs. Our boys didn't know what to think. For one, they didn't really know anyone...and secondly, it was certainly a princess dominated party (being for 2 girls). After a little bit of coaxing, Noah relented and accepted one of the princesses requests to dance with her. I just about had a fit with how cute I thought his shy little face was while dancing, but I could tell that he actually was enjoying himself too. Here's a quick clip of them:


After the dancing, the kids divided into a couple of groups by age and played various party games, and then it was time to head outside for water fun! Lincoln had been chomping at the bit to get outside and just run around, so he was extra excited when the kids were let loose outside. And, can you blame him? There were 2 blow up bounce houses, a slip & slide, a playground structure, trampoline...and lots & lots of soft grass. Aaahhh. Here is Linc in line to try out the slip & slide...

Linc trying out the slip & slide...

Lots of the kids had a hard time grasping the concept of what you do on a slip and slide. It was hot enough that if I didn't have a big ol' pregnant belly, I would've volunteered to demonstrate, but they were having a great time just doing things their way anyway. Here's a quick clip of Noah taking a turn:


Lincoln's turn (makes me laugh):


Noah and another little boy drove around the backyard in this sweet ride. Gotta love the pink and princess look on the rugged jeep :)

Linc doing a little climbing - how unusual! *sarcasm*

The kids all gathered on the trampoline to watch people take their shot at the pinata:

Birthday girl Jocelyn taking a very solid whack at the pinata (which was thoroughly reinforced with duct tape, giving all party goers a shot at it)...

Noah taking his turn...

Finally the pinata broke and the kids collected their goodies. Here's Lincoln showing me what he collected:

Noah, showing me one of his pieces of candy. The kid has never been to concerned with collecting a large hoard of candy from a pinata breaking. He has never been a competitive (or gluttonous) child:

Next was cake time. Here are Amelia & Jocelyn showing their candle from the cake - after blowing it out, of course.

I love this anticipatory smile Noah is wearing...and I was surprised at his choice of white cake too (he's normally very much a chocolate kid).
We had such a great time! Thanks so much for the invitation!

A Zoo Day

One day in early April we were having particularly lovely weather. Mark was able to wrap things up early at work and we went to the zoo together! Here are Lincoln & Mark waiting for the elephants to come out for their feeding...

Noah & Lincoln love their daddy...

The four of us (and one in the oven...I was 28 weeks here):


After looking at some of our favorite animals, we headed down to the farm area at the zoo for the boys to play on the playground there, and then climb on the tractors.



Of course there are always plenty of photo opportunities when the kids climb all over the non-living creatures at the zoo. I love this shot of Lincoln:

Noah peeking out of a turtle shell...

Couldn't pass up a photo with this guy...

And in the time it took for me to snap the previous picture, this is what Lincoln did. Man does that kid love to climb...

Lincoln was particularly excited about elephants this trip to the zoo - both the live ones and the statues.

Noah maintained a preference for predators (and yes, he would use that word)...

Being about 7 months pregnant, I was a bit slower keeping up with the boys sometimes. However, because of that I saw a few cute little moments like this one...
We really love going to our zoo! Another big thank you to Mark's parents for the annual pass they gave us for Christmas! It makes our visits there so much more relaxed when we can just go for a shorter trip and leave when it's time (versus getting our "money's worth" and seeing everything).

T-ball Game/Opening Ceremonies

League opening ceremonies day was postponed (due to a tragic accident) and ended up being held on April 2nd right after one of Noah's t-ball games. Our team (Phillies) played the Marlins, and one of Noah's best buddies (also named Noah) from pre-school plays on that team...so Noah enjoyed cheering for him during the game. It was kind of funny, but really cute. Anyway, here are the teams showing sportsmanship after the game...

And getting some coaching instruction during the most important part of the game (to Noah at least): the after-game snack! (Noah's hat is covering his face in this photo) They look so cute sitting in the dugout, wearing their uniforms and their legs dangling from the bench.

Noah S. and our Noah after the game. How cute are they?!

Coach Reese & Coach Justin with the boys who stuck around for opening ceremonies. I love how Noah has his hands on his hips...

Hats off for the Star Spangled Banner. (#3 is our Noah)
While I wouldn't say that Noah has exactly been competitive playing t-ball, he has enjoyed it more than he did soccer last season. Maybe there is just sufficient time for him to space out without being redirected with t-ball? Either way, he enjoys getting in his uniform and going to play. He especially likes batting and can now hit being pitched to (not off the t). I'll include some more pictures and video clips in another post down the road. I do want to say that we've been really lucky with having such patient, kind coaches that don't mind all the extra reminders that the young 5-year-olds seem to need!

No foolin'

I grew up in a home where April Fools Day meant things like: A taped down sink sprayer...someone always managed to forget and get it in the face. A taped down hook switch (the button/switch on a phone that turns the call off when the handset is put on the cradle - or answers it when you pick it up)...the first person to answer the phone that day always had to scramble to try and get the tape off before the incoming call hung up. Don't forget pop 'n' snaps placed carefully under the toilet seat - ready to scare the crap out of you (pun intended) when you put your seat on the seat and they explode. Or fake poop or vomit placed strategically enough to catch you off guard and make it believable for a few moments. Then there was the time that we got a bucket of water in the face when Mom opened the door to welcome us home from school (inviting a water fight). One year my brother taped dye tablets to the shower head. Yup...April Fools Day wasn't just another day growing up in my home. While I enjoy pulling a trick on someone as much as my mom must...I'm still not yet sure if I dare to continue such traditions in my home for fear of what kind of things I may be inviting upon reciprocation. We'll see. In any case, I'm certainly not starting all that while my boys are this young and don't understand the concept of reserving such crazy behavior for one day a year (not that such a rule always stopped my mom, now that I think about it). Anyway! In a way it felt like the joke was on me this April 1st...in a nice way. We had just kissed March goodbye and were enjoying weather in the 90's?! What the...? This is our first spring in Arizona (and supposedly, that was early for that heat even here). So! We took the boys to our community pool! It's not a heated pool, so the water was really cold (not having had any time to warm up yet), but the boys didn't mind at all! See for yourself...

After about 1/2 year of not swimming Noah had no problem picking back up where he left off. Our little fish.


A thumbs up from both boys.

Noah & Mark poolside (there was no way that Mark was getting in the water above his ankles).

My boys. And you can see our house in the background above Lincoln's arm...that's how close we are to the pool. We love it.
So, if anyone actually reads this post...do you have any April Fool's Day traditions or memories? I'd love to hear them :)

March Wrap Up

Apparently "nesting" (for me) includes getting caught up on my blogging because I've been feeling a real push to get caught all the way up on my pending blog posts. So! Here are the random things from March that didn't make it into their own blog post. First of all, one night Mark & I were in the front room and Mark went to check on the boys (we were worried why it was so quiet). This is what he found and our hearts melted...Noah had helped get Lincoln all situated on the bench with a pillow and blanket and they were holding hands and watching cartoons. So sweet.

Mark carrying our two sweet boys off to bed...

A random shot that I took of Lincoln playing with his beloved Buzz one day.

Mark's parents were here in early March for Fred & Claudia's 25th anniversary celebration. So, we took the opportunity to head to the zoo with them while they were here! Here we are enjoying some lunch...

Grandpa & Lincoln checking out the zoo map.

A totally random clip of Lincoln.


Noah's preschool had "rodeo day" and the kids wore cowboy clothes from home. Noah wore a cowboy hat, a vest (that was Mark's when he was little!), and cowboy boots. I snapped these pictures when I picked Noah up after school...


My parents came down for a visit mid-March (and to be there for Noah's b-day party). They were invited to attend the last part of one of Noah's school days, so here is my dad joining the kids for some story time :)

Miss Lisa (who Noah adores) helping Noah with one of his projects during class...


My parents with Noah in his classroom.

After my parents were back from school with Noah I took the opportunity to run a bunch of errands to get ready for Noah's party the next day. My mom took Noah out into the green-space by our house and snapped a few pictures of our little cowboy...



This one is my personal favorite. Noah explained that this is how a cowboy sleeps (complete with his head on a rock for a pillow).

Noah running the bases at t-ball practice. Doesn't he look so tiny (and cute in his t-ball clothes)?

Noah up to bat at his first t-ball game...


One day, at the very end of March, we went out for pizza after one of Noah's t-ball games. Noah opted for spaghetti with meatballs. Open wide!!!...

Noah & me.

Mark and Linc.

And I couldn't not include this one...