Backyard Fun

We had a picnic lunch in our backyard today.

After lunch, we went in search of treasures. Joshua likes to search for snail shells (empty ones), and Tabitha searches for rocks.

I could tell they loved having me right there with them. Tabitha kept coming up to me saying, "Mama!" and then she'd wave at me. It was very cute.

We also found a couple of ripe cucumbers on the vines. Cucumbers have to be the easiest vegetable to grow. I just started this past spring growing veggies. I had tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. Cucumbers require no work other than planting seeds. They become vines and and have yellow blossoms for the cucumbers. Oh, and they don't require much water. Joshua is trying to pull one off.

We came inside and I peeled it so they could try it. Joshua wanted ranch dressing with it and took a few nibbles before complaining that his tummy hurt. He gets an A for trying it. Tabitha just held the cucumber in one hand and stuck the other in the ranch, licking it off her fingers. I then tried making a drink with it, and Joshua spit it out instantly. At least he's into trying new things. Tabitha never got close to it.

Right now everyone is resting peacefully. Hopefully we burned a lot of energy. I know I had lots of fun.

Playnasium

We found a fun playnasium is south Austin, called Goin' Bananas. Very cute place. They have $5 Mondays for kids 1 year and older with parents free. So for $10 we had some good fun when the weather outside was icky. This place will be great for the winter time when we need to get out and jump around. Inside were many play areas with kitchens, diners, blocks, and dress up. Here's Tabitha building.

Joshua, Tabitha, and a friend are together in the kitchen.

There were also some inflatable bounce houses. Joshua was the only one to get on it.

Oh, and there were signs posted as to what age could be on the toys. It was great not to worry about big kids jumping all around them. We will definitely do this again.

Our Musician

I earlier posted that Joshua likes music. He likes to listen to it, and he now sings. Today he didn't need a CD player to be inspired. He was in my bathtub when he found himself a "microphone" and started singing. In this video, he is singing, "Sing, Sing, Sing" by Chris Tomlin and "Oh, Happy Day" artist unknown to me. Tabitha also wanted in on the action but would eat the microphone. They really do make me laugh.

Halloween

Halloween finally arrived! We have been seeing it in the store for at least a month and a half, and we're so glad it came. We knew Joshua was excited because anyone he met, he would tell them what he was going to be for Halloween. Tabitha had no clue...until we went trick or treating. She quickly (after the first house) caught on. She would grab her pumpkin for each house and excitedly walk to the door. When Josue took her, he told her to say, "Trick or treat" and she replied with, "tick-a-tick". Children really are fast learners!

Before we went, Ella came over with her parents to take a few pictures. She and Tabitha had similar costumes (homemade by their mommies). They were flowers. Joshua was a homemade version of Handy Manny who is a handy man on Disney.

Here's Joshua and our neighbor, Ava.

It was a fun night, but thankfully over.

Who needs toys?

This is what Josue says when he sees the kids playing with everything but their toys. I recently ran across this great book on Dr. Laura's website and checked it out at the library. It's "Unplugged Play: No Batteries. No Plugs. Pure Fun" by Bobbi Conner. It is perfect for toddlers through age 10 years. I used it as my inspiration for this idea. I took the box from our new wagon (so much fun) and made a tunnel for the kids to crawl through it.

Joshua loves it.

Tabitha has yet to crawl through it.

I can't wait to do other ideas I've found in the book.

Poor Cubbies!

First of all, I would like to apologize to Josue, Marissa, Enrique, and any other lifelong Cub fan for bringing this up when the wound is still so fresh. The Cubbies didn't make it to the World Series as you probably know. It was very sad to watch them lose in the first round of the playoffs.

It's amazing how they have become a part of our family. I walked into Tabitha's room today to see an absolute mess on her bed. She had pulled out many clothes from her drawers and books from her basket. In her hands she was holding two Cubbie outfits and saying, "Dada". She wanted me to dress her in them.

Cub fans-Doesn't the look say it all?

Our DJ

Today Josue came home with some earphones. He had them at work for himself, and when he saw them today he thought, "I bet Joshua would enjoy these." Just take a look. (Isn't it funny how your thinking changes once you have kids? You start thinking their likes much more than your own.)

Doesn't Joshua look like a DJ? He definitely loves music. He's started singing lately, and it cracks us up. He doesn't know all the words so he'll make up his own or just mumble until more lyrics come to his mind. In this picture he's listening to the Imagination Movers.

He also likes to dance. That's what he's doing here.

And he's not shy about it. One evening while at Pappasito's for my cousin Lane's birthday, Joshua tells me he wants to dance. There was floor space near us, and maybe for a second I thought, "What are people going to think?", but then I thought, "Oh well. My kid wants to dance. Let's do it." And there we were dancing together to the Mariachi music in the background. What were people's reactions? "Oh how cute!" was the look on all their faces. Soon Joshua wanted everyone at the table dancing with him. Even his daddy! Josue isn't particularly fond of the art of dancing, but he did it for his son. My heart melted watching them together.

Oh what fun to be a kid!