Boy Camp

The Sissies had Library Camp at their school the first week of summer. I thought it would be fun for Bear to have a little "camp" of his own. We invited two friends to come and play for a couple of days and do a "camp"- really just a more structured play date with a theme. It was so fun to do for him and they all loved it. 

The first day was Pirate day.  They painted pirate chests and glued jewels on them. Then they went looking for buried treasure in the sandbox (the best activity for everyone by far- the "treasure" is still buried and unburied regularly).  Then they had a great big pirate sword fight. They were so cute. Sometimes they fought each other, and sometimes trees, the slide, and lawn chairs were "dragons" that needed fighting.

The next day was "Super Guy" day. They came dressed in their super-guy apparel. 

The boys loved the "Hulk Smash" game I made up- stack the produce boxes in a tower and run through them to smash them down. Big surprise there :)

I was going to have them finger paint their pictures this day, but it was really funny. They did NOT want to get their fingers messy :) 

The last day was Train Day.  They painted with trains (so fun! Just put a glob of paint on the page and let them drive through it with cars/trains. It makes painted "tracks"). 

Then they worked together to build and run their trains around the wood tracks. It was a simple and fun day!

Bear Stuff

Bear had a lot of fun while the Sissies were in school. He likes to hang out with (and pester) the animals.   But I agree that Ollie is a PERFECT place to store your coinies. He's so old, fat, and lazy that he doesn't move much!

I was very happy that Bear's tendency to scream hysterically at every bug (or shadow, or fuzzy...) was short-lived. We now have a full-fledged bug hunter- even if he is one that won't touch a bug...

He got his very own hunting kit from the Dollar store to help him find bugs.  For all that TX seems like a buggy place, we didn't have much luck on our hunt. I guess we need more practice. Luckily, potato bugs are plentiful and fun to watch!

Bluebonnets 2014

Taking spring pictures with Bluebonnets is a Texas "thing"- Kind of like photos at a pumpkin patch in the fall.  This is one TX tradition I can really embrace! 

 Finding the "best" bluebonnet patch is a big deal. People are posting their favorites all over the internet (or keeping them secret) and the "good" patches can get trampled quickly. Last year we just spotted some and pulled over by the side of the road. 

This year, I wanted to do a little better and plan cute hair and outfits so I started looking and asking around for the perfect spot.  One day, I drove down my street and turned a corner and saw that my neighbor, 3 houses down, had a beautiful, big patch of bluebonnets- right beside their garage!

It was perfect! I made some cookies and took an opportunity to meet a neighbor (they are nice- original owners of the house!). They were flattered that I admired their bluebonnets and let us come and take some pictures. I was lucky that the day was mostly overcast and the kids responded well to an ice cream bribe. 

A few weeks back, Bear had a bee land on his forehead and has been terrified of all bugs ever since. There were a lot of bees buzzing around the flowers, so that didn't help, but he did a good job and we got some good shots in spite of his worry.  The girls were so fun and got really into it.

I paid my friend Kim with freezer dinners to edit our favorites and these will be the kids pics for this year. I can't wait to see them on my wall!

Angry Birds

Bear saw an Angry Birds game in a store forever ago.  Last week, he became obsessed with playing "Angry Birds".  I suggested that we build towers using toilet paper tubes (we always seem to have a ton waiting to be recycled).  I showed them how to stack them and he ran with the idea.  He found the "piggies" and his angry birds to throw at them. He now keeps his "Angry Bird" game in a special bag in his room.

March: Spring Break Spa Day

Spring Break here is hard. Because of state standardized testing schedules, pretty much everyone has their break at the same time.  And if you didn't know, TX is a big state, so that means everyone floods to do all the local fun stuff, as we learned on our San Antonio trip our first Spring Break here... 

Luckily, we've learned to make our own fun. We spent many days with our friends at group play date picnics at various parks.  I also promised the girls they could invite a couple of friends each and we could have a spa party. It was so much fun for everyone!  We got some snacks (m&m's, goldfish, donut holes and water bottles) and some dollar-store supplies- bath salts for feet and hands, face masks and headbands for the girls to keep.  We also made some really easy sugar scrub for their hands and feet (plus there was leftovers to take home!). 

Bear loved the attention from the big girls, but got bored after a while. It was great having the three big girls to help the three little girls.  We soaked and scrubbed hands and feet, applied and washed off a face mask and did manicures and pedicures!

I was a little nervous about executing it by myself, and I couldn't have done it without the help of the bigger girls, but it ended up being fairly relaxing and fun!

Bear's Cozy Spot

Bear spends a lot of time in his little cozy spot between the ottoman and the couch. He plays "guys" there, watches TV and plays the tablet. It's also a great place for a 3 yr old to make his own tent.   He also is really into snatching Mom's Diet Coke and this is his special hiding spot where he gulps it down before he is caught. Adorable. 

P.S. He wants everyone to know this is his "mean" face.

October: Rainstorm

I can't think of anything better to do during a warm TX rainstorm than to go outside and get good and muddy in your unders, can you?

Handsome, grown-up boy!

The boy looks so grown up in his first "real" church clothes (meaning not his usual kahkis and button-up plaid shirt combo).   He is so adorable I'm DYING!

Why, Hello! Young Ryan Philips! Lucky him- that means he's going to grow up to be handsome like is cousin!

Look- they even have almost matching outfits and ties. Also, they have a matching inability to look at the camera!

My favorite picture of them, ever:

Sept: Bear Preschool!

Bear started going to preschool this year! A couple of Mom's from church and I started a co-op preschool and he was so excited to go to school like the Sissies!  He got a brand new backpack with Hulk Smash and other "angry guys" (as he calls super heroes) on it.

He is very, very good with his letters. He recognizes nearly all of them and can tell you the sounds for about half. He likes to color and to "pwojects".

One of his very favorite things to do is to sort pompoms.  This was crazy easy to put together and he probably does it every day on his own.

Sadly, the other Mom's have had some life changes that mean they can't do the co-op preschool, but Bear and I are continuing on with Mommy and Bear school. It has been fun and he has enjoyed the one-on-one time and my undivided attention!

Texodus: Two Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed...

Worth watching until the very end...

Bear's "Real" Birthday

We were driving ALL DAY for Bear's real birthday day, so we told him his birthday was Sunday after we got back. I love that 3-yr-olds have no sense of time at all!  After he woke up and had breakfast, Daddy set up the bubble machine Aunt Cyndi gave him. It was so fun!

Then he opened and played with his presents from the family.  Note: The jaunty open-collar polo is courtesy of DMP dressing him that morning. You can see in the top picture that he is also wearing plaid shorts that don't even pretend to match.

For dinner, we had what passes for this guy's "favorite"  meal. Spaghetti and meatballs with fruit and bread is what he will eat the most of, most consistently :)

Sometimes, when you are the third child, your Mom skips the homemade cake (for both birthday celebrations!) and doesn't even bother to take the cupcakes out of the package. This is probably why I shouldn't have more children. Just think how number 4 or 5 would be neglected!

At least the cupcake toppers were lots of fun!

Texodus: Bear and Grandpa Share a Birthday

Bear and Grandpa K got to share a Birthday party again this year.  We had planned to have a birthday picnic in Provo Canyon, but our plans were changed at the last minute by a big wind and rain storm.  I'm so grateful to Aunt Cyndi for being such a nice and calm hostess. She had no problem staging and hosting the party at her house at the last second. She is great like that- I want to be like her when I grow up!  

The menu included yummy Winco sandwiches, chips, grapes and TWO birthday cakes- Superman for Bear and Carmel Pecan cheesecake for Grandpa (Cyndi made it and it was AWESOME).  Bear got such a kick out of having two cakes, he now thinks every party should have them!

Bear was totally spoiled with lots of presents and hugs from Grandpa.  Also, apparently when you turn 3 you get crazy eyes!