'Cause I'm a freak

Tonight at dinner, Troy kept repeating "'Cause I'm a freak" (from Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance") and for some reason the boys thought it was hilarious.  Their laughing just cracked me up, so I got a little bit of it on video..

Disclaimer: Yes, Troy has a potty mouth after saying the phrase once - apparently thats what the song says.  Obviously we are very soon going to have to watch our mouths around the boys as they start talking more - we are aware of this!

Back to the grind

Back to work = less blogging.  It is what it is and I have to accept that.  Despite going back to work, we have had some time for fun too.

Last weekend, Troy got his kayak out to prep things for his salmon fishing trip in two weeks - you think he's a little excited?!?  I was outside with Logan and Ellis so they got to experience a little bit of kayak fishing too:

Nothing major has happened during the week (or should I say I neglected to keep my camera around me for most of the week), but one of my favorite pictures from the week was Ellis - happily eating his lasagna rolls (before his face was too messy):

Gotta love this face!

The most fun we had was yesterday, at Pontiac Lake.  Thanks to Nicole for inviting us - the boys had a ton of fun, and so did we!  No water pictures since I was in there with them, but they loved it!  We must do swimming lessons with them soon!  I must have had my camera on a bad setting (or else the sun messed with the quality of pictures), but here are a few I took:

Digging for gold, but just found rocks!

Morgan and Ellis

This morning I pulled out the forks for the boys to eat with.  We had been practicing mainly with scooping over the summer, but it was worth a shot...and they did awesome.  Logan was very adamant about using the fork to pick up his waffle.  If the piece fell off before it got to his mouth, he put it back on his tray and tried again.  Ellis did well too - although if he couldn't pick it up within the first few tries, he just used his hands - totally fine little guy! I was just shocked at how well they did spearing the food good enough to keep it on the fork and bringing it to their mouth.  

That's it for now.  Today we don't have any major plans - I might run to GAP to look for some new clothes, but just hanging out around here.  Happy Sunday everyone!

Our Last Week

Monday, I go back to work.  My "summer" is over.  I know, its not really over, but the amazing time off spent with the boys is over.

We had a great last week of fun.  Here are some highlights:

Monday was another Macy's 2nd Monday at Greenfield Village.  This month's theme was "All Aboard" - everything trains.  We joined Sheila, Luke, Caryn, Cole, Caryn's friend (sorry, I forgot her name) and son Alex, Kelli, Conner, Mason, Jessica, and Macy for some fun with trains.  We started off with making some conductor handkerchiefs and then went to play in the main courtyard area before lunch.  Last month, everything was pretty much located in the courtyard area, but we found out on our way to lunch that this time there were a few activities closer to the train that we missed out on, but the kids still had fun.

A free train ride was included in the activities, but since this is quite a loud train, I wasn't sure how they would do during the 3 mile ride around the village with various stops.  And I did NOT want to have to try to control two antsy kids on a moving object by myself, in case they didn't like it.  Maybe next time (or when I have an extra set of hands with me!)

On Tuesday, I went to school to set up my new room.  I have to say, I loved my 2nd floor room, but I have been moved to the 4th floor.  Despite a little bit of unforeseen drama that ensued with making the move, I am happy to say that I like my new room and I'm actually getting excited to go back and see what this year brings.  I am bringing some positivity with me, so hopefully this is a good year.  We have a kick ass team on our floor, so I'm excited!

On Wednesday, we headed to the zoo with Nicole, Morgan, and Parker.  The biggest highlight this time was the polar bear.  Usually we check out the polar bear/seal area but only see seals.  We were very lucky to see the polar bear showing off for us and playing with his ball.  Here are a few pictures from the day:

I'm so glad I actually got a picture of all the kids looking at the cow.  Too bad you can't see the cow!

Logan checking out the prairie dogs

Ellis has started this cute little wave and it cracks me up that he's waving at the prairie dog!

Polar Bear Time! 

Ellis with Parker at the icy wall

Logan's turn to touch the ice

Thursday we went to the park.  In case you didn't see my Facebook posting, Logan had his first kiss by a 22 month old girl.  They were playing together and going down the slide.  After Logan went down the slide, he walked over to go up the steps again and this little girl put her head out to kiss him and he kissed her back.  It was the cutest thing ever.

This weekend, we have some fun planned - gotta make most of these not-so-busy days where work is included, but will hopefully get some relaxing in too.  I'm loving this cooler weather and hope to throw some comfy pants on and finish the last 70 pages of the third Hunger Games book sometime this weekend too!  

Come Touch a Truck

At Rochester Hills Public Library, they had an end-of-summer program yesterday to announce the winners of the Summer Reading Program/Contest they had.  In addition to this, they had a big "Come Touch a Truck" program in the parking lot.  Lots of various trucks that the kids could look at, sit in, and honk the horns to.  Luckily the rain held off for the hour we were there and the boys had lots of fun looking at and sitting in the trucks.

Logan in an old-school pick up truck

The boys loved walking in (and out of) the bucket.

"Wow, this is big mom!" - Ellis

Ellis loves giving high fives - even to people she doesn't know (which is a huge improvement from the screaming they used to do around people they didn't know!)  Here he is on the SWAT truck.

Ellis in the fire truck.

Logan's turn

The back of the EMS.

We warned Logan that this is the ONLY time he should ever be in the back of a police car.

Ellis was a little nervous in the drivers seat...

...but all of a sudden he started "driving" it and started whining when I tried to take him out.

So a few more minutes of driving before we joined Daddy and Logan again.

The boys have this thing with pointing - not the most appropriate, but it is their way of waving.  Troy said "Look at mommy" so I could get a picture of them looking at me, and they just looked at me pointing.  Oh well, still cute!

Back at home we had to get a picture of them with all their stickers.  They were quite busy as an Oakland County Sheriff, a Rochester Hills Police Officer, and a Rochester Hills Firefighter.  

Oh what fun!  I'm so glad we could go and really had fun looking at their reactions to all the big trucks!

Lots of fun - both outside and in

This week we've done a little bit of everything.  Monday, Troy and I had our little anniversary "date" at Cedar Point.  Although I went to Cedar Point back in June with my students, Troy hasn't been in practically 10 years, so he was way overdue.

We rode the big, newer rides - Maverick, Millennium Force, Top Thrill Dragster, as well as a few of the older ones - Raptor and Mantis.  The lines got longer as the day went on - it was a beautiful day after all, 80 degrees and sunny - but we got to go on all the rides we wanted.  Troy even got gutsy enough to take video of a few of the rides we went on.

Here is Millennium Force (the tallest roller coaster there):



Here is the Top Thrill Dragster, although since it goes 0-120mph in 4 seconds, he got a video of it before we went on, not when we were actually on it (although the video definitely doesn't do the speed any justice..it is way faster than the video makes it look)



After we left the park, we went back to our hotel and relaxed by the pool and went out to get some pizza, before calling it a night.  A HUGE thank you to my mom for watching the kids and Bella so we could go have a day/night out on our own.

Wednesday, we took advantage of the nice weather and headed to the splash pad in Farmington with Nicole, Morgan, Parker, Caryn, and Cole.  We all had lots of fun and towards the end, Logan and Ellis were even going in the water all on their own.

After lunch and a bit more playing in the water, it was time to dry off, so we could head home for naps.  What better way to dry off, than to run repeatedly down a hill?

Logan and Ellis weren't into the racing, but they enjoyed climbing the hill too!

Today, with all the rain we were getting, called for another Boogie Babies morning.  We got there before anyone else and the boys had no problem remembering all the fun to be had.  They were especially excited that the small slide was not being used:

Lunch time rolled around before we knew it and we headed out.  They are sleeping like logs now and I'm enjoying this nice cool rainy weather.  I've had a TON of fun this summer, both inside and outside, but I've got to say that I think I'm ready for the nice fall weather too.  I don't want to get ahead of myself but I'm aching for some cider mill donuts!  =)

Scooping and squishing and drinking (and more), oh my!

This week, in addition to spending as much time outside as possible, we tried to squeeze in a little bit of learning/practicing of different skills each day.

First, some sensory play.  Some blue hair gel with some glitter - gives a weird gel feeling.  Eventually, they could use these bags to practice writing numbers and letters as shown here, but for now its all about the feeling of it.  Logan wasn't sure at first, but Ellis enjoyed pushing and squeezing the bag.

Then Ellis thought it would be fun to step on it and feel it with his feet. I actually think he liked this even more!

Next, pom poms.  I originally used the pom poms for the fine motor activity with the holes in the lid of a cannister, as shown here, but there really are a ton of activities to do with them.  For their age, they really enjoy grabbing them, poking them, putting them in things, taking them out, etc.  So, I grabbed a few bowls and a muffin tin, along with a few kitchen utensils and let them have at it.

An awkward picture, but here is Logan looking for his pom pom that
he threw under the couch after I told him  not to throw them!  

Logan enjoyed filling his scoop up with pom poms and dumping them into the bowl.

Once they started getting a little bored with this, and could get my hands on the pom poms without them grabbing them from me, I showed them how to sort them by color as I said the color of each one I had.  Hopefully over time of repeating this, they will sort them all on their own!

Next was drinking from a cup.  Ever since we went camping and gave the boys some water and juice from what we were drinking, they always want to drink from our glass.  They also like to fill up the play cups with water from their water table and drink that when we are outside too.  When I went to Ikea a few weeks ago, I grabbed some small kids plastic cups.  Obviously it will be a while before they will transition to these, but why not let them practice, right?  Especially when we are outside so often, its perfect to give them a chance to get used to it.  Not too bad for the first time, after a little bit of choking from drinking too much at a time, of course!  

Ellis likes drinking from the cups at the water table instead of the drinking cups

Yup, he drank too much at once!

Logan's turn drinking from a drinking cup.

Oops, a little too much for you too!

Now for some scooping fun!  Supplies = bowls, beans, and spoons.  The boys grabbed some ice cube trays that were out downstairs too and used those - heck, why not?  Anyone doing an activity like this MUST watch their kids carefully.  Especially since both boys love black beans, I had to make sure they weren't putting any in their mouth.

Ellis actually got a few beans on his spoon a couple times, but his wrist wasn't still enough to keep them on the spoon.  Logan pretty much gave up on the spoon and used his hands to transfer beans to the ice cube trays.  Hey, whatever works Logan!  

Last but not least, some more fine motor practice with a new busy bag activity.  Today was our second exchange and I'd have to say that I'm WAY excited with this round of activities.  Not to say that the first round wasn't good, but after a quick look through the bags I got, I can't wait to try these.  My first goal is to organize the two rounds of activities and make a list of them so I don't forget what we have as they get old enough to try them.  I might actually link them all up with the skills they go with and research to see when that skill could be introduced.  Of course every child is different, but just as a starting point.  Okay, no more organization talk.  As I was looking through the activities after dinner, I pulled out one that Nicole made - it was a Pool Noodle Counting activity.  Both boys were on the couch and immediately jumped down to see what I had - the pool noodle pieces definitely caught their eye.  I showed them how to put the pieces on the rope and then they quickly took over.  Clearly, the numbers don't mean anything to them right now, but I love the fact that so many of these activities can be scaffolded to their ability.  So many of them teach so many skills that they can be used over and over for different skill practice!  Have I said how excited I am about this round of activities?  

They were so proud of getting them on there, and the noodle pieces are just their size.  So much fun!  I can't wait to report on the other activities as we delve into them more!  

Ahh..I think that's our week in review, educationally, that is!