Memorial Day Weekend: Part 1

On the road again! Over Memorial Day Weekend, we ventured to South Dakota for our typical packed-schedule visit! This is ‘Part 1’ of pictures from our visit with family and friends.

Thanks Aunt Laurie for letting us arrive SO late to your house- our 1st stop in SD. (I'm trying not to think about that 8 mile run you made me do on a treadmill.....on 4 hours of sleep!)

I went with friends Heather and Alyssa and their kids to the zoo in Watertown. What an adventure with six kids! Jaden and Evan had just met these kids, so I think they thought that any group of kids that went by, they could just join and follow. Jaden even got popcorn from a grandpa that was passing it out….to his own grandkids. I guess there are positives and negatives about my boys not being shy!

The ultimate wing man.

Lilly, Jaden, Evan, Ethan, Taylor

 Lilly, Taylor, Jaden, Ethan

 Evan, Ethan, Lilly, Jaden, Taylor

 Aiming for the most-ever on a 4-person merry-go-round!

 The fun stuff to find at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Grandpa- trying to teach Jaden that one cannot hit and field the same ball during a game of baseball. 

 

Evan and Jaden love to talk about the farm- and the kitty cats, the cows, driving the tractor, and the bugs- of course! This time they got to drink out of the hose, which is not a good habit at splash parks!

 Sit with Grandpa on his picnic bench. 

 Drive the 4-wheeler

Help with chores

And Grandpa Al even made a sand pile for them, just like he had growing up!

 Really, the sand was just a distraction for one while the other one got to drive the tractor!

I left Watertown to meet Nathan and his extended family in Redwood Falls, MN. This meant we got to drive through Minneota, MN.....my very first hometown. 

More on the adventures with Nathan's family to come!

Where Did Eh Eh Go? Part 2

Jaden and I spent a day together a couple weeks ago. This time, I got to hear all day, 'Where did Eh Eh go?'

To say Evan and Jaden have different personalities is an understatement. My day required a lot of patience. I was reminded of a joke in my family......when God made me and asked if I wanted patience, I said, "no, I don't want to be a physician."  And Jaden clearly is related to me.

Although not all my plans were executed, we did have fun adventures.

Jaden enjoyed playing on two playgrounds.

 We had a coffee and muffin date!

My boys are not ones who typically fall asleep in places other than their beds or strollers, but Jaden was so tired that he did not quite make it to the checkout line. (He insisted on having his hood on.)

He loved making chocolate chip cookies.....maybe had to do with eating the chocolate chips;)

Where did Eh-Eh go?

“Where did Eh-Eh go?” Jaden questioned me on the walk to Miss Sherrie’s house this morning. I later found out he asked this question all day!

Evan and I got to spend the entire day together! And now, I’m exhausted!! I realized that one is just as tiring as two….but with half the pressure. I felt much more at ease at the parks we went to. I felt comfortable taking Evan into the mall without a stroller. I bravely went and got an oil change in the car…..something I wouldn’t consider doing with two….wait….I think I did and then said I never would again!

We started the day with a morning snack of cheese and crackers at park #1.

He got to ride on Constitution Trail for the first time! He did a great job on his bike. He stopped and looked at many of the bugs on the trail and waved to everyone that went by. He proceeded to ask for a hat like the guy who rode by fast on a bike.  And yup, had me carry the bike for a little bit on the way back to the car.

We found ‘another park’ on our bike ride. 

We briefly stopped at the mall (no- I didn’t buy anything!)—but he got to play in the kids area and quickly made friends. A 3-yr-old asked him his name and he just learned how to say ‘Evan’ last week (has always been ‘Eh Eh’…..like ‘Jay-Jay’). Then he was very lucky that the 3-yr-old's Grandma took them both on the little merry-go-round. Evan giggled the entire ride! Even people walking by stopped to smile. I wish I had a video!

 We had a picnic lunch at another park, but by this time he was really getting tired, although he wouldn’t admit it.

 My one that has given up naps, actually took a nap today. He slept so soundly that I moved him twice and he just kept sleeping!!

We tried our hand at chalk…..something I haven’t attempted yet with two, as I know they would eat it! And yes, that’s the first thing Evan tried to do! I drew a square and the letter E for him…. Where he sat, he told me it was a diamond and the letter ‘M’. Okay, maybe he was right. 

 We ended the day with making rhubarb-strawberry crisp. He was a great helper at eating the strawberries faster than I could cut them!

 Jaden and Evan were very excited to see each other at the end of the day and had lots to catch up on!

Easter.......in the Dells

Easter. What is Easter to you?
Maybe it’s eggs, maybe it’s family time, maybe it’s spiral cut ham, or maybe it’s being able to wear white pants the next day. I hope Evan and Jaden learn that Easter is so much more—that Jesus loves all of us so much that he gave his life for us so that we can live too. This year, our Easter weekend was a little ‘unconventional’ with a half marathon, an outdoor egg hunt after a .25 road race for the boys, a waterpark, an indoor egg scavenger hunt, and a reheated Easter dinner. Instead of captions for the pictures of our weekend fun, I’ll share excerpts from Evan and Jaden’s ‘The Story of Easter’ board book by Patricia Pingry. 

 When spring comes, baby animals are born, and flowers begin to bloom. 

Springtime also brings Easter. On Easter we remember Jesus and what He did for us. 

 Jesus loved all boys and girls, and moms and dads too. He was called the Good Shepherd.

Grandmas and Aunts and boys and girls loved Jesus too. They laid palm branches in His path.

 On that first Easter, Jesus’ friends met an angel. He told them, “Jesus has risen! He is alive today!”

We celebrate Easter because Jesus lived again on that first Easter morning. 

Jesus loved us so much that he gave his life for us so that we can live too. 

Marching in Fun with Grandmas and Auntie!

How does one get caught up with life after Spring Break?

Call for reinforcements!!

Aunt Laurie and both Grandma’s drove from South Dakota the weekend after we drove back from Florida. It was one of those weekends where I did not plan entertaining activities for my company, but instead, took advice from one of those ‘twins books’ and let my company have sole responsibility for my boys.

And were Evan and Jaden ever in good hands! They had so much fun, attention, and hugs!

Fun at the zoo!

 Lots and lots of flashcards! 

 "Read a book?" "Read a book?"

Arts and crafts!

 And they got to pick out lots of random 'toys' at the store......aren't those fun to clean up after?!:)

Evan and Jaden also got to eat 'veggie snacks'......and here they were told only Mickey Mouse had veggie snacks.......hmmm!