Poop in the Paddock

I am so proud of Brayden.  In spite of his puzzle hating parents, he has figured out how to put this puzzle together, with only teeny amounts of help.  This time was the first time he did it completely with his own two hands.  Yay Brayden!

When I ask B. what he wants for a snack, without thinking he says "peanuts and cashews and cranberries". For lunch he wants "cheese and ham".  Nothing is ever different, so I shouldn't have been surprised when I asked Jack what he wanted for lunch and he said "shees and am".

This day, during lunch, he was so tired, he was an adorable mush pile of struggling-to-stay-awake.  He tried really hard to get comfy and eat at the same time, so he turned his little self to the side and leaned his exhausted noggin back in the chair.

 But from that position, he couldn't really find his plate...

Oop, got it.  Back to eating.

He went to bed shortly after that.  :)

Recently, Jeremiah and I considered making a huge, huge purchase (well, to us anyway).  It was this Blendtech.  I have gone through several blenders around here, so we needed a powerful one (something that had some muscle and could work like the Kitchen Aide).  So here we are in our fourth week with the thing and we hit a landmark number.  50 uses so far.  I guess it was worth it!  Anyone want a spinach and apple smoothie?  They are delicious!  Just ask Brayden and Jack.  Or do you need some garbanzo bean flour?  We could make you some of that too, if you did.  :)    

Speaking of making things,  Jeremiah made this beautiful table.

It is a farmhouse table and he did such a fantastic job.  You just have to see it in person to believe it.  Next up, re-stain the other three chairs and build a bench to go with it.  Yay!

One day during the nice weather, we took out the hammock (it has been in storage around here for years...).  It was hilarious watching the boys try to figure it out.  They thought it would be easy because they saw me lay down in it.  And for Jack, it was pretty easy.  But you can tell Brayden had a bit of a time with it though.  I had a bit of a laugh!  Then I showed him how to do it (butt first, then back, then feet little buddy). Now Jack points to it and asks for it before we even get out of the garage.

It is a great place to watch the kids entertain the horses.

Yep, they are back!!

Everyone is ecstatic.  Except for the kitten brothers.  Matter ran away for a day or so.  Rowdy watched them from the top of the barn.  Can you see him up there?

Jack finally figured out how to wrestle.  

Brayden thinks it is the best thing in the world to have someone to

wrestle with!

He just has to lay down on the floor first though so Jack can get him!

This big, giant, HOLLOW oak is a super fun place to investigate.  

Speaking of nature, when the weather was rainy, we watched the movie Bambi.

Brayden thought his name was BandAid.  

It took me a while to tell him it was Bambi.

It was just too funny to hear him talk about Bandaid when his daddy came home from work!

I was reading that little ones Jack's age should be saying about three words.

I have no idea how many words that kid is up to, but I do know that he says three word

SENTENCES.  

Like "No!  I don't!"  With his belly out and a bit of a shriek.

He also says "'Et go!"...you know, turn me loose!  let me go!

"Woook out!" is another one.

"Bwayden sweep?"  Followed quickly by "Ake uuuup!" at Brayden's side of the bed.

(Is brayden sleeping? Wake up Brayden!  I am waiting for you!  The day has started!) 

One day when the neighbors were over, Jack was following our little gaggle of baby ducks.

She pointed out that he wasn't just following him...he was waddling like them!

Jack also has super monkey legs.  When you pick him up, he hugs you with his arms and his little monkey legs, wrapped around you as far as they will go.  Just like his big brother used to do.  It is the sweetest hug. Then he taps his fingers on your arms, just so show exactly how happy he is.

This little stinker...I was listening to him at the park when he was making new friends.

He totally introduces himself Dinosaur Train style. If you know the show, you KNOW what I am talking about  (Hi!  My name is Tiny Pteranadon.  and this is....)

Brayden says "Hi!  My name is Brayden!  and this is Jack.  And this is my mom, Mom!

Oh my gosh, it was so cute! 

But the other kid just kind of looked at him.

Clearly he doesn't watch D.T.!

The other day we got locked into Target during a severe storm.

The sirens were going off while we were going inside.

I had to run to the bathroom to change a stinky so we could actually be in the store with other humans.

Then they called everyone back to the dressing room.

Which was great b/c the power went off.

Don't worry, both boys were in my reach.

When they moved us into fitting rooms, a little girl decided she wanted to play with us.

Jack was pushing her around and shoving her, like I have never seen.

I was glad both she and her dad thought it was funny...I just couldn't seem to get him to understand that was not okay....

It seems like the horses are happy to be home.

This peony was our first bloom of the season.  Now the front garden is full of them.  :)

You know how when you get everything right, all at the same time, you just feel like you had a total victory?

I made home made, grainless pizza

with home made ice cream shakes

for dinner.

Oh, it was mint ice cream...with home made mint extract!

And everyone ate it.

And loved it.

YAHOO!

Here is a couple of bath pictures to wrap it all up.

I am such a proud mama.

My boys have finally mastered the fine art...

of synchronized swimming in the bathtub.