Girls, Girls, Girls

So, with that bleach blond hair, those baby blues, and that smile, Benny is a ladies' man.  This is true so many times when he's about to do something devilish at home and he flashes me that smile-I'm melted.  Well, apparently, he has the same way with girls.  First, it was Amelia.  Then, it was another Amelia.  Next, it was an older woman-Madison in Evan's preschool class.  Now, Ben's latest girl is Anna.  Anna is the little sister of one of Evan's good buddies, Nathan.  Benny and Anna make a good pair, don't you think? 

(A little fun on a sunny day at the airport)

(Benny might love his girls, but not if they come between him and his cupcakes!)

Guess who!

(Playgrounds are fun!)

Muddles

It has been pretty wet around here the past few weeks.  There's been a ton of rain.  This leads to lots of mud and puddles.  Last week, we went to our neighborhood playground to play with some of our friends.  Evan rode his bike and Ben rode in the stroller.  Needless to say, the journey to get there is always an adventure.  Once we got there, we saw that the sand volleyball court next to the playground was completely covered in huge puddles.  I tried for about five minutes to keep the boys away from the mess.  Then, I realized that keeping toddlers away from puddles is completely impossible, so I gave in and just let them play.

Everyone had a fantastic time.  The boys played for almost two hours.  It was like being at the beach playing in the tide pools.  They dug and they splashed and they rolled.  By the time we were done they were the most disgusting little creatures you have ever seen, but they had a blast!  Evan actually didn't mind riding his bike home in his wet and sandy clothes.  Once we got home we just took off everything in the driveway and went straight on up to bath.

Since then Benny has been searching for any puddle he can stick his feet in.  He can't decide which he likes best-mud or puddles.  So, he has just given up and calls them all "muddles."  I'm sure we will find many more muddles this week, and we will go through many more changes of clothes.

(boys and muddles!)

Foot Art

Our art project this time was actually Evan's idea.  He really wanted to put finger paint on his feet.  So, one afternoon we got some paper out, runway style, and got to work.  Evan had fun walking down the paper with paint on his feet, but he had to make sure his feet got well cleaned when he had finished.  Then he spent a long time trying to spell words and further decorate his art.

When Ben woke up we showed him our artistic idea.  I thought Ben would have a great time and make a great mess.  However, when I showed Ben the plate with the paint on it and tried to get him to step in it he wouldn't.  I lifted him up, but he wouldn't put his feet down.  Finally, Evan and I convinced him to put one foot in it, but he didn't like it at all, and immediately insisted I clean his feet off.  Oh well, I just wish this aversion to messes extended to mud puddles!

(The pre-art setup)

(Evan dips his foot in.)

(Concentrating on artistic genius!)

St. Patrick's Day Treat

This St. Patrick's Day we headed to downtown Durham and went to a great festival called Marry Durham, organized by Ian's Aunt Spring.  We had a great time, but the best part for the boys was definitely the Locopops stand.  We stood in line and got some cookies 'n cream popsicles, and then we realized that Ben had never had a popsicle before!  He didn't know what to do with it.  So, we showed him how to lick the popsicle and he decided it was a pretty good thing.  Evan kept trying to get him to bite it but he couldn't quite figure that part out-maybe next time. The boys both had a good time, and I'll be stopping at the grocery store and picking up some popsicles for them tomorrow!

(My boys)

("Why has no one told me about these things before?")

Taking Some Time to Smell the Flowers

This week was a beautiful warm week.  The boys and I finished it off with a trip to one of the most beautiful places in Durham, The Duke Gardens.  Evan and Ben were excited to get there and ready to get some energy out.  However, they are not the most graceful boys in the whole world.  We ran down the gravel path just inside the entrance, and both boys bit the dust several times.  Evan picked himself up each time and said that he was fine.  Benny, however, hit the dirt a bit harder.  A little piece of gravel lodged under his nose and his forehead and both knees were banged up.  Poor thing, we cleaned him up, and before we knew it, we were ready for more adventuring.

Our trip to the gardens turned out to be a good time after all.  We sniffed the flowers, we hung out under a big magnolia tree and played on the branches, we watched the geese, ducks, and herons play in the pond, and we ran through a bamboo forest.  One of our favorite places didn't disappoint, and we can't wait for more wandering in the gardens!

(Evan sniffs.) 

 

(Benny sniffs.)

(adorable boys)

(playing under the trees)

(watching the birds)

 

(Evan in the bamboo forest)

(bruised and battered, but still having fun)

Cowboys and Blackmail

The other night right before bed the boys were playing, and Evan wanted to get out his fancy cowboy boots.  So, we got out the cowboy boots, horsey, and cowboy hats, and had some fun.  We also got some great blackmail pictures to show the boys' future girlfriends.  Take a look!

 (the naked cowboy)

(the space cowboy)

Food Truck Rodeo

Durham has a huge food truck scene.  Occasionally, they will all get together in a big food truck party called a food truck rodeo.  I've always wanted to go to one, but for some reason or another I haven't been able to go.  This weekend was the first food truck gathering of the season and I was determined to go...29 food trucks in one place...woo hoo!

So, as soon as Benny woke up from nap, we hopped in the car and headed to downtown Durham to have some food truck yummies.  It was a beautiful day, and there were so many people out eating, enjoying the fabulous weather, listening to live music, and just playing in the grass.  We decided that we would split up because toddlers and long lines just don't mix.  So, after one lap around the parked food trucks to see what was there, the boys and I headed to the park to play while Ian stood in line for the ice cream.  Unfortunately, Ian's main complaint about food trucks was completely evident in the ice cream truck...the line was too long and it took a really long time.  However, the boys and I had fun playing in the grass, and when Ian got back half an hour later, the ice cream was really good. 

Next, Ian stayed to play in the grass and munch ice cream with the boys while I went to try a sandwich.  I got in line for a yummy grilled cheese and fig variety and I was able to snag the last sandwich they had.  The other bad thing about food truck rodeos is that since so many people know about them and show up, the food sometimes disappears.  By the time I got my sandwich and Ian went to get his sausage, they were sold out...poor Ian!  So, he munched some of my sandwich, a little ice cream, and had his sausages that night for dinner at home.

Don't worry, we'll be back at another food truck rodeo...next time, we're going early!

(Durham Central Park)

(Food Truck Rodeo)

 (This is Evan making his "handsome face".)

 (Mommy and her munchkin)

(Yum...that ice cream was good!)

Milkshakes and Goat Licks

Saturday was a glorious North Carolina spring day, so we decided to take advantage of it and go on an adventure.  We headed down to a little town about 30 minutes south of Durham called Pittsboro.  We headed to the Main Street.  At the end of their Main street is a courthouse that was burned down last year and is being rebuilt.  Evan thought that was very interesting and had to ask us questions about it for the rest of the day.  

Our first stop was a little toy store on that street. After perusing the store, playing at the train table, and buying a little treat, we headed down the street to an old-fashioned soda shop.  Everything in the shop was original and carefully restored, so it was a fun place.  Our little family pigged out on floats, milkshakes, burgers, hot dogs, and fries, and it was all delicious.  The boys had a bout 3 mini-milkshakes a piece before we realized that they might get sick if they had more and we cut them off.  It was so much fun!

(Evan and I wait for our food and play with his toy from the toy store.)

(Yum!)

(Evan enjoys his milkshake.)

(Ben samples his with a little help.)

After that we got back in the car and drove about 15 minutes outside of Pittsboro to Celebrity Dairy.  This was a goat dairy, and twice a year they have an open barn day so that people can come and meet their baby goats.  At first, we showed up and walked to the barns.  Evan happens to be very averse to stinky smells so he had his hand over his nose the whole time and wanted to leave.  I thought the excursion might have been for nothing.  Then we headed outside and wandered around a bit.  Evan didn't seem to notice a smell out here and actually began paying attention to the goats that Ben had been infatuated with from the moment he got there.  Ben would go right up to the pens of the pregnant mommy goats and try to feed them some grass and flowers.  When they started licking his hand he immediately tried to lick them back which we decided wasn't a very good idea. 

Then, we noticed that there were some baby goats just wandering around outside of their pens.  You could just walk up to them and pet them.  Ben was immediately enthralled and started chasing the baby goats around who happened to be much faster than him.  It was great to watch.  Then, one of the people who worked at the farm gave Evan a milk bottle.  We found a baby goat, and Evan got to feed her some milk.  It was great!  They boys did a little more playing and climbing with the goats and I got to sample a little goat cheese and take it home for our pizza that night. Yum!

It was a great day with the family.  I love my boys and can't wait to spend more time with them!

(Ben gets ticked by a goat as he feeds him some grass.)

(Maaaaa...goats)

(Ben and I meet a one-month old goat named Bianca Jagger.)

(Evan tries his skill at goat feeding.)

(Two mountain goats)

(Goats were having fun too!)

The Bath Time Safety Committee

Bath time can be a dangerous time.  There is water, soap, and countless other hazards.  However, don't worry, there are people out there to protect you.  The bath time safety committee works tirelessly every night to make bath time a safer place for you.  Here are some of their most recent discoveries:

1. Trying to climb out of the tub is dangerous.

2. The liquid inside glow sticks is non-toxic.

3. Bath fizzies do not stain the tub (and are also non-toxic.)

4. Vigorous splashing is not hazardous to your health. (Well, actually that depends on Daddy's mood.)

5. Plastic killer whales can easily be captured by two fearless toddlers working together.

Bakers and Mess Makers

Keeping the house clean and playing with two toddler boys, I think, are two things that don't go together.  By the end of each day the house is a mess, but I hope everyone has had a fun time making it that way.  This week was no exception.  On Monday Evan and I decided to make M&M cookies during Ben's nap-the kind with an obscene amount of M&Ms in them.  We had a great time stirring and mixing and taste testing the M&M's.

After we finished our baking Ben woke up and the fun continued.  Evan wasn't ready to be done cooking and Benny wanted to get in on the fun.  So, I got out some bowls, cups, measuring spoons, and flour and set them up at the table.  It was amazing how long this entertained the boys.  Soon, we added in sugar, salt, and food coloring to the mix.  Evan carefully made a gooey pink paste when I let him add a little water.  I wasn't crazy enough to give Benny water, but he made a big enough mess anyway.  There was so much sticky flour paste on the floor and table that I didn't think I would ever get it all cleaned up.

Who cares about messes...toddler messes are fun!

(The mixing commences.)

(Smile)

 (Can't smile...concentrating.)

 (Look what I made!)

(Look what I'm wearing!)

Little Gymnasts

So, I already posted on my little boys and their budding gymnastics career.  They are still going once and week and are still having a great time.  Last week I actually remembered my camera, so here's a look at the little monkeys in action!

 (Benny tries to figure out this stretching thing.)

 (Evan stretches.)

 (Evan and his class walk to their first station.)

 (Ben "jumps" on the trampoline.)

 

 (Evan takes his turn on the trampoline.)

 (Benny and the tunnel)

 (Evan and his friend Nathan navigate the balance beam.)

 (Evan and Nathan bear crawl across the parallel bars.)

(Ben on the horse)

Back in the Water

We haven't been swimming in a while.  The weather has been cold and our outdoor pool is most definitely closed down for the season.  The boys were excited about getting back in the water, so we decided to head to an indoor pool to get our water fix and get ready to get back in the water this summer.

So, we headed over to one of our favorite parks, Pullen Park in Raleigh.  This park has some serious fun with a train, a playground, and a merry-go-round, and it also has a pool next door!  Unfortunately, the pool didn't open until 12:30, so we were pushing Benny's naptime, but we decided to go ahead with it anyway.

We played at the park and ate our lunch outside, but since there was a chilly hurricane force wind blowing we hurried to the pool when 12:30 drew near.  We changed, and while I finished changing Benny had a ball climbing in all the lockers.  Once out in the pool, I realized how different going to the pool is going to be this year.  Ben will no longer be content to sit in his floaty or wander around the edge of the pool nicely.  He saw the pool and wanted to run straight in.  He'd start in the shallows and then when it got deeper he would just fall over. Yikes!  Evan on the other hand will definitely take some time to readjust to the pool.  He wouldn't move beyond the 3-inch depth!

After a few minutes of Benny trying to drown himself and Evan laying in the shallows we borrowed some life jackets for them so we could breathe a little easier.  As we settled in, Evan would go a bit deeper and throw balls back and forth with us, splashing around a little.  Ben decided that he wanted to jump off the side, and even started to jump in only holding onto one hand.

We had a great time splashing around!  It made me wish that summer would be here sooner so that we could head back to our own pool.  However, I'm a little nervous about taking both of those goobers to the pool on a weekday by myself.  We will definitely be purchasing some life jackets for those munchkins.

(Ben escapes from a locker.)

(Evan and Daddy check out the pool.)

(Hey, this is fun!)

(Benny in his water gear)