Music Night

Music class has been one of Logan's favorite activities this year.  It took him a while to warm up last year, but this year, he has really loved it!  He would talk about music class all week, looking forward to seeing his friends and Mrs. Anderson, our teacher.  With preschool on the horizon for the fall, I am not sure if we will be participating next year or not.  Our classes just ended for the spring and Logan has already been asking to go to music class.  Luckily, we had Family Music Night tonight!

Logan and Mommy: "Clap, clap, clap your hands, clap your hands together!"

Nana and Bennett - he loves his instruments!

Dancing: Logan's favorite!

Break it down, buddy!

Nana and Logan

Thanks to my mom for joining us!  John was away at a track meet and then a YL meeting after that, so it was nice to have an extra set of helpful hands at Family Music Night!

While Logan naps...

Today Bennett had a hay-day with the toys while Logan napped!  On most days, I am lucky that the boys sleep at the same time in the afternoon.  Sometimes, the timing is a little off.  Today, after Logan went to sleep, Bennett got a little playtime and boy, was he happy!

Special time with Bennett is so precious.  I love the moments when we get to connect and I'm not so divided among both boys.  This afternoon was one of those times and it was so special!

Saturday Schmater-day

Who says weekends are free, fun-loving family time?!  Not for us!  Not these days!  I can't complain because we've been doing a great job of making the most of the days John is able to be home, but lately, those are few and far between.  Today, John worked all day so the kids and I just tried to keep busy!

We started out by visiting John and our YL friends at the golf registration event, then went to a friend's garage sale (just for fun - no purchases!), then came home for lunch, naps, and lots more playtime!  We had a really great day and the boys were in the best moods.  I am so lucky to have such sweet boys to love...

This is B's new favorite - the mini workbench.

This is so "classic Bennett" - biting his lower lip.

There it is again!  So cute!

Brothers crawling together...

Here they come!

Bennett loves eating cheese...

Oh my goodness...could his smile be any bigger?!

Of course, Logan needed some photos taken as well!

Cheese!

Bennett's First Haircut!

Well, I couldn't wait any longer to get Bennett a little haircut!  His hair was in his eyes, over his ears, and he had a mean ducktail along his neck in the back!  Since Logan needed a trim as well, I decided we would do both the boys at Wildchild at the same time.  We went in on a quiet Monday morning, so we were the only ones there.  Logan has adapted to getting his haircut and likes to watch the video and get a sucker after.  He used to cry the whole time, but its been better lately.  Bennett - our "easy" baby - had no problem!  After a while in the chair, he got a little sad, but he just sat there and let her finish.  It was so cute.  We just got a little bit of a trim for him - I made sure she didn't take too much off...I don't want him to look like too much of a little boy...he's still my baby!

So calm for a first timer!

In fact, Logan looks a little more unsure than Bennett, I think!

Before...

Before...

After.  Just a little shorter along the front, sides and back.  Still so soft and cute...

Fun at Papa and Nana's

We got to spend several days at Papa and Nana's while John was in Chicago for a couple different training conferences.  It was a welcome change of pace for us.  The weather was really nice, which made it even more fun!  We did a lot of playing, running outside, special trips, seeing Aunts and Uncles, and just relaxing!

Logan helping Papa make pancakes.  Papa was home just for the start of our visit before he went to Malaysia for work.  Then he got stranded for a couple extra days because of the volcanic eruption in Iceland.  We're glad he made it home safe, now!

Bennett was Papa's special boy.  There is some bond between them because Bennett got so excited to see Papa and then wouldn't let go.  He wouldn't even come back to me when Papa was holding him!  I couldn't believe it!  Its pretty special, I think, since Logan has always had an extra special bond with my mom.

Playing together...

sort of.  I think Logan must be telling Bennett "No Benny, that's not yours!"  I hear that a lot lately.  Bennett is pretty quick getting around these days and always wants to be doing what Logan is doing.  We're still working on understanding the whole sharing thing!

Flying high on the swing!

Logan loves to swing.  Bennett, not so much.  By the time Logan was Bennett's age, he loved to swing, so I am not sure what the difference is.  Hopefully this spring as we spend more time at the park, Bennett will start to love to swing just as much as his big brother!

Logan likes to walk out in the paths around the trees and in the long grass.  He calls is "The Zoo".  We do get to see some animals sometimes: deer, pheasant, lots of birds...Logan sure loves that.

Logan and Nana coming back through the zoo!

Thanks for letting us come to stay - it was great!

Opening Day...

at Teddy Bear Park!

We got to play at Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater on opening day today!  We tried once earlier last week and the park was still closed. But, Logan had been requesting the "Bear Park", so we knew we had to make it for an afternoon of play before heading back to Eau Claire.  I love this park and this is the perfect time of year because the sun is not too hot (there is no shade at the park!).

So much fun!

I love Logan's expressions lately!

Peek a boo!

Logan singing "Row, row, row your boat" to Bennett!

We got to take the boys' coats off...the sun was so nice and warm!

I got to join the chorus.

Bennett sure loved it!

Benny and Mommy in the mirror!

The ground is soft and squishy - perfect for Bennett to crawl around and explore!

Bennett's first solo trip down the slide!

The boys!

Me and the boys!  Love it!

Visting Friends

Today we had the chance to visit our friends William and Grace in Minneapolis.  I headed over to Stillwater last night because John is in Chicago for some training through the middle of next week.  So, we packed up from my parents' house this morning and visited my friend, Sarah, and her kids.  They often make the drive out to EC to see us, so it was fun for us to repay the favor by letting them stay home!

I LOVE Sarah's house.  Its an adorable stucco 1.5 story in Minneapolis, close to the parkway and river.  John and I spent oodles of time in that area when we worked at Minnehaha Academy for YL, so it always makes me really nostalgic driving around the area.  I would love to have a house like Sarah's someday...although she would say its a little too cramped with two kiddos running around!

William was a great host, sharing toys with Bennett from the get-go.

William and Grace have such a cute little kitchen in their playroom!

Logan was a big fan of the kitchen...making cakes and brownies for us all.

Logan also wanted to play with Gracie...he talks about Baby Grace all the time!

Bennett found plenty of new things to keep him occupied and showed off his happy little self.

The favorite was the little bubble maker from Gymboree.  It was some serious fun to play bubble indoors!  I had to run out and buy this little bubble maker last weekend!

Playing golf...or is it hockey???  Does it matter??  The boys did really well playing together and the morning was lovely and quiet and controlled...totally unlike playdates at my house!  

Sarah made cute little yummy lunches that the boys enjoyed together...

And Grace wanted in on the fun, too!

All four kids having lunch...WHAT FUN!  Thanks to the Carey's for such a great, fun-filled morning at your home!  We can't wait to come back and visit again!