Festival and Friends

This morning we had a great time with our friends Robin, Waylon, Noah & Kylie at the Holly Springs festival. It was a spontaneous (for us, we decided yesterday!) decision to go and the kids all seemed to have a good time. There were vendors, lots of inflatable slides / games / bouncers, food, music, animals and just fun things to do. Fortunately we got there early and the boys were able to play on some things before the lines got too incredibly long. After the festival, we all went to Chick-fil-a to eat and the boys played more in that playspace. It was great to see them as it has been a while. It was a busy fun morning and it tired Eli & Cole out! Now Grandma is here and it's play-a-pooloza madness.

When we were loading up the truck, Eli climbed on this transformer with a paper towel roll and declared that he could see us through his telescope.

Eli and Sparky the Fire Dog.

Eli & Noah - they look like they could be related!

Watching and waiting for their turn on the elephant ride.

Eli was all strapped in and happy

until the ride actually started and then he didn't like it so much.

We also got to watch some pig races.

Turns out that they train them with Oreos. I guess everyone loves an Oreo!

Eli taking a swing on the tee-ball game.

Eli & Noah climbing the stairs on the big slide.

And coming back down really fast.

Jumping in the bounce house.

When we left, I challenged Eli to race Daddy to the soccer goal (getting him where I wanted fast) and guess who won? Eli of course!

Parade and Parties

I always look forward to the school's annual Parade of Costumes - it's so much fun to see the little kids parade around the parking lot showing off their costumes looking for their Mom & Dads in the crowd. And the Moms & Dads (me included!!) with their cameras like the paparazzi.

This year Eli & Cole both walked in the parade - last year Cole was strollered through. Eli dressed as Buzz Lightyear and Cole as his faithful friend Woody. I laughed so hard when I saw Eli's class come out because there was not one, not two but SEVEN Buzz Lightyears in his class. It was the funniest thing. The boys were all so cute. After the parade, we went inside to watch Eli's class do a performance of the songs they've been working on the past few months. The kids were so cute. It was most amazing to see them sit in their spots to perform while there were very tempting cookies and treats on plates at the tables around them. After the performance, I took Cole back to him room for a bit so he could enjoy his party and then Tim & I switched and I went back to Eli's room. I don't want Cole to get shortchanged on spending time with his friends so we stayed in there as long as he wanted. Then he was more than happy to go to Eli's room and play with the toys in there. Both boys wanted to stay at school and play so we had to drag them out when it was time to come home. The Halloween treat bags made the ride home a little better for them. =)

Eli & Ryan Lightyear

Don't mess with Cole the Sheriff

Eli's class right before starting songs

Cole was so funny with his juice box. He didn't care about the food, only the juice box.

Mommy & her little Buzz Lightyear

Here are 6 of the 7 Buzz's - Ryan left before we got a picture.

Cole was having fun. The boy loves a party!

He loves to play with shopping carts at school. I've heard that he gets very protective of it on the playground.

Eli got a cute Halloween card from Grandma & Grandpa N along with an IOU to go to Cape Hatteras lighthouse when he gets bigger. He's very excited!

Cole's expression here cracks me up. He was opening and closing the card acting surprised when he opened it.

Cole being attacked by the Daddy Tickle Monster.

Figuring out the remote control truck.

My lands, he looks so big!

Pirate 2.0

Remember this picture? Eli in the pirate shirt for Halloween. Of course, I had to put it on Cole this morning and grab a few cute shots. Boy oh boy, these two are starting to look a lot alike!

sweet happy, silly boy

look at those teeth!

Play-doh rocks

Play-doh is my favorite "toy" on the face of the planet right now. The boys will sit at the table and play together. Happily play together! It gives me a chance to do things in the kitchen and still be part of the action.

Cole making gingerbread men and Eli making reindeer. (The only play cookie cutters they have are Christmas ones. I'll have to work on expanding their selection!)

SO proud of his gingerbread men. We routinely make our family as gingerbread characters.

My new favorite picture of me & Cole

Saturday + Sunday = Weekend

Busy is our normal and this weekend was just the same.

Saturday: baking muffins, going to the Y, trip to the fabric store, lunch at Chick-Fil-a, naps, family hike at Umstead - Cole's first time hiking on his own two feet, dinner, bed, rest.

Sunday: Sunday morning cartoons, Target errand run, play time outside, lunch, very short naps, Tim bike ride and Evia elliptical during naps, lots of play-doh play, family mall trip, visit to Build-a-Bear (Puppy Jim scored some new clothes), family dinner, baths, bed, rest.

Pictures.....

Eli loves to help me with muffins - he will count the muffin cups and put them in the pan.

Cole has started climbing on EVERYTHING. He loved playing in the Chick-fil-a play house.

In the airplane of the play structure. Cole had fun being up there with Eli.

Cole in the moo-cow car.

Cutie Cole hiking on his own two feet. He loved it!

Eli loved climbed on every stump and log he could find.

Getting so big!!

Cole the outdoors boy.

Once he got tired, I carried Cole in the backpack hiker.

Then Eli decided that he wanted Tim to carry him. That lasted a bit and then he wanted to walk more.

Family photo fun

After his 2nd time hiking, Eli wanted me to carry him. He's almost as big as me!

Cole & Daddy - a great picture.

Eli & Cole had so much fun playing play-doh. I was amazed at how long it kept their attention.

Cole was surprisingly good using cookie cutters on the play-doh.

Of course, Eli combined play-doh with Monster trucks. Sunday, Eli spent a total of 3 hours playing play-doh.

My sad looking bird - made at Eli's request. It looked more like a pitiful seal to me.

And my happy little sunshine - also Eli's request.

Puppy Jim got his own Buzz Lightyear costume for Halloween.