Lazy day

The boys went to Silver Dollar City yesterday with Mandy.  They had a very full day and got home late, so we expected them to be extremely tired today.  Noah's a mess when he's running low on sleep, and he didn't disappoint.  We had to put him back to bed by 10:00 and he slept for over three hours.  The weather cooperated - it was dark, cool and rainy, and there wasn't much to do outside.

After naps, the weather and their moods were both much better, so we went outside to play.  I put a brake on Elliot's little bike while they were sleeping, and I intended to teach him how to use it.  The pedal-less bikes don't come with brakes, and the bike store says that most kids will use their feet to slow and stop themselves.  But they haven't met Elliot, who has crashed a couple of times now due to uncontrolled downhill speed.  We had to buy one of these for Noah's bike too, though more to save money on shoes than to keep that speed demon from crashing.  He literally burned holes in his shoes using them as brakes.

It wasn't a success.  Elliot tried, but only momentarily, and then reverted to the shoe-brake again.

Noah made these at school.  He asked his teacher if he could make another one for his brother.

I have no idea where this came from

Trying the brake out

Comparing war wounds. Noah was showing Elliot some old bike-crash injuries.

This little worm entertained them for quite a while, until they lost it in the grass.

Racing down the church driveway.

Swinging hard.  

Elliot wants so much to do everything his big brother does.

Awwww, playing together.

That didn't last long.  Momentary brotherly spat. 

Enjoying the weather

While Mandy was out running errands last weekend, I went for a bike ride with the boys to QuikTrip, for no other reason than to get a slushie.  Noah crashed once, a victim of the street vs. curb drop off, but we made it otherwise unscathed.

After QT, we went by the bike shop to see if they had a brake for Elliot's bike.  As Noah and I parked outside, Elliot went speeding down their backdoor ramp, into the store and did a loop around the bikes.  When I asked for the brake, the lady behind the counter didn't seem surprised after watching all that.

On the way to, and from, the shop, we had to stop and say hello to the Easter Bunny.  Elliot insisted on giving him high-fives. Noah tried to tell him it was just a person in a bunny suit, but I kept telling him to be quiet.

Out like a lamb

The end of March was more like the beginning of summer. The day started out warm, and just kept getting warmer, reaching a high of around 85 - about 25 degrees above normal for this time of year.

It was time for Noah's first soccer game of the season.  Mandy did a good job getting him ready after all the growing he's been doing since last season - new clothes, shin guards, water bottles, etc - but didn't realize his feet had grown too.  So an hour or so before the game, we found ourselves at Dick's Sporting Goods along with nearly every other kid that had a game that day, searching for shoes that fit.   To say Noah's feet are wide is an understatement.  To get shoes that fit his width, nearly every shoe they brought out had to be at least an inch longer than his foot.   

We finally found ones that fit well enough, and made it to the soccer field. It was already sweltering hot.  Poor Noah, who unfortunately shares my internal furnace.  His face lights up like Rudolph's nose when he's hot.  His first minutes of the game were a bit sluggish, as if he'd forgotten how to play, but he picked it again pretty quickly and ended the day with three goals.

Goal!

Lots of ponytails on this year's team. 

Afterwards, Grandma Lois had a workday/hot dog roast/Easter Egg hunt scheduled at her property.  We went here after the game to mow and trim, and burn some fallen branches and limbs.  Noah and Elliot ran around with Charlie, Cole, Elijah and Luke, playing with the hose and exploring the woods.   

With all the cut wood, we got a roaring bonfire going - a dubious achievement on a hot day.  Eventually it died down somewhat, and we managed to get close enough, long enough to cooks some hot dogs and marshmallows.  The kids hunted Easter eggs afterwards; Grandma Lois helped Elliot look for eggs, helpfully taking down some of the ones hidden in tree branches and putting them on the ground, saying, "The Easter Bunny don't live in a tree."

A few showers later, we got the smoke, dirt and grime washed off everyone, got the kids into bed and reveled in the cool air conditioning.  In March.

Tired boy, telling mom not to take any more pictures

Easter 2011

We had a great Easter this year.  Despite the weather reports calling for rain, it stayed dry all day.  And although it was still a bit muddy, it sure didn't faze the boys.  Loved spending the day with our family celebrating. My sister & her fiancee, Jason are getting married in less than a month.  His boys joined us this year as well as his parents.  It was a lot of fun eating delish food and hanging out with everyone.

It was really cute watching Elliot doing the egg hunt.  "There one!" and he would have to shake it before putting it in his basket.  This was the first year Noah joined the ranks of the "big boys" where he runs like wild with no assistance necessary and scoops up eggs.

Noah helped me make Grandma's famous chocolate sheet cake.  When I mixed up the frosting E wanted in on the action.

The boys had so much fun.  They built dams, threw rocks, found worms, etc.

My little guy so happy frolicking out in the country

Charlie & Elliot

There was a lot of creek jumping going on

Jason & Cole goofing off

Kelli walking the dogs

Jason with the boys

Doran getting in on the action, too

He made me so nervous going back and forth on these bridges, even jumping up and down on them.  BOYS!

To be a kid again, "Hey!  Let's run up this hill!"

Egg hunting

Who knew it could be a workout?

Elijah & Luke

Noah, Charlie & Cole. Oh and Rocky sniffing for some chocolate, too.

He was in heaven eating all that candy. 

Back at the creek

Cole

Immediately before getting REAL wet

DOH! Oh well, its not a party till Charlie strips down and runs the house in his undies

One pooped out little fella

St. E's Children's Easter Celebration

Saturday we took the boys to St. E's for their Children's Easter Celebration.  It started out with some crafts, with both boys enjoyed.  After that all the kids listened to the Easter Story and then the Easter Bunny came and we headed to the gym for the egg hunt (garden was too muddy) and some bouncehouse fun.

Noah got quite creative with his creations

Elliot mostly just wanted to play with glue sticks.  :)

Noah, and 2 of his friends from school are excited to see the Easter Bunny

That kid is OVER his fear of large costumed animals/characters

Excited for his eggs

Elliot was scared to death and Noah was a wee bit hesitant himself