Monday, May 30, 2011

Levi's new bike

Levi really loved to ride Isaiah's bike and the trikes that we have.  He has been able to peddle for a long time and was so ready for a bike of his own.  We were gifted a used bike that needed training wheels and new peddles and after figuring the cost of these things it wasn't that much more to just buy him a new one...so we did--and he LOVES it! 
and looks so cute on it.  It is a smaller bike than Isaiah's and fits him just perfectly.
He was able to get right on and go with no trouble at all!  What a big boy!
So after picking the big boys up from school, we decided to go on our first bike ride of the year to a little trail around a lake.
It was lots of fun and the boys all had fun riding their bikes.  It was a challenge for Mark and I to keep up!
Levi did so good - especially for his first time riding anywhere other than the driveway.  It did take him a few minutes to figure out that he really had to steer or he'd end up in the grass.

The boys didn't want to get going too fast going down the hill so they all jumped off and walked their bikes.  

The fish were out and jumping in the pond that day.  Mark spotted a humongous white fish jumping in the water.  It was the biggest fish I think I'd ever seen.
What a beautiful day by the pond! 

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Small group egg hunt.

Our small group had a family get together to celebrate Easter and have an egg hunt for all the kids in our group.  
After a great meal (thanks for grilling and hosting Brian and Jill!) ...
It was time for the egg hunt...
Levi had fun searching for eggs, but again wasn't too worried about how many he got.
Isaiah was very excited and found lots and lots of eggs - he filled up the McQueen basket, dumped it out and filled it again!  (it really doesn't hold too many eggs:)
It was fun to see all the kids searching together and for the most part the parents just got to sit back and watch!
Isaiah was very excited to open up the eggs and find all the candy!
All the kids - aren't they cute?  
(Weston, Caleb, Will, Lilian, Isaiah, Levi, Elise, Hallie and Aaron)
After the group shot, Levi finally figured out there was chocolate in the eggs - I think he managed to eat at least 5 pieces before we had to take his basket away :)
Thanks for all the fun friends!

Friday, May 27, 2011

first day of shorts

The first day it was warm enough to wear shorts was a day to celebrate at our house!  The boys (well, mainly Isaiah) had been asking and asking if it was time to wear shorts and I finally was able to say yes!  Isaiah has decided that he doesn't like to wear jeans or khaki pants and only likes to wear athletic type pants. I was hoping that this same thing wouldn't be true for shorts, but unfortunately it is.  I do pick my battles and let a lot of things slide, but wearing athletic pants to church is a battle I have been choosing - at least he gets over it pretty quickly!
Hooray for spring!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

swimming lessons!

Both boys were enrolled in spring swimming lessons through the rec center this March and April.  Levi was in Group 2 - Toddler and Isaiah was in Group 3 - Preschool.  
Levi's class the instructor did not get in the water with the kids, but a parent did.  His class was full - 8 little ones with 8 adults filled the baby pool right up!  
We knew that Levi would have no trouble with these lessons from our other experiences in the pool recently. He has NO fear of water, being completely wet, his face cover in water or any other water related fear that comes up.  He did, however, have a slight problem with being told what to do in the water :)  
I was very impressed by his swimming skills and how much they grew over the 8 weeks of classes.   By the end of the lessons he has mastered "ice cream scoops" which are the hand motions for the front crawl, bobs, jumping into the pool, walking & running in the water, and front & back floats with assistance.
Before most every lesson Levi was interested in the "big pool" and really wanted to get in.  On the last day of class, Mark let Levi jump to him in the big pool.  He quickly learned it was freezing cold, especially compared to the very heated baby pool and wanted out right away:)
Mark took Levi to most of his lessons, I tagged along on a few and I did take him by myself just once.  I'm so glad that we both got to be a part of his toddler swimming lessons classes.  And he passed with flying colors - he's ready for the preschool class!  Way to go Levi!

I was just a bit nervous for Isaiah's lessons when I learned on the first day that there were 8 little 3 and 4 year olds in the water with ONE teacher, but I was so impressed by the teacher and the behavior of the kids at each lesson!  

Isaiah also impressed me with his skills - he had no fear of trying what the teacher asked and within a matter of one lesson he was completely submerging his entire face into the water (this is no a regular activity for both boys in the bathtub).

He also can do all of the things I mentioned above that Levi can do along with the back float and front float all by himself.  Good job Isaiah!  Isaiah also passed his preschool class and is ready for the swabbies!
My mom has wanted to take Isaiah to swimming lessons for quite some time now so when she learned I had signed Isaiah up for this class she was excited about it.  She ended up taking him to many of his lessons - this was a fun grandma and Isaiah activity.  She even took him to get ice cream afterwards a time or two :).

On the last day of class, Isaiah got to jump into the big pool too.  Being able to do this was a requirement to pass the class.  He had no trouble!  But definitely was ready to get back into the warmer water too.
This class was also a good way for Isaiah to prove his character.  Although the kids are just 3 and 4, it was expected that they listen to the teacher and follow her direction .  There were times that they had to do something on their own while the teacher worked with each child on their floating skills.  Isaiah did very good for the most part.  There was one little boy who was not so good at this and I was a bit worried that Isaiah might follow his example, but instead Isaiah looked at the little boy and said, "that's not what the teacher asked us to do right now."  What a good boy!  

Both boys are ready for more lessons - I haven't signed them up for the summer lessons yet so it may be too late - but for sure next spring.  I just am not ready to commit to every day for 2 weeks in the summer!!  Do you have your kids signed up, maybe I could sign up with you!?? :)

Monday, May 23, 2011

wink

I don't recall a lot of specific events from my young childhood, but one memory I do have is the day I learned how to wink.  My Grandma Carol had been trying to teach me -- I'm not sure for how long - days, weeks?  but I remember the day I got it - we were so excited together.  My grandma and me.  So the day Isaiah learned how to wink was especially exciting to me.  I noticed him practicing several times and when I did I'd wink back at him and then one day he looked at me with a huge smile and then he did it!  Way to go Isaiah!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Spring preschool field trip...

Isaiah's preschool class took their second field trip this year to the Phelps Youth Pavalion in April.  Since I was lucky enough to go on the first field trip in the fall (to Hansen's dairy farm), Mark got to take Isaiah this time.  I'm glad we both had the opportunity to join him on his field trips!  

Here they are on the school bus!
Isaiah and Mark both said they had a great time, I can sure tell from the pictures!!  It looks like they had time to explore many different exhibits and play all sorts of things!
After school, Isaiah came home excited about the field trip and when I asked what his favorite part was he very quickly said the bunny holes.  There are two levels to the pavalion and underneath the stairs is boards and wires that make up a crawling space - this is the bunny holes.  It's big enough for kids (and adults -- I've done it!) to crawl through.
 
What a fun field trip!  

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Easter Weekend.

We celebrated Easter with my parents and dad's side of the family the Saturday before Easter at my parents' house.  It was a nice gathering and a yummy meal!  My sister and her family came, along with several of my dad's side of the family relatives - my grandma, my Aunt Sandy and Uncle John, Uncle Tom and Aunt Sheri.  
Of course the spotlight was on baby Elise - she's so precious!
 
And the other little ones had to come up with ways to get their own attention too haha
And it just wouldn't be an event if the laser tag guns didn't get a chance to be tested either - they were still working great! :)
We had to get a family shot of my sister and her family...
and of the four cousins together -- their first group photo
On Sunday morning the Easter bunny left us a treat on the kitchen table.  It's a bit hard to see, but he left each of us a chocolate bunny, Isaiah a bell for his bike and Levi bath letters that stick on the tub.
After church and naptime, we went over to Mark's dad and step-mom's house for an Easter egg hunt.
Everyone had fun searching for eggs.
and found them in tricky spaces!
We took a family photo and our nephew Dakota decided to join in!
and here are the four cousins on this side of the family...Grandpa and Grandma gave each of the boys a laser tag gun for Easter...they were thrilled!
Before Uncle Justin left, the kids each took a turn sitting on the motorcycle - Levi refused, but Isaiah was excited.
What a nice way to spend our Easter weekend!