Climber

We have our first climber. He was excited to be up there, then sad when he got in trouble. He doesn't like getting in trouble :)

Tulip Festival

On Friday night Kent actually got to come home at a decent hour, so we went to the tulip festival. I usually avoid the actual festival because it's so much more crowded, but I really wanted to get some stroopwaffels from the vendors that are only there during the festival.

Tulips are my very favorite!  It was gorgeous!

There were some giant bubbles being blown at the vendors.  The kids hair was soaked with bubble juice!

Our first freshly cooked stroopwaffels.  So delicious!  

I think the kids favorite part was rolling down the hills.  They asked to come back the next day.  I told them we could come back during off-track time and they can't wait!

Thanks public television

After watching a cartoon on PBS where the animals are cleaning up, Hayden grabbed the broom and started sweeping! Just another reason why I love public television.

Keep Running

Today is our 14th anniversary.

Whoever decided to get married during busy season was crazy! I wonder when the last time we celebrated ON our anniversary was...

Kent is working late again, and I signed up for a 5k run. My parents were able to watch the kids for me while I did this all by myself. It was a Run for Boston. I love the running community!

I found the theme fitting for our day as well..."Keep Running". Here's to 14 more years of running together!

Saturdays

Busy, busy, busy.  That's the way it goes for the next few years I suppose.
First up, Sawyer's flag football game.  He had a blast and got 4 "tackles" (aka flags).  His team won 28-0.

Josh decided to play a little ball with some big boys.  I'm glad they were kind and obliging because Josh was having a great time.

After football we made a quick Happy Meal stop, and then swung by the store to pick up some soccer cleats for both the boys and some shin guards for Sawyer.

Sawyer changed from his football garb to his soccer garb and we headed to the fields for both the boys soccer games at 1:00.  

It was Hayden's first foray into the world of "competitive" sports.  He had a lot of fun and tried his best.  I could tell he was getting tired from all the running :)  Video games just don't prepare you for that kind of activity!

He did especially well at stopping the ball with his foot and turning it around.  His team won 5-0 with 3 of their goals being from the other team.  Adorable.

Sawyer could definitely feel the burn too.  Soccer has a lot of endless running doesn't it?  It is fun to watch these older boys start sharpening their skills.  Sawyer's team ended up winning too with a score of 2-1.  And Sawyer scored one of the goals!!

He thinks the new orange shoes make him kick harder.

Hayden also claims to have made a goal.  Unfortunately, I missed both goals.  Kent is at work all weekend downtown and had to miss out.  So my attention was split between two simultaneous soccer games and one roaming toddler.  My 'little mama' McKinley was at a birthday party so she couldn't help out.

Next up for the day is McKinley's basketball game at 5:00.  When is bedtime again?

Nursery

Josh turned 18 months old on Saturday, so Sunday was his first day of nursery.  I didn't even bother trying to leave the room.  He was clingy.  He would wander a short radius from me then bring toys back to my lap.  By the end of nursery he was actually interacting with some of the nursery workers.  He ate two helpings of snacks.  He enjoyed himself while we were there, and I think in a few months he will be ready to be on his own.  No hurry.

The only picture Josh would let me take before taking off.  He made a little sheep in nursery.

McKinley's MRA

Picture taken yesterday...she's feeling better :)

McKinley got her orthodontic device cemented in last week. I meant to post about it last week, but between her mouth pain and an unrelated fever illness, she has been miserable.
I have to turn her device once a day for four weeks to expand her palate. The first few days were tear-filled. I couldn't help but draw similarities between the torture we were inflicting and the Mayan head elongators or the binding of little Asian feet. How will history view the Americans and their orthodontic devices all in the name of beauty?
It is getting better now for her, and it will be worth it in the end. After four weeks are over, she will get braces on and keep the device on for about a year to let the palate bone grow and stabilize.