BBQing….finally

It was the middle of March and finally we had a sunny afternoon when it was still warm enough to be outside in the evening. Sean and I were so excited by the warm sun and birds chirping that we thought it must be bbq weather! After picking Owen and Brandon up from daycare, we stopped for some hot dogs and hot dog buns for dinner. Then while Daddy bbq’d dinner, Owen and Brandon pulled their bbqs out to “help” Dad with the cooking.

The fresh air was so nice to have coming into the house. Here’s to hoping for more bbq weather and soon!

Elephants, Light Sticks and Tigers

The circus came to town in March. Owen is almost 4 yrs old and Brandon is 2 1/2 yrs old; we felt they were old enough to enjoy it, last the afternoon and remember the events. About a week before the circus date we started to ask Owen and Brandon if they would like to go to the circus.  With the circus being a hard concept to describe, the wonderful world of the Internet and YouTube helped out — I found some clips from the circus from the prior year and let Owen and Brandon watch.  Seeing the elephants, lion and clowns got them very excited.

We got to the circus early and were able to do both an Elephant ride (yes Owen and Brandon sat on an elephant’s back and smiled the biggest smiles — while Mom tried hard not to cry for being so proud) and then a few jumps in the jumpy house.

They loved the elephant, monkey’s and lions and were excited to go see the animal in real. Aunty Claudette and Uncle Phil, excitedly came with us as well. Of course you have to buy the light sticks, not only to sword fight with but to swing around when all the lights go out. Those sticks lasted until the van ride home, when one too many slashes together broke one stick. Aunty made sure the boys had their popcorn and Owen made sure he sat beside Aunty – to share her popcorn as well. They both loved it, sitting on the edge of their seats, smiling and laughing. The clowns were their favorite, funny and silly.

The circus was fun and I am very happy we went and experienced it….

Owen growing up

Fisher Price has a brand of toy out for ages 3-6 (I think), called Imaginext. It is really cool stuff and has all the themes that a boy would like — fire house, spaceship, pirate ship, Batman’s bat cave. For Christmas Owen got the spaceship and Brandon got the fire house. They love playing with both sets very much, the space men and fire men’s coats come on and off and there are all kinds of buttons to push for sounds and actions. Owen was playing with the spaceship one evening….3…2…1…blast off!

It seems hard to remember Owen as a baby or learning to crawl or learning to walk. He is such a big boy these days, helping with everything and doing so much on his own. I will say, Owen reminds Mommy of his Uncle Derek a lot these days, from the stick straight hair and goofy faces, to the way he never looks like he is paying attention to what you are saying to him but then can repeat exactly what was said to him, to the caring, quiet boy who will hold Brandon’s hand when he is scared or crying.

More crafts

One weekend, Daddy did paper bag monsters and masks with Owen and Brandon. That was a real hit, they were so excited to show anyone who walked in the door and they played together with them for days aftewards.

And I’ll tell you a secret, Daddy is going to build a craft table for Owen and Brandon, so all their craft supplies can be out and easy to access but in a place that is just for them to use whenever they want.

Craft time

Owen and Brandon love crafts, love coloring and being creative. I will admit we don’t do it enough these days with them, the craft stuff is put away out of sight and we often forget about it until it’s too late in the night or right before nap time. At daycare they had a craft section in the room and the first place the boys usually run to when we drop them off, is the craft table. They bring home their drawings and cuttings and crafts and we hang them on the fridge (or if they don’t fit there, we move them to the top of the fireplace). They are so proud of them, how can you not have them hanging up for all to see. Owen and Brandon will even look at their crafts and compliment each other on a job well done.

For Christmas, Aunty Jodi gave Owen a stamp set of dinosaurs with some pencil crayons and it is one of their favorite crafts.

Notice Brandon’s super curly hair, after the bath it is a mass of curls, so cute! Grandma H says Mommy’s hair was like that when she was a little girl.

Such concentration with Owen, he loves to “write” his name.

And of course, we can’t forget to show the end results, Owen and Brandon proudly displaying their work.

Mr Potato Head

Mr Potato Head is a toy that Owen and Brandon rarely play with but play with enough that when I have the thought to put the toy away in storage, Owen and Brandon pull it out and play. When they do play with Mr Potato Head they really do enjoy it. They laugh and squeal over the funny eyes, mouths and arm combinations they can make.

Owen was very proud of his Mr Potato Head creation, he put the whole thing together on his own…no help from Mom or Dad.

By this time, Brandon had finished with Mr Potato Head and instead was just being silly and goofy.

Brandon and Kosmo

Brandon is still very interested in Kosmo these days. He loves to sit beside Kosmo and pet him, watch him eat (squatting with his hands on his lap) and throw his toys for him. Of course he gets very upset when Kosmo gets him with his tail, knocks him over when he runs by or sits on the bed or couch when Brandon wants to be sitting there….first. Owen and Brandon will tell us they miss Kosmo when we pick them up from daycare and when we get home they can hear Kosmo barking — they say, Kosmo is happy we are home. The next step is teaching Kosmo to bring his toy to Owen and Brandon, as they love to throw it for him.

Bedtime

Daddy is still the favorite at bed time, although Owen and Brandon are a little more willing to let Mommy read and tuck them in. After All, Daddy can pick them both up, in each arm, and carry them up the stairs to Mommy and Daddy’s bed for story time. And Daddy does it as a rocket ship or motorcycle or truck with sounds and actions. Mommy could carry Owen or Brandon but there are no sounds or actions, Mommy has to concentrate on making it up the stairs without falling. ha ha But what Mommy doesn’t have in strength, she makes up for in cuddles, Owen and Brandon love to have extra cuddles from Mommy before bed (yeah it might be a stall tactic but I love it.

Before story time, there is potty time and brushing teeth time. One such night, Owen thought it funny to put Brandon’s potty on his face and say funny words. I will admit, Sean and I laughed so hard, tears on our cheeks, all the while trying to explain to Owen that we don’t put potty on our face.

Brothers

Now if this isn’t the best picture of Owen and Brandon yet!!  It was a fluke that we got the shot on the first click.  We convinced Owen and Brandon to sit together and smile at the camera for Daddy and the surprising thing for Sean and I, was that we got the great shot! Owen and Brandon smiled nice, eyes open, looking at the same time….I don’t remember the last time, maybe even ever that we got a shot with no coaxing, bribing or pleading!

Owen and Brandon have grown so much in the last few months. They play so well together (oh yeah they still argue over toys and grab from each other) and are talking to each other – wanna play dress up, I’ll be the cowboy, what will you be Brandon?, I cook for you, you sit here and wait. Sean and I have had many dinners together quietly watching Owen and Brandon play together. We grin and smile to each other and know, those first crazy years were worth it all. I think these boys will be inseperable and have a bond that only brothers can have.

Visit to GG’s house

On Family Day weekend, we also thought it would be a nice surprise for Sean’s grandma (GG so lovely called by Owen and Brandon) if we showed up for dinner Sunday night.  The boys enjoyed the drive over, they find the Anthony Henday full of fun and interesting things — counting the overpasses, commenting on all the different types of vehicles we pass or pass us…  GG was very surprised and very excited to see us.  Owen and Brandon made themselves right at home.  Once Brandon was done “cooking” for GG, he found GG’s collection of shoes and paraded around the house with them — on his feet and hands.

Owen brought his puzzle with him and spent his time putting it together on the coffee table.  He enjoyed it best when GG watched him find the right pieces. 

After dinner, GG surprised us with jello and ice cream and as Owen and Brandon would put it — this is my favorite.

Owen and Brandon very much enjoyed visiting with GG and were sad to leave.  It is amazing how much they notice, most mornings, Owen and Brandon point south on the Anthony Henday and say – when you go that way you go to GG’s house.  We’ve since told them that you can also get to Aunty Dar and Uncle Jim’s house and Uncle Derek, Aunty Colette, Zoe and Isaac’s house going that way too!