Playtime with Doug and Lisa

The other day Lisa suggested we all go to the park together. We were all thinking the neighborhood park that is a few blocks away. Everest obviously had other ideas. He asked if he could go tell Doug and Lisa we were ready. He came back over with Doug a few minutes later. Doug said "Everest really wants to go to Happy Hollow playground". (He knows how to get his way). So the boys and I packed some snacks, got on our train bike and headed to Happy Hollow. Lisa and Doug met us there, and Nathan met us about 45 minutes later. (For those who do not live or know West Lafayette- Happy Hollow is down a steep hill-one of the few hills Indiana actually has. Being 6 months pregnant, I can not tow the kids back up the hill. It is amazing how much Everest helps, but it is hard for me to get myself back up so Nathan meets us on the days we go to that park.)

Everest and daddy swinging together. 

Leaf looks like he is going really fast down the slide. They were actually stopped, but there was so much static his hair was standing up. 

There was another 18 month old boy at the playground, dressed in orange and had the exact same hair as Leaf. At some point, we all thought it was Leaf. (Nathan started to walk over to him when he came, that is how much they looked alike). The little boy had blond hair, and it was a little thicker, but even his face resembled Leaf. 

Doug and Everest raced down the slide. Everest made Doug wait at the top until he started going, not really a fair race. 

 This can be dangerous. Nathan did the same thing to me the first time I got on it. Lisa went flying int he air. Doug and Nathan thought it was funny.

There are bench swings at a lot of the playgrounds in West Lafayette. They are really cool, until you try to get off. You end up banging your alkalies on the bottom part. Leaf had a good time on the swing.

Everest wanted to get in on the action. He and Lisa tried to bounce Doug.

We all had a great time. Thanks, Lisa and Doug, for hanging out at the park with us.

This and That

I thought I would post about some of the things we have been doing lately. The weather has been wonderful here, but tomorrow the rain starts. I don't mind rain, but it seems like Indiana gets a lot of rain and cloudy days. The boys and I went to a local green house today. Everest helped pick out some flowers for a hanging basket. Leaf just kept picking up pots and putting them on our cart. The flowers we bought do not necessarily match in color, shape or style, but the boys had fun picking them. And isn't that what life is all about? I may not always match or sometimes have funny clips in my hair or a random assortment of things around my neck, but it is worth it to see them smile.

Leaf has had the pumpkin toy since Halloween. You blow through it and it makes a winding sound. He loves it.

Leaf and daddy on the alligator.

 Look at my big boy going down the slide!

Nathan built me a new laundry line!!!!! I love it. Before we had the line strung all over the back yard. Our yard is not that big, and it took up all the open space we had. It is now, nicely tucked in the back of our yard. I can't see all the beautiful landscaping at the edge of the yard when the laundry is up, but the kids have space to run. Now that it is moved, it also opened up space for Nathan to plant hops by the fence. He is very excited about growing hops for his beer. Hops are one of the most expensive things in brewing. To top it all off, Nathan and Everest have been teaming up and hanging laundry together! 

Leaf has learned to climb onto the horse by himself. He gets stuck sometimes and screams until someone rescues him. He loves riding the horse. Nathan and I both had ones as kids. I rode mine so much (and until I was too old to ride it), I broke the neck off the horse. I would ride so hard the head and tail would touch the ground. Hopefully the boys will not be that rough with it, I would love to pass this one on to their kids.

My little Leaf is going through a chubby phase. My kids seem to store up before a growth spurt. They remind me of puppies growing, when they are in the awkward stage and their feet are too big for their bodies.

Hope you are enjoying some sunshine in your area.

Playground in Charlotte

We found a playground on our last day. It had a playground, sandbox, train, walking trails, pond, ducks, fields and a lot more. There were a lot of kids who brought sand toys and shared with everyone. Leaf had a great time filling up the bucket and then dumping it.
Leaf getting brave. Luckily the bars were too far apart so he didn't get very far. But he tried!

Everest spent most of the day at the train. he found a few other kids to play with. The spent the morning running around the train playing.
Leaf found the slide, and made more than one parent nervous. I was at the top, every time he went down, someone would run over to the bottom to catch him.
We ended up going back to the park the day we left. We played and then went for a walk to tire the boys out. Thanks Aunt Teresa for playing with us. We miss you.