Firehouse Fun

On Thursday we met at the Sullivan Fire Department for a tour. The kids loved it!  Afterwards, we were going to go to Jayme's house, but she and Braylon were both sick! :( So everyone came over and we had a great time eating, playing, and chatting. 

We had a great time playing and eating afterwards! 

Pinocchio and a Pizza Party

Today we met our friends at the Little Theater to watch a musical production of Pinocchio. It started at 10:30 and was about 90 minutes long. Beckett, having watched the Disney Pinocchio last night in preparation, kept asking where the "real" Pinocchio was. ;). The kids ranges in age from 3 months (Harp) to 4 years (Molly) and there were 8 of us, 10 of the kids. They were all excellent throughout the show, which had some great songs and music, but got a little long. ;)

Top- Carly and Jenn with Wren and Drew; Bottom - Braylon and Jayme with Kim and Emmett (can't see him) and Kristin and Ava (can't see her). Harper and Beckett were with me, Lindsay and Vivienne sat near Rachel and Molly. 

Everyone came over to play and eat afterwards, and it was so much fun! We had pizza, chips, fruit pizzas (Ally made them), and cake pops. Yum! The kids played inside for a while and then, since it was such a beautiful day, we played outside and turned on the sprinkler. It makes me so happy to see Beckett having fun!

The cake pops and fruit pizza were a big hit. ;) 

Kids had lemonade through Pinocchio's nose!

Coloring pics of Pinocchio took a smurfy turn...

Sandbox time with Emmett, Hadleigh, and Hampton:

Drew LOVED the sprinkler!

The other kids joined him (note Beckett kept trying to use the unattached nozzle for "mist" and "jet"! "It's not workin, Mom!")

More backyard fun! The boys wore some of Beckett's swim trunks so we could all enjoy the water. The girls wore their diapers - it's the country, kinda. 

Beckett was excited to show his friends the Dino habitat he made with new maw!

Ava and Beckett climbing the rock wall:

Sliding and swinging (Ava and Kristin; Jayme and Braylon):

The kids loved climbing into the clubhouse, and each other:

The mommas enjoyed some catching up, too:

Harper in the beautiful dress by Treva (Beckett was having too much fun to join the picture...and I quote, "Nooo pictures, mom!! I'll catch you in my net!" Haha!!)

Then she cooed and smiled for everyone (carly enjoys it in the pic below) before she took a little nap in her swing. (About an hour!) 

More playing!

Jayme gave music lessons (haha) whole Emmett and Hampton hung out by the food. 

Everyone left by about 1:30 and we read books before Beckett crashed. He's still asleep. (Three hour nap!)

Emmett's Visit

Emmett came to play with us this morning and the boys had a great time.  They played with puzzles and stickers, along with just about every dinosaur, car, tractor, book, and kitchen item we own. We also played outside on the swingset and both boys loved racing and chasing.  This was interesting because it was the first time another kiddo has come to play without his or her parent there, and Beckett was not used to sharing all of his toys.  He reminded himself several times, "Sharing is fun!" and he struggled to hand over some of his stuff when Emmett wanted to play with it.  I was really happy with how he listened and tried to share, even though it wasn't natural for him.  In fact, his first inclination was to want anything Emmett picked up to play with.  Emmett wanted the shovel?  Beckett wanted the shovel!  Emmett wanted the tricycle? Beckett wanted the tricycle!  Emmett wanted the speck of dirt? Beckett wanted the... you get the idea.  But he really did listen when I talked to him about taking turns and sharing.  They laughed a lot and had a good time playing.  Kim came over and we had lunch before they left.  It was a fun morning!

First Beckett said CHEESE...

Then Emmett said CHEESE while Beckett yelled HI to Brad, on the mower. (Have you ever tried to get two 2-year olds to take a picture together? Have you ever climbed Mt. Everest? Approximately equal.)

Beckett dumped out all 14 of our Melissa and Doug puzzles and the we played a game of search and find to put them together from the pile.  They did a really good job of it!

Wyman Park Takeover

Wyman was invaded by our little ones this morning. Beckett, Harper, and I met Jayme and Braylon, Kim and Emmett, Kristin and Ava, Lindsay and Vivienne, Carly, Josh, and Drew, and Jennifer and Wren. We met at the little kids' play area for swings and slides, and then had a picnic. Beckett made friends with the other kids who were there, too, and chased one laughing little girl all over the playground. It was really cute. Harper snoozed off and on all morning, peaceful and content to be pushed in the stroller. 

Best stories from today: 

1) The boys wanted to sword fight with sticks. We have no clue how they got the idea...I guess boys will be boys!

2) Ava climbed up every dangerous object without any fear and swung on bars like a cute little monkey. 

3) Beckett said, "Ava, what's your name?"  Ava replied, "two!" This repeated about 8 times. 

4) Beckett saw Josh for the first time in months (he was at the birthday party, but stayed in his stroller, I think.) when Josh stood up, Beckett looked at me and said, "Baby Josh growed up, mommy! He's big now!"

5) at lunch, Ava banged her knee and cried a little. Beckett went up to her and asked, "you're okay, Ava?"

6) the kids wanted to climb a tree. Beckett's shoe came off in a "honey hole" and the kids were inspecting it to see if there was a squirrel in there who took it off. 

7) Beckett was smiling at a little girl. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "making friends, mommy!" 

Oreo snack!

Carly and Lindsay chat. 

The boys chase each other. 

Emmett says, "Cheese!"

Ava the Brave (and adorable)

Happy Beckett checks out the picnic area. 

Friends reunited. 

Lunch!

Wren enjoys a snack and you can see baby Vivienne in this one. Harper almost wore the same outfit! 

Kim, Jayme, and their boys. 

Drew 

Harper woke up to play with the big kids!

This one?

This one!

They were playing and we said, "Say 'Cheese!'" This is what we got (below):

Ah, the sticks again! :) 

Looks like King of the Mountain became the Queen of the Mountain. 

It was a fun morning for the kids! (And the moms!)