What's Going On Here?

 I love the look on Rylan's face trying to figure out what these guys are doing.

Christmas Eve

 Dressed for Christmas Eve Service - what a good looking family.

Rite of Passage

 Nathan teaching Kaiden how to tie a tie.  Trevin looking on.

Head Gear

 The boys still enjoy wearing all the Christmas hats, etc collected over the years.

Christmas Cookies

We did our annual Christmas cookie decorating.  As usual the ratio of sprinkles to cookie was heavy on the sprinkle side.  We had fun and cookies were carefully chosen to be eaten when we looked at the Christmas lights after dinner.

 

Seven

 Gavin is seven today.  His birthday present request - a doughnut maker.

Thomas the Train

I took Gavin and Rylan to the Railroad Museum on Thomas the Train Day for their birthday.  

We looked at the model train exhibits and were able to into several train cars to look around.  This engine they are standing in front of is an actual engine their great grandfather operated when he worked for Rio Grande.

I think the highlight was the actual train ride around the grounds pulled by none other than...

 Thomas himself!

Four!

Rylan turned four.  He loved his Super Mario cake giving it two thumbs up.
 

We gave him a projector that rotates and shows pictures on the ceiling.  There is a dome with dinosaurs and one with astronauts and planets.  I think the adults has as much fun trying it out as did the kids.  We will be doing an outing for his birthday next week.

Preschool

Today was Rylan's first day of Preschool.  He is all ready to go as soon as the bus comes.

The first big step of the day.  Nathan said he was not scared and gave them a thumbs up when the bus pulled away.

 He said he had a good day.

First Day of School

Off to Middle School and High School

Off to Second Grade

 Not going to school yet, but wanted his picture taken.  

Chalk Festival

The boys came over a few weeks ago so we could attend the Chalk Art Festival and concert at the park.  It rained and rained and rained that day.  The boys had fun playing in the rain when it wasn't coming down hard or when there was lighting.   They ran and jumped to see who could jump furthest, run the fasted, etc.  Kaiden and Trevin made up their own version of Frisbee Golf.  Gavin and Rylan sailed boats down the gutter.

I

We did go to the park with our picnic but wasn't even through eating when they cleared the park due to lighting.

The boys spent the night and after breakfast we decided to have our own chalk festival in the driveway.  It wasn't too long before the rains came and washed it all away.

 So we took it into the garage and they were able to draw houses and playgrounds.  We decided the squiggly lines Rylan drew were what was left of the houses and playgrounds after a tornado.

Flag Day

This year for flag day we hung up our brand new flag to replace the old faded one.  We said the Pledge of Allegiance.  I am so happy the boys have been taught the Pledge.  We went over flag facts.  I was surprised how many they remembered from past years.

We then decorated cupcakes in red, white and blue for dinner.

 Quite a few sprinkles were used along with good amounts of strawberries and blueberries.

 Last week we took the boys to the Museum of Natural and Science to see the special exhibit on Bugs.  As always, the museum did a great job - it was informative and had several interactive components which they enjoyed.

I am so glad the boys enjoy the Museum as much as I do.

Continuation

At the end of May, Kaiden and Trevin both had Continuation ceremonies.  Kaiden will be in High School and Trevin will be in Middle School next year.

I didn't think the boys would want flower bouquets, so I made them candy bouquets.  Probably not the best choice for the boys - one with diabetes and one with braces.  😀

 

Field Day

Today was Trevin's and Gavin's Field Day.

 

How Far Can I Throw This?

There is something about kids (especially boys) being around water.  They always want to find something to throw in either to see how big a splash they can make, how far something will float downstream or how far from shore they can throw something.

Just look at how happy these boys are.  They found sticks and were having contests to see how far they could throw them.

 That is some form there Gavin.

Trevin's Track Meet

The boy's school district has a track meet for the 5th graders in the spring.  Kaiden missed out on this event because of Covid.  Last week we went to see Trevin.  He won second place ribbons in the high jump and long jump and first place ribbons in his running events.

Photo finish in the 100.  Love the look of determination on his face.

 With his friend after they won the 4 x 1 relay race.

They had an orange ribbon stretched across the finish line for the winner to break through.  Rylan set on Tito's lap and "helped" by holding the end.  The judge would tell him what a good job he was doing when he would walk over to retrieve the end after each race.  At the end he gave Rylan a ribbon for his help.

Yardwork

We decided to do some changes to the backyard.  I don't have the time, energy or motivation to keep the rock garden looking nice all the time.  We are pulling out some of the plants and mulch and putting in sod.  It won't increase our water usage since we already water these areas.  I knew I would need some help so I asked the boys to work with me.

Gavin and Kaiden have been coming over and helping move rock and transplant some of the plants to other areas in the yard.

 This was quite the project to move all this flagstone.  It will be used in other areas of the yard later on.

We found lots of earthworms and Gavin moved several to the vegetable garden for me.

Trevin is Eleven

Trevin turned eleven today.  He had his birthday party last Saturday.

Surrounded by his friends trying on a new hat.  He loves hats like this and wears them all the time.

 His Nana and Papa brought his cake tonight.  We were not able to be there as it is raining cats and dogs and it would be to hard for Tito.

Happy Birthday Trevin!

Kilroy Was Here

 I told Gavin that when he looked at me over the couch like this it reminded me of Kilroy was Here.  Of course, I had to explain the reference.  Now he is doing this all the time.

Third Track Meet

 Kaiden in his track uniform.  He ran the 100 and 200 dash, did long jump and high jump.  He took first place in high jump.

Second Track Meet

I was able to go to Kaiden's second track meet.  I am not sure which event this picture is from, but he was first and I love the smile on his face as he was crossing the finish line.

He ran the 100, 200 and 2 X 4 relay and did the long jump.  All of those days he ran everywhere he went and when he would run across our lawn and try to jump to the other side of the driveway seem to have paid off.

 

Easter 2023

Get ready, get set, go, and it was on the annual Easter egg hunt.  Rylan was old enough this year to really understand and it was fun watching him.

Gavin found his Easter basket (bag).  Tito in the background going after the food.  

Rylan searching for his share of the eggs.  He needed a little help but so did I.  I write down the location of the eggs ever since the melted egg on the lamp incident, but couldn't find the list.  😂  I found it the next day.

I decided not to get the usual basket stuffers this year but did snacks and gift cards for fast food.  I know that these things will be used and not end up in the bottom of a drawer or toy box somewhere.

Speaking of the melted egg - we have kept it all these years and whoever finds it gets a prize.  This year it was an additional gift card.

Rylan found the egg but was upset that it was broken.  His kind hearted brother, Trevin, offered to trade him.  Wasn't that so nice.

 Kaiden is taller than me but he is standing on a mound around the tree so he isn't that much taller.  I am sure that in time they will all be taller than I him.