Curious in the kitchen

(Alternate title: why I never get to sit down)

Well I had noticed him pushing it around the kitchen in the past day, seemed to be his new favorite trick. But you know you have a problem with your kitchen stool (or your kid?) when you leave the room for .5 seconds and return to this:

"Let's see what we've got here..."

"Wonder if I can reach that there..."

So I move the stool to the left of the fridge while I continue making dinner (and I'm picking up on cues my boys are hungry! Ha. so I'm moving!)

5 minutes later:

"This one has buttons!"

(He is quite sturdy on this stool, I must say. Kid has yet to have a falling accident. Obviously I'm not going to test that! I'm more worried about what he is reaching than the standing on stool part! Maybe the stool will be stored for a while? Probably). 

Of course it makes sense then why he is becoming ever the gourmet chef on his own little kitchen:

Legos are on tonight's menu...

water sprayers

Can I call them that instead of "guns"? I know I know, it won't matter these boys will just aim and fire whatever I want to name them! Picked these up at a garage sale, handy for hot afternoons.

(There are 2, I was defending Henri as needed, before long he'll do it himself I'm sure)

Imagine sound effects to the tune of high pitched little boy laughter!

Lately

Scaling all the heights! Getting up is easy... down on the other hand...

(This one is Trouble.)

I think my DIY Popsicles were too healthy, Eli was onto the broccoli (which he'll actually eat on its own). Oh well

Big kid Legos: we're into them

Getting cozy with blankets

Park time!

Getting cozy with alllll the books

Farmers market!

Using our stroller handle! Such a big kid these days! And so nice when I'm out solo with two and can count on Eli to "hang on" when we're walking. 

(Our last fading Portland tattoo... :(

Lunch

farmer boy

Our son: the farmer

We went to Tractor Brewing last night for a residency meetup and what do you know... there's a huge tractor outside with a "climb at own risk" sign, so we did. Eli's now ready to go back! 

Naps

They both woke up early today.

Saturday.

Moon was off to the hospital shortly after they got up.

It's fine, they play, we slowly make breakfast. I institute a new rule about not digging in the sandbox until 7. Yes Eli it's only 6:10. He does love that sandbox. He can get a bit talkative and lost in his imaginative play these days. So then Henri did his usual solid midday nap. 

And then! Later, between swimming and the sandbox baby Henri and I found him like this. 

Henri and I had gone back to the pool, Eli was still digging in his swim gear (what can I say? I've decided it's best for me to dive into playing hard with them in the afternoon, pre-dinner time. Especially when moon has been on 7 days straight, it's Saturday and I know he won't be home until late). We were having fun, I called for Eli to join us. A few minutes went by and then we got out, found him like this. Somehow got all the sand off him! Then transferred him and let him sleep a bit more. Ah summer days!

sleep

Happy 4th

We headed to the farmers market.

Boys enjoy the live music.

We found some lovely tomatoes.

One of us enjoyed a latte.

We all shared a croissant.

We will grill later... and maybe check out some fireworks!

Happy 4th!

all in a day

Moon is busy. Is there another word for busy? Very busy maybe more accurate? He's well though. He wakes early and bikes to the hospital in his clean scrubs. Thank goodness for the 5 minute bike ride. He texts me "leaving" tonight and 4 minutes later I hear the door. But here on the home front things are a different busy...

We go to trader joes where a sticker is given to the helpful big brother (he sat in the back of the cart without complaint except for a few cold frozen goods touching his leg). Yay sticker.

Outdoor play. Guardian of the front door.

Eli's been making elaborate Lego creations he then takes outside. This is an impact hammer. 

I have a new front porch chair to sit on.

Laundry to hang. The dryer gets a summer vacation. Ah the therapy in hanging clothes and letting them dry so quickly! (Thanks to my sister for motivating me to hang a line!)

Drinking from a straw! Watered down green juice is his thing.

Wait? How does this work?

Flowers Eli picked out at traders

Found him like this late afternoon. He likes to "get cozy" from time to time. It's good to chill out.

And those are all from today. It was a lot of things... but good. It was good.

colorado

now that things are in full swing 'round here…

we are remembering the last break we had, our time in colorado last month

cabins are tricky places with babies, mostly just Henri getting into everything

(but that happens at home too)

it was good to breath in some fresh, mountain air

to let the boys run around

poke sticks in the creek

get dirty

and i do love comparing the pictures from one year to the next…

we are all aging, growing, changing

pictures at this same, special place from year to year are a little way to document that…