Extreme Bugs Exhibit

A two-headed monster.

A friend in the mirror.

This ninja likes the movie "Frozen." Gabriel drew each of the characters from the movie on the same balloon. This side has "Olaf" the snowman who likes "warm hugs."

We went to the Lawrence Hall of Science on this winter stormy Saturday. We enjoyed the Extreme Bugs exhibit. (I thought it was fitting that we go since Ephraim's birthday theme was bugs.) The giant bugs moved and made noises. Here Gabriel is acting scared of the giant tarantula and Ephraim is pretending to be a spider himself.

We learned about how geckos stick to walls. Ephraim is at the last panel of the exhibit, putting into action the things we learned to make the animated gecko walk on the screen.

We saw a cool 3D movie about bugs. It was amazing because they went to a rainforest and somehow got footage of the life of a real praying mantis and life cycle of a butterfly and put it to a story from their point of view (up close!).

Learning about animation is always entertaining.

We got trapped in the store too. I got sucked into spending money on science toys, but it goes to a good cause.

Running away from the centipede! Time to go home!

Gabriel and Ephraim Are Charming Boys

Last Thursday was Open House at Gabriel's school. We visited his class and teacher and then he wanted to check out the 2nd grade classroom for next year. My darling boy walks right in, states his purpose and introduces himself. He put smiles on everyone's face at his boldness. He can be so mature and charming when he wants to be!

I think we need to work on our senses with Ephraim, he made me laugh tonight with one simple sentence. After brushing his teeth, he walked straight outside for a second and came in.  I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I wanted to hear my minty breath!"  (His breath smelled like mint from the toothpaste, and he went outside to try to see his 'haaawwww' breath even though it wasn't cold enough. Not sure how he was going to HEAR either of those things, but it made me chuckle.)

(More pictures coming, one of these nights...)

Turning Four!

I found this old picture on my camera. Gabriel is reading to Ephraim (with a snuggling cat trying to listen too).

Ephraim turned FOUR on Sunday! He's so big now.

We received a package in the mail, thank you Grandpa and Grandma Gunn and Uncle Tony and Aunt Michelle. Naturally, the card with Cookie Monster singing a happy birthday song was the best part of the gift. :D

Ephraim in his camo, ready to hunt bugs.

I had a huge party on Sunday for him. Grandpa and Grandma McMillan made the caterpillar cakes! Heather and Uncle John & cousin Everett and Uncle Mike & Aunt Kalu came too. Plus lots of friends: Sandra & Miguel Alejandro and Julia & Mark & Lucy. We made our own antennae, used fingerpaints to made our handprints into spiders, and caught paper butterflies in nets.

Yes, there were presents!

Grandpa's homemade circuitboard was a hit for kids of all ages (from Ephraim to Uncle John).

 Ephraim chillin' with the new book he got from his pediatrician's visit on Monday.

Just Another Day

My cuties are taking a bath together. Sometimes it's together and sometimes separately, depending on their moods. Here they are singing and experimenting with bathtub echoes.

Ephraim has been fighting a cold for almost two weeks, poor thing. He gets so tired at night. He cried for about half an hour tonight over something small. When he got too heavy to hold while I was standing up (which rocked him to sleep the other night!), I sat down in the rocking chair. The cats get very concerned when Ephraim cries. Leia came over and jumped up into Ephraim's lap to console him, which worked instantly!

 

Ephraim felt better only minutes later. He was back to his silly self: balancing a bowl on his head while balancing on one leg!!

Gabriel reached a milestone for reading. It is no longer this horrible unwanted thing that makes him instantly throw a tantrum (if I suggest he read a simple sentence). He knows enough words finally to grab a Seuss or Seuss-like book off the shelf and read it. He has been doing that every night while waiting for me to put Ephraim to bed. I am so proud of him. He has no trouble with "Go, Dog, Go" and isn't afraid to try new books.

Ephraim and Mommy

Puddle Jumpers

Sunday was a beautiful day after so much rain. Ephraim woke up with a yucky cough, so we had to stay home from church. But he was in good spirits (as always) so we explored our backyard. All the rolly-pollies were out! Ephraim was so incredibly happy. 

I encouraged him to jump in the puddles and he loved seeing how far he could make the water splash. He didn't like the getting wet part (we went through three sets of clothes and a bath afterwards to warm up), but he was smiling the whole time.

 

 

Gabriel joined us in the afternoon. We discovered the tarp that covered our sandbox was filled with water. I couldn't manage to get all the water off the tarp before all the water drained into the sandbox. But the kids didn't seem to mind in the least! Water and sand--two perfect kid "toys" for endless fun!

 Little brother watching big brother draw requests in his sketchbook.

We went and saw "The Lego Movie" in the theater today (with everyone ELSE who had the day off work and school). I thought it was okay but the kids loved it. We stopped by Target on the way home for some cereal and a new boardgame to play at my parents' house this week while they are off school. I think Gabriel was tired (fighting E's cold?) and hungry. I had brought a little snack with us to the theater but it obviously wasn't enough for this growing boy. He has Feed Me written all over his face in this video. I felt so bad for him and guilty that I didn't take better care of him. But man, it was good to record a tantrum.
(Side note: Gabriel had hit Ephraim in the face, so that's why Ephraim is crying... that and big brother gets awfully loud and scary. The video cuts out because G reaches for E's tissue and I wasn't sure that's all he was reaching over to do. Thankfully, we all made it home in one piece. Can I put this on G's wedding video or show him when he has kids of his own?! heehee)

Boys Will Be Boys

Every kid needs a swing in the backyard. My dad surprised us the other weekend and tied a thick rope with a wooden circle seat on it to the big tree in our backyard. The kids loved it! 

 

 

 

Adorable brothers making faces for mom!