Another episode of "kids say the darnedest things"

Two examples of how the things kids say that make you smile...

Below is alerted and picture from Boden to his elf on the shelf, Sammy, who arrived the day after Thanksgiving. He's laying it on thick for the elf.  Yes, Sammy also wrote back--such a polite elf.

Last month, Boden and his class read about the Little Red Hen. I think they were learning about the importance of helping others, but Boden seems to have picked up on another message.  He was asked if he would help out the Little Red Hen.  His response?  "No,...I don't trust a hen."  He's taking this fable very literally, I guess.

Mother's Day is every day

Yeah, right.  Actually, I'm just way behind on my posts and wanted to get some pics in.  

Me and my mum :)

Todd with his mom and bro:

Me with my mini muffins, post 1/2 marathon and post mulching...

Aw, sometimes we have fun :). Both kids are really into taking selfies, right now, so unfortunately I have more of the goofy face pics than anyone needs or wants.  It's funny how they want to look through them and laugh--"remember that face I made, mom?"  I'd like to remember their faces smiling happily!!  I'll have to get those pics on the sly, I guess.

Vacation, all I ever wanted

The good weather continued our entire vacation--we couldn't have been luckier! 

Dan, Andrea and the girls left a day before us and that's when it hit us--vacation was going to end, just when we were getting into a comfortable routine of sand, sun, and swimming.  Oh, sigh, back to MN, work, school, and all the rest.  Cue tantrum.

Photos from the rest of our time below:

Dan was hoping to get on the blog, so here you go, buddy :)  Andrea and Callie were snuggling on this late afternoon on the beach.

I asked Boden his favorite part of vacation.  He said having friends to play on the beach and swim in the pool with.  I agree--good fun for everyone!

I saw Dolphins swimming nearby one day--Todd said they were there other days but my head must have been in the sand.  I captured a few pics but it was better live.

Here's our family beach photo--August looks the best, Todd and I are trying not to squint and ended up looking constipated instead :)

Last afternoon on the beach and both boys had their fun in the sand.

Oh, yes, I almost forgot:  gals beat the guys at wahoo marbles!  It was a close game, but we figured if the guys felt like it was a close game, then they wouldn't be such sore losers, right Andrea?  ;)

Big wave!

We're having a great vacation in Marco Island with friends!  

Boden and Addison are becoming fast friends and seem to be matched for energy--neither of them can be slowed down to eat or sleep.

Augie is finally at an age where he can really enjoy the beach--one of the cutest things ever is when Todd had him in the ocean and every time a wave would come at them and splash him, Todd would yell "big wave!"; Augie would recover from the splash and stick his hand up to wave around--giving a "big wave", of course!

Us parents are doing our best to wake up at 6 with the kids, get them to bed at the end of a non-stop day of pool, beach, pool, and more beach, and then go til midnight playing a (new to me) game called Wahoo Marbles.  Boys against girls and so far we're all tied up! 

This year, Todd, Boden, and our friends all went on an airboat tour of the Everglades for the first time.  They saw aligators and the kids even held one at the end--with its mouth Velcro-ed shut, thankfully!

The weather has been fantastic, kid disputes have been minimal, and I've gotten some good runs in, so life is good!  Some pics from the week are below with a little explanation:

We made our "annual" trip to the nature walk, mostly for the white and pink (i.e. Sunburned) MNs to get out of the blazing sun and to see if we could see aligators or nesting bald eagles.  Once again, the best view was in the ditch out front before we even got out of the parking lot--a mom and about 10 babies were swimming around our front.  And we didn't see anything noteworthy along our walk :(

The biggest beach hole ever:

Boden held a baby aligator after the airboat ride:

Boden was buried by Addison and Callie and his brother stepped in to put on the finishing touches.

Augie enjoyed some pool time and didn't want to get out!

Mini updates and random photos

I love volunteering at Boden's school when it works in my schedule.  If I could turn it into a job, I'd do it.  I thought my favorite thing was helping out in the library but then Boden had a roller skating unit in phy Ed--being a parent volunteer for this is easily my favorite.  I got to roller skate, listen to music, and see Boden having fun.  He's becoming a really good skater!  Can't wait to take him to the Rollergarden, again.  

Random bathtub silliness--to get them both smiling and holding still at the same time is nearly impossible.

August seems to enjoy winter as a spectator.  I don't know what he does at school but when we're outside he demands to be chauffeured around via sled.  Good workout for me but I hope he finds his snow legs next year.

They had these fun photo props at Starbucks.  I tried for a selfie with all three of us but it wasn't happening :(

Another episode of "kids say the darnedest things"

Two examples of how the things kids say that make you smile...

Below is alerted and picture from Boden to his elf on the shelf, Sammy, who arrived the day after Thanksgiving. He's laying it on thick for the elf.  Yes, Sammy also wrote back--such a polite elf.

Last month, Boden and his class read about the Little Red Hen. I think they were learning about the importance of helping others, but Boden seems to have picked up on another message.  He was asked if he would help out the Little Red Hen.  His response?  "No,...I don't trust a hen."  He's taking this fable very literally, I guess.

August, too (two)

 We also celebrated August's birthday in October--two years old!  Because of the unusually warm weather, he got his birthday present--a little scoot bike--a couple days early.  The look on his face when he gets going down a little hill is priceless.  I would like to take the time to catch a picture of it but I'm too busy running after him and worrying he's going to wipeout big!

We've also turned August's car seat around so he's facing forward like the rest of us--he seems to really be enjoying this new vantage point.  We've heard lots about big trucks and buses and I love to see his smiling face in my rear view mirror.