Touch-A-Truck

 Last weekend found us at Magnuson Park at an event called "Touch-A-Truck." It is exactly how it sounds: lots of trucks in one place for kids to touch and climb inside with the people who operate the trucks there to teach us what the trucks do. Daddy had to be at work, so Mommy and the boys went with "Uncle" Ben and friends Matteo and Luca. We had a great time!

 Fire truck!

 Luca and Matthew, stroller-bound while the big boys play.

 The horn-honking started to get on everyone's nerves...

 Driving the tanker truck.

 Daniel wanted to go inside the "freezer truck." He didn't realize that the truck was there to actually sell ice cream.

 Dump trucks are huge!

 Watching the crane move some equipment around.

 Driving the bobcat.

 We lucked out with an awesome parking space. This fire truck pulled up next to our van sometime after we'd parked.

 From seeing the real ambulance, to driving a toy one at the park.

 Packed up and ready to go home.

So long, fire truck. We had a great time seeing you up close!

Slap Ball

Daniel invented the game "Slap Ball" yesterday.  If he asks you to play, say no.

Note: this game should not be confused with "Whack Ball" or "Whip Ball" which are totally different games.

Happy Birthday, Matthew!

 Today we celebrated one whole year with Matthew in our lives. He is such a blessing! Here are some pictures from his big day.

6:30 am and he's ready to party!

 

Getting serenaded by a three-piece band while waiting for cake.

 

 Matthew's "smash" cake.

 Cake for everyone else. (Thanks for the cakes, Fr. Jordan!!)

 

 Here comes the cake!

 

 Matthew takes a little help from Dad with blowing out the candle.

 "I'm not so sure about this."

 "Oh, never mind. This is AWESOME!"

 Smash!

 Sharing some with his godfather, Fr. Jordan.

 All cleaned up and ready for presents!

 A dump truck of his very own.

 Getting some help from big brother and friend Matteo.

 New lawn chair. (And he still has his orange balloon...)

 All of the kiddos. (I'm sure there was a better picture of them, but this is my favorite one. Why is everyone looking opposite directions?)

Worn out and ready for bed, but he just can't let go. (The favorite orange balloon had already lost most of it's air, so it was traded out for the yellow.)

Thanks for the great party, everyone!

Fun at the park

We took advantage of being up early recently on a day with cool but not rainy weather to head down to the park for a bit. Funny how if you get to a park at 8:30, you have the whole place to yourself!

Daniel learns how to push Matthew on the swings. I don't know who enjoyed it more...

 One happy kid.

 Loving the swings!

 Then off to the canoe, where Matthew experimented in eating the sand, so...

 we put him in jail? No, he discovered the fun musical tubes!

We left Daniel on his own in the canoe.

 Daniel was happy to finally have enough balance to go on the merry-go-round while mommy spun it around.

Ahhh...brothers. :)

Corn Attack

Matthew tried corn on the cob for the first time the other night and LOVED it.  He literally attacked it.  Check out the video...

Corn + Matthew = Happy Baby

"Oh, did you want some?"

Belated Holy Week pictures

We're really behind in just about everything. Here are some pictures from Easter.

Traditional hot crossed buns on Good Friday morning.

There's what inside these eggs?!

Daniel hordes his goods while Matthew explores the Easter grass.

This is way too much fun!

After Easter Mass. Matthew was out for most of it.

Bigfoot sighting or Daniel on an Easter egg hunt?

Daniel and his friend Matteo searching for eggs.

Happy hunting.

Surveying the goods.

Soccer lessons with Dad

Chris and Daniel had some great fun playing soccer in the backyard a few weekends ago. There aren't many pictures of them actually playing, but here are a few of the main lessons learned.

1.  Don't kick the ball at Mommy's plants.

2. Be sure to hydrate and take breaks when needed.

3. Take time to get a great posed picture--people love 'em.

4. Celebrate appropriately after scoring.



Daniel's new health plan

Daniel came up with this the other day...

"A beef a day keeps the doctor away!"

His father is very proud.