Bick Back / Hit Ball

Daniel invented a new game today called Bick Back or "you can call it Hit Ball too".  This is, verbatim, how he described it.

Daniel: "OK, first you hold it up like this, then aim towards the brother, then throw it at the corner where the brother is, then RUN over past the brother and catch it."

I think we're having flashbacks to Slap Ball and Whip Ball.

Self incrimination

I returned from a business trip this week and, as usual, asked Michele for the highlights of the week. Like I'm sure it is for all parents, this inevitably includes a report on the children's behavior. Michele gave me the update over dinner.

Michele: "Things went well, though there were some tough days. Matthew started to learn how to pinch and kept pinching Daniel."

Daniel was quick to point out that he was innocent, or so he thought.

Daniel: "Ya, he did pinch me, but I did not do ANY pinching, because I know not to pinch............but I did do the hit job."

So close.

What season is it, again?

Judging from the outfit Daniel chose for himself today, he's having just as hard of a time figuring out this weather as I am. Yesterday was gorgeous--70-some degrees and sunny. Today is rainy and cold again.

Pentecost

Inspired by our friends the Eustermans, we decided to make a birthday cake for the church for the feast of Pentecost. It started out as a simple "let's make a cake in the shape of a church" and ended up being a complex 3D model of our parish, Blessed Sacrament. Daniel had decided at first to make it in the shape of the Newman Center, but at the last minute changed his mind. Here's how the day--yes, we spent nearly the entire day on this--went. 

 Cake building supplies.

 Daniel reviews the master plan.

 Putting the "glue" on the first layer.

 Second layer.

 Cutting the first piece out of the base.

 The finished base layout.

 One side.

 On goes the roof.

 Daniel decides its time for some head protection.

 Daddy works on the steeple while Daniel sneaks a taste of frosting.

 The cake part is finished!

 A different view.

 Roof is iced and the ice cream cone steeple is ready.

 Finished!

 From the back side.

Look how tall it is!

Yum.

Note from Michele: Chris wanted to document every stage of the process, so I apologize for the lengthy post. And, sorry for the not-so-entertaining captions. Chris would probably have cooler things to say, but he's out of town so I'm doing it instead. :) I will also mention that we did most of this from memory, and when we drove past the church later we recognized many flaws in our replication. We also ran out of time to do any detail-type work, so there are no doors or windows marked. There's always next year...

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. :)