Comfort. . .

You never know what, or if for that matter, your kids will attach themselves to as their comfort item. With both the boys I have put only objects in their beds that I could live with them carrying everywhere - my criteria for such items is that they must me on the small side and I'm able to get multiples of said object for swapping out and washing purposes. About a month ago Matthew seem to have chosen the one item in his bed that comforts him, his little blanket; he sleeps with it, takes it with him after naps for a few extra cuddles as he wakes up, takes it to church nursery and MOPS, recently clung to it when sick and generally has it whenever he feels the need for comfort. I just love how he snuggles with it!

Building a Rocket

This month at preschool Joshua 's class is learning about different vehicles. As a culmination of the month the teachers have planned a "drive-in movie" day for the last day of the month. For this special day each preschooler was to make a vehicle of their choice with their parents and bring it to school to sit in to watch the movie. A couple weeks ago we started this project; it was right around the time the space station could be viewed at night and during this time we looked up pictures and information about the space station on the web. When asked what vehicle he wanted to create Joshua changed his mind from his original choice of a police truck to a rocket. The first step to creating Joshua's rocket was to draw up a plan of what he wanted it too look like.

Thanks to Cory hunting down the perfect box at work the rocket began to take shape. Joshua and Cory worked hard on creating the shape of the rocket. Even Matthew had to get in on the action by testing the window to see if he could peek out.

The next step was spray painting the box which unfortunately Joshua couldn't do a lot of, but he was a good supervisor! Joshua really wanted to paint the entire rocket with glow in the dark paint, but at $8 for a tiny can quickly talked him out of it and talked him into creating glow in the dark designs on his white rocket. So what to paint? Joshua decided I should draw stars along the top that he would trace in black permanent marker and then we would paint with the glow in the dark paint.

Once the details were pretty much complete on the outside it was time to add the details to the inside. Joshua decided his rocket needed lots of buttons and a computer screen in which he drew a picture of his rocket soaring through space.

The finished product is a pretty cool rocket that one little boy is very proud of creating and can't wait to bring to school for drive-in movie day!

More Exploring

Last night we walked a different way around the wet lands behind us to see what we could find and see. We came across a little stream that takes water from the pond to a creek that goes under the railroad tracks. Joshua had to test the water to see how cold it was. Once the temps are warmer I foresee a trip to that stream to dip our toes! Can't believe we've lived here a year and just started exploring what is literally right in our backyard, amazing! We ended up walking the railroad tracks back to our house which Joshua LOVES! Matthew just takes it all in and enjoys the view from the backpack as we walk along. On our walk we picked up a few "treasures" that we took back home - one was a seed pod of sorts so when we got home Cory cut it open to discover, well, not much as it looks like an animal had already taken the seed. Another fun night of exploring was had!

Brrr, the water was cold!

Walking back home.

Joshua tried to step from railroad tie to railroad tie.

"What's inside?"

"Hmmmm, nothing is inside!"

The seed pod we cut open.

Cousins

Last week I watched Aiden three days and Owen one those days too. It was so neat to see the little boys interact and study one another! The differences in age (2 1/2 months separate them), development and personality are fascinating to me. Aiden is very laid back and takes it all in (much like Joshua was as a baby) and Matthew is busy, busy, busy and LOUD (much like Owen was as a baby). Since we know opposites attract hopefully these two will grow up being good friends like their brothers are! Ironically the children with similar personalities have the same middle names!

Playing together - typical, they kept wanting what the other one had.

Matthew liked pushing Aiden around in the walker.

Just up from morning naps they discovered the big boys playing outside and the train going by.

Enjoying God's Creation

So thankful that we have this in our backyard to explore and enjoy . . . . . . and thanks to the weather that's exactly what we did last night!

It doesn't get any better than spending time as a family enjoying the beauty that God has created!

Gettin' our Vitamin D!

After a drab, cold winter this weather is GLORIOUS! We have been spending as much time as possible outside these days. Yesterday we ate both lunch and dinner outside and today we ate lunch outside so we could once again soak up the sunshine! I hear snow is in the forecast for the next week (although I'm hoping the weather people are WRONG); until we see the white flakes flying we'll be enjoying the gift of sunshine and warm temps that God has given us for now!

Yikes!

This Saturday our MOPS group is having a Mom 2 Mom sale at our church. Last year I couldn't be a part of the sale as I needed to keep everything baby related in anticipation of Matthew's arrival. This year is a whole different story! I sorted through all the clothes Matthew has outgrown already and priced them and it's a bit embarrassing to see the amount of clothing I have to sell (oh and I still have 25 other items to put on hangers as well as all my maternity clothes). Seriously, what kid needs that many clothes?!?! Of course if you consider the rate a child grows during their first year of life I suppose there is a lot of clothes to accommodate that growth - it just looks ridiculous when you hang it all up in one space! I'm just hoping that most of this stuff sells. Not only will we enjoy a bit of extra cash from selling baby stuff, but even better will be the room we are regaining in our home!

Bad hair day . . .

Poor Matthew looks like a Kewpie Doll today. No matter what I do I can't get that tuft of hair to lay down flat on his head. Funny!

Playing together

Seems rare these days that the boys will play together, usually all I hear is shouts of "Mom Matthew's taking/destroying/wrecking my _____________(insert toy being played with at that moment)." Tuesday I was trying to clean the house and after emerging from a room I found the boys in the kitchen playing under the bar stools they had pushed together and they were laughing! I just had to get a picture of this rarity.

After watching them for a few minutes I asked if they'd like to build a bigger fort/tent to play in together. Joshua was excited and Matthew was, well, clueless. Using the kitchen table we draped sheets and blankets over it to create a bigger play space.

Both boys LOVED it and actually played in it together for 45 minutes - oh and ate a snack in their fort too! I sure hope that there are more episodes of the boys playing together and enjoying one another. Life in the Hager house was peaceful, at least for a little while.

Good way to wear the kiddos out

Joshua earned his privilege last week for making good choices and chose to go to "the trampoline place" as he says (the real name of the place is For the Kidz). Saturday night we went to open gym and for 2 hours (and only $8) Joshua jumped, hopped, hung, climbed and ran around. Matthew wanted so badly to do what the big kids were doing, but he had to settle for crawling around on the mats and trampolines. It was the perfect way to wear the kids out and ensure a good nights sleep! Joshua has already asked if we can go back so I'm sure more visits are in our future.

Matthew and Aiden playing on the mats.

Joshua's favorite thing - jumping in the foam pit.

Joshua and Owen jumping on the little trampolines

Owen chillin' in the foam pit.

Owen and Matthew in the foam pit.

Running on the long trampoline.

Matthew sinking further into the foam pit.

Matthew loved hanging on the rings.

Joshua tries the rings.

Using his muscles to hang!

First Tooth!

Can't take a picture of it because you can barely see it, but it's official that Matthew at least won't grow up toothless - we were beginning to wonder. Friday night when I brushed his gums before bed (yes we have begun this even though he has no teeth so he gets used to it) I felt the beginnings of a tooth actually popping through the gums. The little bugger has a bottom tooth pushing it's way up, FINALLY! Now to see how long it actually takes that little tooth to be visible. . . . .

Just a Tease

I'm sure that God is just giving us a little tease with this spring weather, but I'll take it before we get hit with at least one more good snowstorm. After school we played outside for a bit. This was Matthew's first time being mobile outside, as snowsuits don't really allow for any movement at all. He crawled around on the cement and found rocks and wood chips that apparently looked very tasty as they all went in his mouth - that little bugger is fast when putting things in his mouth, but thankfully is very good at spitting things out when instructed to. Between crawling up the steps to the front door and attempting to dive down them and putting every little thing in his mouth this kid kept me hopping. I'm sure this little one is going to keep me busy this spring and summer. Joshua just loved the feel of the sunshine on his back as he ran around without a coat for the first time in a loooong time!

I found a cute new swimsuit for Matthew this morning at the store so we just had to try it and a few others hand-me-down ones on him this afternoon. Of course Joshua had to join in the fun and try all his swimsuits on too!


Wishful thinking boys! We have a couple of months before we can actually wear swimsuits outside.