We've Been Busy!

Too busy to post, I guess.  Let's catch up.  So, this past Friday we went to the zoo (again) with our friend, Noah (again).  The zoo seems to be a great place for the two boys to run around and get their energy out.  I didn't take a stroller this time, so Zach did some running, too.  Although, Murphy's law - he wanted to be carried a lot, too.

Here are the pics from the zoo:

now Zach holds hands with the big boys!!

checking out the reindeer

just saw the goats

spring made it to the zoo!

seriously?

the crazy monkey

Zach was able to play on the zoo playground for the first time!

checking out the bears

choo choo ride

Zach's first time on the zoo train!

doesn't look like he's "joying" it very much....

On Monday, we went to "DPW" Day in Melrose.  We did this last year, too, and it's a lot of fun.  The DPW parks tons of trucks, diggers, bobcats, etc. in the street and parking lot, and kids get to sit in all of them.  Gabe took a turn in almost EVERY truck (there were probably 40 of them).  Zach didn't want to sit in any of them, except for the garbage truck, dump truck, and ambulance.  After we had fun with the trucks, we played in the baseball field across the way, where they had tractors and games for the kids.  The boys LOVED it.

peeking out of the garbage truck

inside the DPW truck

mini loader

that would be Gabe in the giganto bulldozer

Gabe in the digger

digging in my digger

trying out my shovel

inside the ambulance - Gabe loved asking "questions"

inside the ambulance - I think Zach thought he had to act the part

how Zach saw most of the heavy machinery

garbage truck again - this was their favorite

Zachie's driving

I have no idea what he was doing in this shot (surrendering?)

Gabe driving the tractor

another tractor thing

popcorn break

"Nini and Poppa have one of these"  (said Gabe.  I don't think theirs is quite so big, though)

Gabe smelled out the popcorn stand

so did Zach

this was back in the ambulance

look at those cheeks!

playing with the big blow-up basketball hoop

here goes Zachie!   (he was actually just eating the ball's plug)

running

Gabe's trying to get the ball in the basket

Yesterday (Tuesday) Gabe had a field day at school.  Remember field days?  His school called it "Fun & Fitness."  So cute.  They did running games, dancing, yoga, and played with a parachute.  (You should have seen Gabe dancing.  Man, I feel so guilty for passing my dancing gene onto him.)

circle time - waiting for the next activity

sitting on my rug

there's my little love playing with the parachute

yoga time!

more yoga

that's Gabe's teacher, Miss Jill, on the left in the pink shirt

after the activities the kids ate Popsicles.  Zach got the last one!

Zach was so happy to see Gabe after watching him at field day that he hugged him as soon as he got to him

walking back into school to get ready to go home

This Post Is For You, Auntie Teetee

So, Auntie Teetee got a new car.  She traded in her fire engine red Jeep Wrangler for a cream-colored Mini Cooper with black racing stripes!  When I told Gabe that Teetee got a new car, he didn't look happy at first.  When I quickly added that she bought a "Poppa" car, it seemed to assist him in making the mental transition.   (My dad,"Poppa", also drives a mini cooper).  For the past week, when Gabe plays with the Jeep he also has to play with the Mini Cooper and vice versa!  He's too much.

Please show us your Mini Cooper soon, Teetee!  Gabe will LOVE it.

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

We were really blessed this weekend.  The rainy weather lifted, Jason found time each day to spend with the family even though he also had to work a lot, and we also had a date night on Friday night - thanks to Melissa.  Long weekends always sound great in theory, and I look forward to each and every one.  The downside is that we lose our routine, and the boys can be a super handful.  Even with our adventures to the Salem Willows amusement park, Crane's Beach, and the Museum of Science, it felt like a cooky weekend.  Almost as if I need a vacation from the long weekend. 

Most importantly, though, the boys had fun!  Gabe loved the Salem Willows amusement park.  Man, was it a scene from the 1970s.  The rides are ANCIENT.  There were cars, boats, and a carousel.  You'll see how dated this place is in the photos.  It was so much fun to see the boys going on rides together!  I can't believe that they're old enough to enjoy these things together.  That's a milestone, right?

Crane's Beach was also fun.  We arrived early and left by 11:00 ish to get the boys home for lunch and nap.  But again, this was an experience that the boys enjoyed together, as well as individually.  Thankfully, Zach's over the eating sand phase, and now that he's walking and running, he seems to have a great time.  However, the pictures show a more serious side of Zach. 

Here are some pictures from the weekend:

driving their antique car

check out how old these things are!

here's the tandem motorcycle

riding the boats!

so cute!

not sure if I'm really liking this...

okay, this isn't so bad

driving my ladybug

he seemed to like riding the lady bug

but each time he went around, he sunk lower and lower into the seat

sitting on the shortest horse

Zach and Daddy on the carousel

why are we so miserable at Crane's Beach?

yes, that's Daddy chilling in the beach chair

playing nicely together

running from the waves

he had so much fun!

giving Daddy his second kiss of the morning!

Zach's all about his Daddy theses days

snuggle time with Daddy

Next up, a series of different Zach faces

no idea what was going through his mind