The Magic House

Sunday January 24th, our entire family awoke and was ready for the day at 7am.  Since everyone was ready to start their day, we decided to go to the earlier church service.  Once church was over, I told Bill I wanted to take the boys somewhere to do something fun.  After much deliberation with the family, Carter wanted to go to the animal park (zoo) and Nolan wanted to go to the Science Center, Bill and I decided on the Magic House.

Once at the Magic House, Nolan and Carter were excited and happy we chose it.  We hadn't been to the Magic House in at least 3 years, so it was neat to see the changes made as well as enjoy the original items the house had to offer.

Nolan was only 2 when we last visited so I was retelling all the things he enjoyed when he was at the Magic House for the first time.  The bubble pulley really intrigued him, so this was our first stop.

Carter had a small mishap when he let go of the rope too soon.  The hoop came crashing down onto his head with lots of soapy water.  Carter thought it was funny he made a mess and got soap in his hair.

Daddy was the leader and wound us along the path to newly renovated portion of the Magic House.  Blake had a blast in this section.  Blake's favorite thing was the table that blew air up and held balls in place.  Blake would laugh hysterically when he would knock a ball out of place and it rolled away.

Blake was such a big boy exploring on his own!  He was so proud of himself when he would place a peg in the hole.  One thing the Magic House has to offer is the ability to climb on almost ANYTHING.  Nolan and Carter found pretty much anything and climbed on it.

Nolan and Carter wanted to venture on to the water section, so Blake went to the little kids section across the walkway.

The water section was short lived, so we made our way towards the white gates.  As the gates opened I could hear horns sounding and chimes ringing in Carter's mind.  He saw the "race car" section of the children's village.  Carter scooted over to the race car so quickly I couldn't believe it!  In the matter of 3 minutes, Carter had added windshield wiper fluid, changed 2 lug nuts, and rebuilt the engine.  Blake and Nolan took the more caution approach and assessed the situation before jumping in.

I text Papa to let him know Jimmy's new pit crew was training for the next race.  Carter deemed the race car safe to drive and decided to move on.  Bill steered Nolan and Carter towards the fishing pond.  Carter had just as much fun here.  The only problem the boys experienced is they were trying to actually cast the fishing poles instead of placing the magnetic end on the fish.  Eventually they figured it out and caught a few fish, which they released back into the stream.

Moving along, Bill wanted to take a quick stop in the electric department.  Nolan couldn't reach the bike pedals so Bill graciously pedaled the bike for him to illuminate the light bulb.

The Very Eric Carle Exhibit was being shown and he is one of our favorite authors.  Nolan carried around the book "Brown Bear Brown Bear" until the binding broke and I had to tape it back together.  All 3 of my boys love "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" book as well.  Blake hung out in his little cocoon, while Nolan and Carter stomped through the tall "grass".

Entering kids construction zone!  The construction zone was outside and not enclosed, so I snapped a quick picture of Blake in the Caterpillar skid-steer and Bill took him back inside to stay warm.  Nolan and Carter played forever in the rocks!!  My little worker boys shoveling and moving rock.

Blakey was starting to wear down and was ready for a nap.  Nolan and Carter didn't want to leave, but Bill and I assured them we would come back sooner than last time.  This sounded good to them and we left after a few hours at the Magic House.  It is great living so close to such amazing facilities for our kids to enjoy!  We had an amazing trip and couldn't have asked for a more perfect day!!

Snow Much Fun!!

This year we have had a light winter in our area.  Only 1-3 inches of snow, what gives?  This weekend we were finally able to enjoy the little snow we had received earlier this week.

On Friday, I took Nolan and Carter outside for some fun in the snow, but it was very windy and cold. We lasted maybe 20 minutes before going back inside.  The boys had fun sliding down the snow packed slide, making snow angels, and eating icicles.

A little taste of winter on Friday had us begging for more.  On Saturday we visited Papa and Nana's to celebrate Aunt KK's birthday.  Bill wanted to go up early before the celebratory dinner, so he could shoot the new gun he received for his concealed carry.  I found this was the opportune moment to introduce the boys to sledding!!  I guess it is not actually sledding, more like being pulled behind a moving vehicle while on a sled.  Perks of this are no hills to walk back up and you still get to go fast on a sled.  Anyways,  when I was a kid my dad used a car hood, more people could fit on it, and a four wheeler, much faster!!  I opted for the boys to use a sled, the Kubota, and helmets!!  

Blake hung out in the shed while the older boys bundled up!  Blakey sure thought he was a big boy sitting on the four wheeler and tractor.  Blake rode in the front of the Kubota for a little bit, while Nolan and Carter were being pulled on the sled.

I got a couple of thumbs up from Nolan and Carter and then they boarded the sled.  Nolan and Carter did so good!  Bill and I were so proud of them.  I couldn't believe how well they balanced through the turns and how brave they were.  Every once in awhile, Nolan would stop smiling and become really serious and I knew he was nervous but his smile would come right back and he kept going.

Here's a video of Nolan and Carter being pulled behind the Kubota.

It started to become a little cold for Carter and Blake, so Kelby and I took them into the house while Bill, Papa, and Nolan stayed outside to test out the saucer.  As I was watching Nolan out the window on the saucer, Nana came up to me said watching him reminds her so much of watching Kelby and I when we were little being pulled behind the 4-wheeler.  Nolan was so brave!  I asked Nolan later that night if he was scared at all.  He said, "One time I was, I thought Papa was going to fling me off the saucer into the pond!"

Here's a video of Nolan on the saucer.  Bill was recording Nolan from the back of the Kubota.

What a fun time we had even with only a few inches of snow!!  Bill and I were so excited to share our childhood memories with our boys and let them carry on the tradition of being pulled behind a moving vehicle!  Sounds pretty crazy, but you have to have fun some way in a small town when you're snowed in!

Gimme 2 Steps Gimme 2 Steps Mister

Blake William has finally decided to start walking!!  On Friday January 22nd, Blake started gradually walking from one object to the next adding distance in between the two objects.  Blake was so proud of himself.  Along with walking, Blake will stand himself up on his own too.  Here is a video of Blake taking some steps.

These past few weeks Blake has really started to become a toddler.  Blake loves to be read books, play with anything his older brothers are playing with, and be heard.  Blake isn't talking a whole lot yet, but he lets you know when he wants something, needs something, or just wants to be paid attention too.  He usually cannot be seen without his paci.  Blake enjoys eating a lot!!  I don't know how he is so little, because Blake will eat more than his older brothers combined.  One of these days he will catch up.

Blake had his 15 month well visit with Dr. Hulsen on January 5th.  My little peanut kind of took a stall on his growth and weight, but Dr. Hulsen wasn't too concerned.  Blake weighed 21 pounds 9.5 ounces, which places him in the 15th percentile for weight, and measured 29.25 inches, which places him in the 5th percentile for height.  Nolan had his 5 year well visit the same day and was a great big helper!!  Nolan is such a good big brother.