Tuesday with the Boys

 As always...the best way to "catch up" seems to be to jump back into the present and look for moments to back post...but I have several years of back posts to work on. LOL Why do you think life moves so fast???? 

Today being Tuesday I spent the morning with "the boys." Since I last blogged, they've moved into a new home and are settling in nicely. I wondered if they'd be a bit worked up today as the 2-year-old bedtime routine was thrown off by t-ball. They were a bit "squirrely" - the 2 yo's - but I've learned keeping busy together helps lower the individual mischief quotient. 

In their previous home we would spend about 20 minutes jumping on the mini-trampoline and doing YouTube kids chases. In this house the TV is put in their bedroom, and we're forced to creative play. ::snort:: Seriously, if your children watch YouTube kids beware. Check it out carefully. Odd links began showing up.... harmless looking...click for the next chase type thing but porn sites show up. So - no more. 

This new home has a magical closet. Arielle has organized it all quite nicely and the boys KNOW - only one thing from the closet comes out at a time. In fact, today the 2 yo's wanted the bin of beans and I was relieved when Benny shared the opinion, "No! That's too messy for Bachan to have to do." 

Oh - the choices! 

First, we all took a turn bowling. Benny was certain a football would work as well as a bowling ball.  Ok, points for creativity. 

We next tried a rousing game or two of Duck Pond...but none of the boys were having the rules of the thing...so basically, they grabbed them off the ring and threw them back on. LOL They thought it was a lame game.... which will preach. Following the rules sometimes gives purpose to the game of life. LOL 

Benny wanted to do a puzzle. I knew this would work best if the twinkies were occupied elsewhere. I got the playdough bin out of the closet and set them up at the table.  Benny and I worked on his puzzle from Aunt Coco at the island behind the table. 

It bought us enough time to get the edges done and start on the middle... my plan worked well, until it didn't. The littles were ready to join in. Benny was indignant...but they really weren't much trouble....

I am impressed at how focused Danny was on the puzzle. He put together a section. Yes, Benny is right, we had to do it over, but it's all a learning experience.  We made memories. 

We were still working on the puzzle when Arielle got home from her staff meeting. We finished the puzzle, visited a bit and I came home. 

It's been a gray and drizzly day. I grabbed some soup and tea and had a chat with Allie before she had to leave. She's enjoying being off school...but has doubled her work hours so her schedule is still very full. 

Stacia came up and we had a chat too. She then headed over the CoRielle's with materials to make nightlights with the boys. 

A gray day screams for reading...which I began...and woke up an hour or so later. It was time to make dinner...Smoky Salmon Chowder , one of Michael's favorites, was on the menu. Stacia got home and made biscuits. 

I'm blogging at the table and Michael and Stacia are next to me working on the big puzzle project. I think we're going to settle in to read a chapter from, The Call of the Mild, by Tory Martin. 

And we saw this flier in the newspaper today....Stacia's name was in it...though she isn't going to use the benefits as the UA system won't prep her for her goal of missions in Japan. 

Note - it is o.k. for me to leave Little Buddy's profile per his social worker. His name is nowhere on the blog, or this post. 

Sheer Cuteness Overload

 It's a red-letter day! 

A day full of milestones. 

The last patch of snow has FINALLY melted from our yard. It only took a week of "warm" temps. Birds and leaves have arrived...and sun too. Yes, SUN. It comes up at 5:04 a.m. (lighter earlier) and sets at 10:44 p.m. (lighter later). The garden is accessible. Unfortunately, I began to believe the winter would never end and I didn't start seedlings in March or April...there was still 4 feet of snow on the ground. LOL  I'm making a plan. 

Moving on from Alaska's crazy seasonal and weather patterns...is there ANYTHING cuter than T-ball? I had forgotten how fun it can be with great coaches and nice parents. Arielle asked Michael and I if we wanted to coach. Nope.  But after the sheer cuteness overload from tonight, we may consider it next year.  

Tonight, was Benny's first T-ball game.  Y'all one child hits the ball, and everyone runs from the field to grab it, and dog pile on their teammate who reaches the ball first...

We arrived early and Benny ran up to share, "Bachan, I'm so excited and nervous too." I assured him this is a quite normal state when one is doing something for the very first time. 

We were not about to miss the game. We simply bundled GG up and told him he was coming. LOL  As two of our young adults have left the home, we are going to have to do that more often if we hope to have any sort of activities away from home. 

Benny is up to bat! 

And then the running. 

Benny made it to first base. Of course, in T-ball everyone makes it home and no one is ever out. 

I had some blankets in the back of the car which we wrapped around GG. We also gave him a handwarmer Arielle had in her diaper bag. Next game I bring hot drinks, hand warmers, make sure GG has a warm coat, and maybe more blankets. 

Michael ran into one of the guys from our local police department. It was fun for me to get to visit a bit with his wife. 

I spent a little bit of time chasing 2 year olds - all part of the fun. 

"Are they twins?" 

Hmm....a question "I" hadn't been asked yet. 

My rather confusing answer was, "Little Buddy is a month older than Danny." ::snort:: 

I'm going to have to get Arielle to help me come up with a better answer. I think I could say, "Not identical." ::snort:: I'm certainly not going into life histories at the ballpark. 

Oh, they weren't in danger...I was right there. 

These boys are a blast to spend time with...and a day is coming when we can mention Little Buddy's name and show his face...

Papa said this was great fun. He had me order a T-ball stand while we were watching the game. It won't be here for THIS Saturday but I think it will be a great addition to our household park and games! 

I realize I've not blogged for a month or so.  There are things I am processing deeply, and I have chosen to do that by journaling. I have just about filled the journal and I need to save some time to blog. LOL  I hope you are having a great spring.

Yes, May 15th and it's starting to feel like spring up here. 

*Thanks to Arielle for all the photos in this post. 

Grand April Snippets

There are many WONDERFUL photos of the grandkids on my phone....photos I'd not blogged yet. I've decided the easiest way to handle the backlog is to do a giant post of photos which Mommies sent me in April. Thanks for all the mommies for keeping me well-supplied with content.  This is a shameless Grandma blog post. Look at the cuteness! HOW did I not get a photo of Liv? I will remedy that! 

This is Jojo on the left and Trudy on the right - both born on Nov 17th  - 2 years apart

And so begins he adventure. Jared reads The Hobbit to Noah. 

Such a happy little one! 

Noah learned to roll over....

Visiting Papa and Bachan!

Jared and Noah

Bachan and Noah

Noah

Noah and Larissa! 

Can we take a minute in simple awe of all the props and outfits Larissa has prepared for Noah? 

Noah Bear

Such sweet Sisters - 2 of BreZaak's gals

Bella and Trudy

Gideon's post dentist treat...something my mom started. 

Annie and Trudy

This is from WAY before April...but I found it on my phone so here it is...Josiah and Trudy. 

Gideon and Trudy

Sweet Dream Isabella

Stacia went over and spent a few hours with the kids. The plan was to teach Bella how to use a round loom, but all of them joined in. 

Dinner time! Trudy 

Jojo LOVES Trudy. He's always nearby. He loves to sit and read to her. 

Gideon 

Jojo set up chair lets and used his cars to form a make-shift bowling alley after the church bowling party on May 6th...so this should be with the May Snippets...but I'm leaving it here. 

CoRielle took a major step in making Little Buddy officially a part of their family. 

 Stacia joined me one Tuesday and it was nice to have another set of hands at the park! 

Cuteness overload. 

Bella's Friend Party...

It's unimaginable that Bella turned SEVEN in April! Bella is turning into a beautiful young lady - inside and out!  Bre and Izaak hosted her friend party today. It was fun to see her surrounded by so many friends. We are starting to truly put down roots in this place. It's a good thing. Bella was one year and three months old when she moved to Alaska. 

She chose Bunnies as her theme.  Bre made cute cupcakes with Bunny ears...personally, I loved the baby carrots. LOL 

This game is darling. Bre wrapped a gift. Then rewrapped it again and again. I have no clue how many layers - but a lot. As the music played the kids passed the gift. When the music stopped they unwrapped one layer. Repeat until the gift is unwrapped and the gift belongs to the child who unwraps the final layer.  

Earlier in the morning our Gather Table group had met for brunch. Three of us were at the party...me as Grandma and Joelle and Rebekah brought their children. It was a bonus friend day for me.  I caught Bre with something in her mouth - but I think she needs to be in the photo anyway. 

Bre, Rebekah, Lindsey 

These sisters, Jenni and Joelle, have been a joy to get to know. Jenni is our children's team lead, she is also on youth staff, and attends our lifegroup.  Joelle is on the women's ministry team and leads the table group I've been a part of for the past five months. They are also TCKs (Third Culture Kids) and I love hearing their missionary kid stories...a thing we have in common. 

Jenni, Me and Joelle

Stacia, Jenni and myself met Mike and GG over at the church where we helped Ed and Jennifer set up for tomorrow's potluck dinner.

Shannon was upstairs and we took the opportunity to chat. We are sure going to miss Shannon and Lindsey. Tomorrow is their final service with our church body.