Felt Board Fun

I've been meaning to work on this one for a while now. Finally, I buckled down and I'm really happy with how it ended up. Zach LOVES this book "Freight Train" By Donald Crews. It's super simple, just describes each colored car and then tells where the train goes. The drawings are very simple but he loves it- he basically loves anything train related. I figured it would be a perfect felt board story so I traced each car on it's respective color and WHA-LA! We now have our very own Freight Train. We are missing the purple box car because I didn't have any purple but I still think it will be a great learning tool for colors.

Finger Painting

A few days ago Zach had an idea and he was pretty excited to carry it out. He found a bottle of paint then gathered up his bib and insisted on being put into his high chair. How could I deny him? We started with finger painting and then pulled out an old jeep for a repeat of our driving project from his tot class a few weeks ago. He was totally thrilled to get down and dirty. Here are his creations. I thought they turned out pretty neat.

Then, I turned my back and when I looked back I found this. HOW, I don't know. But I thought it was pretty funny. He didn't like me laughing at him very much.

A New Toy

Jason helped some friends of ours pack up some of thier belongings in preparation of moving accross the country (bummer!!). As a thank you they sent him home with the great new toy.
Zach was THRILLED! The battery only lasts 10 minutes but my boys sure made good use of that time. Zach was even driving it all by himself- while I curled up on the couch cringing every time he got near me. I was quite sure he was going to take off one of my toes! Boys will be boys though and I really don't think they could have been happier.

More Children's Museum

We went to the museum again today- I know TWO days in a row! How awsome is that! We are really getting edgumacated.

This time I tried to make an extra effort to hand the camera over and get in there WITH Zach. One of my friends had blogged about realizing she wasn't in any pictures and then overcoming the innate desire we women have to hide BEHIND the camera. These are supposed to be memories- I was there too!
We went fishing for a good while this time. Zach was actually pretty good at guiding the fishing pole to the fish where the magnet would snatch them up. He was always so excited when he actually got one.

We also tried the sand box.

Fascinating!

Thank you Whitney for playing Photographer for me today!

Children's Museum

Today was our first day using our new Children's Museum pass. We went with our friends Melinda, Evelyn, and Lizzy and all of us had a BLAST!

First we played with this neat river obstacle course. You drop the golf boll into a "log" at the top and then it rolls down a pin-ball like course of sticks and stones untill it reaches a dam at the bottom. Zach sat ON the dam most of the time and giggled as the balls rolled toward him.
Then we found the slide. Zach is now confident enough to climg up the stairs and slide down ALL BY HIMSELF.

As you can tell- he thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

There's my favorite crooked grin again.

The Domes

Today we went to visit the Domes downtown. They are these giant domes (duh!) that house gardens from different climates of the world so that you can experience the beautiful plants from those places. They have free entrance for Milwaukee county residents on Monday mornings so we were excited to take advantace of some free fun!
It was also the last week that the Lego exhibit would be there. What could be better than trains and foliage right?

Here's the ceiling- it actually made me a little dizzy to look up at it.

Here you can see the next dome through the windows. Plus- I just liked the picture.

Zack was totally enthralled with the trains and would jump up and down pointing and grunting like a monkey whenever they came by.

Here's Chicago- Lego Style

Here's Zach literally drooling over the trains.

We saw cactus in the desert dome- these are Barrel Cacti.

We saw grapefruit, cocoa, and BANANAS in the tropical dome.

And some pretty cool flowers to.

All in all I think it was a really fun trip. Until Zach sat on his milk and it popped open spilling all over his stroller, and his bum. I guess that was our signal that it was time to go home. We both enjoyed it very much and I think we just might have to make it a regular experience.

Day at the Park

It's our first trip to the park for this year and Zack is thrilled to finally get some fresh air. This was especially fun since he is old enough now to be able to really enjoy all of the joys the park has to offer.

There's the trailer:
The Swing (tons of giggles found there):

The Tube:

The Sliiiiiiiiiiiiiide!

And this neat bar that was really fun to walk along.

"You want to go home now? No way! What is this strange feeling- I found Sand!"

Despite the apparent grimace- Zack thouroghly enjoyed himself. He left little trails through the sand all around the playground and he hurried to examine each new toy.

I love spring!!

The Grandparents visit

(By Zack)
This last weekend my grandparents came to visit from Idaho. We were so excited. They were on a business trip and took an extra long "layover" so that they could spend a couple of days with thier youngest grandson.

First I showed them my new favorite game on the computer.
"Baby Smash"- it's a free download that locks your keyboard to only play shapes, letters and music. I love to sit nicely and play baby smash for extended periods of time. (Gives mom a nice break)

Don't you dare take away my keyboard!

Then Grandma took me for a walk around the living room.

Around and around and around... until I finally fell asleep


With my bear of course.

Grandpa wanted a picture for his wall of grandkids.

TICKLE FIGHT!!

After all the fun I was so pooped I needed a nap.

We had to take Grandma and Grandpa to the airport in Chicago. It was a looooong drive but mom kept me entertained by giving me a chocolate chip granola bar to eat while I watched lion king. Dad tied our portable DVD player onto the back of the seat so that I could lounge in my chair while enjoying some great films. It was like traveling first class!

Then we got home and mom put me straight into the bath. I wonder, why the hurry?

P.S. more pics to come- we also went to the Jelly Belly factory but mom needs to find the pictures.

Poor Zack

Poor Zack...
He's an only child...
He has no sisters...

So who gets to help mom model her newest creations?
Poor child!

The good news is that mom actually sold a tutu... to someone she didn't even know... through Craigslist!

Hooray!

These are a few of my favorite things...

Zack wants to grow up to be just like his dad. His favorite thing to do every day is to crawl around searching for dad's stuff so he can wear it. Every tie that is within reach is promptly thrown around his neck. The moment Jason walks in the door Zack demands to be given dad's nametag and stethascope. As soon as he has them around his neck he beams with such pride.

In this picture he actually has three of dad's ties on and a bell necklace. He is always wearing those bells, he puts them on himself every day. I guess it's alright because I always know where he is!

Also pictured is Zack's newest toy. It's yet another Craig's list find. It's a walker/scooter and it plays music. I happened to check the listings just as it was being posted and I am so glad! I'm planning on listing our other walker from christmas because I'll probably be able to pay for both toys by selling one of them. Awsome!

Walker- $8 regular $30

Walker/scooter- $3 regular $30-40

I figure if I sell the walker for ten bucks we'll be happy. Goodness- I could give it away and stll be ahead of the game. Both of them are basically brand new.

It's perfect because Jason's parents wanted to get Zack a scooter for his birthday. They told me to pick one out but I just couldn't justify the cost. Now they've given him a scooter AND a walker for basically nothing.

I love deals!

Bathtime

I always love those cute shots of kids enjoying thier baths, but woe... up until now I have not had the guts to post any of mine. THIS is why....
No, not the sad faced kid in the center of the photo. The background. That yucky, icky black streak that screams out from behind a precious picture of a squeaky clean little boy. Yes, his face does reflect my own opinion of the bathtub situation as it stood.

NOW... before you judge. I do actually clean my bathroom on occasion. I really do! This streak was due to a badly sealed silicone job long before we moved here. I tried everything, I bleached, I scrubbed. Even Jason, the cleaning GURU was unable to conquer the black plague. Much to my dismay it was actually getting WORSE! Whatever little mold gremlin that had snuck itself under the silicone was multiplying.

Finally we took matters into our own hands. (My "we" I mean- I begged and Jason did the leg work.) I cleaned the bathtub real good and then Jason scraped out all of the old silicone and replaced it with new- black FREE- silicone.

Now I can go hog wild with the happy bathtub scenes as such...

MUCH Better right?

And once again, Zack's face reflects my own feelings on the bathroom situation. He's all smiles!

Like Father, Like Son

The pencils

We have started a new daily activity at our house.

First, Zack spots the pencils.
"Mwa, ha ha ha.... they are within my reach once again!"
After removing a few he attempts to put them back.
"Uh Oh, someone is going to notice"

Finally he gives up and enjoys the fruits of his labor.

"This is soooo worth the risk of being caught"