Strawberry Picking turns Stick Collecting

On Sunday, Collin woke up with stomach bug symptoms, and we all braced ourselves and washed our hands obsessively.  Thankfully, he was the only one that caught it, and though he was feeling better Sunday evening, we kept him home with Cas while Maya and I headed to my grandma's to celebrate my uncle Dick's birthday.  

Maya and I were the last to arrive and I delayed dinner even further with this photo opp.  I thought it was worth it!

We told Collin that he could either come with me to take lots of pictures or stay home and watch Finding Nemo.  I just omitted the part about after pictures, we'd be celebrating with the family and topping the night off with cake.  What he doesn't know won't hurt him.  The birthday boy with Maya looking on - 

A few days later, Cas headed to Chicago for work and we headed to my parents' house to play.  My mom took off work on Friday and we had planned to hit up a library story hour and park during the day.  Instead we let Maya take a long nap and then played in their backyard, visiting with their neighbor and the neighbor's new puppy. 

After lunch, Maya and I took naps, and when I woke up to see how Collin was doing in his room during rest time, I found him cuddled up with a towel on my parents' bed.  As soon as my dad got home from work, they grabbed a pile of books and started reading!

Later that afternoon we headed to the high school stadium for a playoff soccer game.  My best friend's husband coaches for one of the teams, and we went to cheer them on.  Maya was happy waving to the soccer fans and eating Cheerios in the stands.   

Collin was happy running up and down the ramps with the other kids and cheering with the help of the big foam hand.  He heard a parent yell "heads up" at an appropriate point in the game, and grabbed onto that expression, continuing to yell "heads up" throughout the game no matter what was happening on the field.  At one point, a parent yelled in Spanish and Collin attempted to repeat the phrase.

The next morning while Maya napped, Collin, Grammy and I headed to a nearby farm to pick strawberries.  Both my kids like strawberries, and Collin appropriately calls Maya "a strawberry eating machine."  Posing surrounded by rows and rows of strawberries -

Collin's "oh my goodness" expression -

Happy to spend the morning with my mom and my big boy -

After he picked a handful of strawberries, he moved on to his true love, stick collecting.

Collin with his stick, Grammy with our full basket of strawberries -

Back at my parents' home, we played in the front yard until it was time to head home and see Cas.  First time in the tree and feeling very proud of this brave feat -

Swinging on the front porch with my happy girl -

She rediscovered her tongue and stuck it out all weekend -

Typical reaction to seeing the camera pointed in his direction

With all the strawberries, we decided to make strawberry shortcake, but we didn't have a box mix for angel food cake.  After reading a few involved recipes online, we found a shortcake recipe on the Bisquick box and decided it was good enough.  Trying his first bite of strawberry shortcake -

Sugary things generate genuine smiles -

Toasting the dessert with fellow berry-picker, Grammy -

Nearly Polar Bear Swimming in the new pool

We were filling up the pool the weekend Aunt Anisja was visiting, and when we woke up Saturday morning, there was enough water to splash around in our long-awaited swimming pool.  Despite the 60-something-degree water, some of the boys couldn't wait to jump in.

First though, we had to pose in front of the pool and on top of the slide.  Cas and his Aunt Anisja -

Libero, Lorenzo and Anisja -

 Libero, Anisja, Grandma Libia and the boy cousins, Lorenzo, Collin and Nico -

Collin was the first one in the pool.  He started off in clothes and shed them as they got wet.  The pool was FREEZING and my boy has no fat on him, but he was so excited to be in the pool that he ignored the cold.  Thankfully Grandma Libia brought him some clothes  -

Cas in front of his pool -

First June bug -

After her morning nap, Maya came to check it out -

Posing with Daddy in her sun hat -

We've got to protect her nearly-bald head from the sun -

Once it warmed up, she was dressed for the pool party in tutu and top -

Oh what fun to be the only granddaughter -

Aunt Anisja with Nico -

Despite the freezing water and the pool only being about halfway filled, Uncle Libero took on the dare to be the first one on the slide - 

Collin hosed him down -

And paid the price -

Lorenzo and Maya hung out in the shade and chatted with each other over the exersaucer -

I wish we could know what they were saying, like, "do you want to nibble on my finger?"

A scene replayed daily, my sweet boy with a weed flower -

Maya was happy in Aunt Anisja's arms -

Aunt Elida staying dry with Lorenzo -

As the adults loaded the cars and we said good-bye, the boys rode together on tricycles -

Collin very reluctantly shared his scooter with Nico - 

 

A few more tickles from Grandma Libia before saying adios -

Maya enjoyed being the tallest one in the family on her daddy's shoulders -

And when everyone left, we allowed the rest of the family in the pool.  Bruno has taken multiple daily swims since -

We had a great weekend with family, had SUCH a wonderful time seeing Aunt Anisja, and now that the pool is filled, we're ready for the water to warm up enough for the sane ones like me to take a dip!

Great Aunt Introductions

We were so excited for Maya and Lorenzo to meet their great aunt, Anisja, from New York last weekend.  We had the family over for dinner on Friday night, giving us plenty of time to play, catch up, and pose for a few pictures!

 

Maya meeting her great-aunt Anisja -

Collin had a great time with all the family, playing with Lorenzo -

And being silly with Uncle Libero -

While the big kids and adults played in the backyard and picked up dinner, the babies hung out on the rug.  Maya is 3 months older than Lorenzo - and at 10 months, those months make a big difference.  She's much more mobile, crawling and pulling up, but I think Lorenzo has her beat in height and weight!

Neither have any concept of being gentle, but they rolled around without any tears, so it was a successful cousin playtime -

One last picture with Aunt Anisja before the babies took a bath together.  I brought the camera in the bathroom, but Elida and I were too busy with our little ones for me to take a photo of the first baby cousin bath.

The big boys, however, are less needy in the tub, so we got a few happy, splashing photos of Collin and Nico -

We were so excited to have both Aunt Anisja and Grandma Libia spend the night on Friday, and Uncle Libero and family returned Saturday for more family time. 

A mother-son morning

On a Saturday at the beginning of March, Cas stayed home with Maya so Collin and I could take advantage of a members-only hour at the Children's Museum.  It was nice to let him lead the way and give him my full attention, and we had a fun morning together.

Racing on a mo-ped

We read the stories on the walls, played with masks, and he went down the pole in the obstacle course by himself for the first time.  It was a fun mother-son morning!

A few days later, my grandma came for dinner.  This happens often, especially when Cas travels.  I snapped a few pictures of the kids together on the piano - they both love banging away on the keys. 

I went back to the Children's Museum a few weeks later with both kids.  They had a great time but this was the only photo I took, as my hands were busy keeping Maya from putting everything within reach in her mouth. 

Our sweet neighbors are both in elementary school, and one beautiful Monday we were out on the front lawn enjoying the afternoon when the kids got off the school bus.  Collin ran to tell them hi, and Chris brought him a stick since Collin always shows him the latest stick he's found.  Then we played on scooters and jumping rope with the neighbors for over an hour, which I thought was so sweet of their 7 and 10 year old to humor Collin that long!