Winter Wednesday

In my attempt to get out and do, we headed to Tracy Aviary for some fun with birds. The day didn't disappoint, especially since Devin got to see a Condor and some eagles. His new-found interest in raptors meant that he began the day with his swim goggles on, in case the raptor talons got him, but after viewing the enclosures, he freely took them off. Most of the day was spent following the boys around and seeing their backs as they ran away.

 

 

 

 

After the aviary, we went to the Liberty Park playground for lunch. The boys had so much fun and loved playing in the beautiful weather. We had silly faces at lunch and giggling with swinging.

 

 

Devin braved the jungle gym, then freaked out about the going down part. I wouldn't save him, but after getting down on his own with much freaking out, and a bystander helping another time (They thought I was an awesome Mom, apparently!) he tried again. I told him that if he went up, he could come down. And, shocker, I was right. He figured out the problem and came down all alone, and he was so proud of himself once he got down. After this, he went up and down with no problem and loved swinging like a monkey. He's even asked to go back so he can try the jungle gym again. Score one for the overcoming fears part of childhood!

Landon Sayings

February 2nd: "Is mine snotty? Is my egg snotty?" Me: "Do you mean runny?" Him: "Yeah, is my egg runny?"

February 4th: He toots, so I tell him to say, "Excuse me." Him: "That wasn't my mouth! That was my bum!" Me: "You still need to say, 'Excuse me, I tooted."

February 4th, at park: "That's not a really awful thing to do. Only a little bit."

February 5th: Unprompted, to me, "You're great! I like you!"

February 7th: "Look at that hog! [fog] We should use a blow dryer to get rid of it!"

Almost every night before bed: Me: "Don't lick me!" Him: "But I'm a puppy and puppies yick. Do my yicks make you happy?" Me: "I like your kisses, but not your licks." Him: "Does my cute yittle dog's yicks make you happy?"

Best Kids' Meal Toy

We've been spending all Friday and Saturday at the house, which means eating out for dinner those nights. 

Devin really wanted a kids' meal for the toy, and these toys didn't disappoint. Landon hit the jackpot with these.

Lambert the Sheepish Lion

Landon really loves the animated short "Lambert the Sheepish Lion." He begged Daddy to watch with him, then offered to hold his hand in case he got scared. Oh Landon Boy; he's always trying to be the protector. Daddy gladly accepted the protection. Then when we switched to the old "Three Little Pigs" short, Devin needed his own reassurance. I just loved seeing these boys all snuggled up.

Devin Sayings

 

January 6th: "Remember that time we touched the temple? . . . I touched it in summer and it was burning; I wonder what it feels like in winter."

January 30th: "Whoa, I'm carrying a lot of stuff. I'm carrying my food, including my sticks!"

January 31st: "What do you suppose that is?"

February 6th: "You sure do have a lot of paint on your pants. And you certainly have a big hole in them."

*Edited to add: I've thought so much lately about the things he says, and usually remember all the funny or insanely mature things he says. But what I'm realizing I want most to remember are the things he still says that make him seem so fragile and tiny. Like how he still, instead of animal, says rather "aminal." He insists that "vatteries" go into the remote and cannot for the life of him say anything but "ridiclious." He once called Landon "Yandon," but now he's grown-up enough to ensure that people truly understand Landon's name, even if Landon himself insists his name is "Yandon." Every time Landon says an "L" word, I remember how Devin, himself, was once that way. But now, he's grown. And how how I'm nostalgic for all those little mispronounced words that I should have documented. Oh, I'm very proud of the strides Devin's making and his language skills, but it's still a teensy sad that instead of saying, "Yook Mommy, yook!" he busts out the technical terms, such as, "Mommy, do you happen to know what I observed when I looked out my window?" (True statement.) How far we've come. I guess this is one reason I don't really correct my kids when they're speaking so innocently, yet so grammatically incorrect. He'll learn soon enough. Sooner than I want.

Summerish Winter Days

This has been a warm January, which means outside time and trips to the park. Landon mostly enjoys using outside time as an excuse to then have hot chocolate time. We've had bubbles and sidewalk chalk and mud and park time.

Both boys enjoyed the mud, though in different ways. Devin used this time to pretend he was a gecko sticking to the walls. Landon used this time to eat mud, telling me it was his sandwich. Gross.

 One day I tried to be spontaneous and suggested a trip to the park to feed the ducks. This was well received. The boys were in heaven, though I was a bit afraid that the ducks were going to attack the wee children, as they were so excited about the bread and very not afraid of these small children. Fears were unfounded, however. The biggest fear ended up being avian flu as Landon face planted it on the concrete covered in duck poop.

After ignoring the duck poop all over him, we headed over to play at the park. What a difference a few months can make, as Devin could climb up the slippery part of the wall, which he was very excited about. The boys' giggles and shouts and happy proclamations of, "This is so much fun!" and "I'm going into space!" brought a smile to my face into the rocky, rough, emotional night. What a wonderful day at the park, and what wonderful fun we're having during these summer/winter days!

Watching and Waiting

Rich got this adorable (yet frustratingly blurry) picture of Landon watching Devin sleep. 

Landon Boy was so very patiently and quietly and waiting for Devin to awake. Rich told him to go back into his room and wait for Devin to get up. I forget sometimes how much love these boys have for each other when they're constantly teasing (Landon) and whining (Devin) or fighting (Landon and Devin).