Memorial Day Outing

For Memorial Day, we decided to try out the new expo line and head to the Natural History Museum. This meant that we got to take three trains, which is always a popular decision around here. Elijah struggled with the real, but not alive concept--a bit tricky for a three year old. But he was fascinated by the dioramas and dinosaur bones.

The Butterfly Pavilion was Josiah's favorite activity--there were tons of beautiful butterflies flitting around as well as some caterpillars and chrysalises to observe.

A Monarch

Zebra Longwings

Josiah watched birds while eating lunch

Dinosaurs!

My family with the T-Rex family: adult, juvenile, and baby

All tired out; once he was done with the museum, he just wanted to snuggle with his blanket in the wrap--like a little koala

Waiting for the train to take us home

Memorial Day Weekend: Heritage Park

On Saturday, we headed to Heritage Park. The park has a beautiful island containing a small replica of a Revolutionary War town. You are greeted by a Paul Revere statue right before you go through a covered bridge over the Charleston River to cross over to the island.

There were tons of turtles and lots of water fowl, including a couple of families of ducklings.

They had play structures coming in and out of brick buildings--above is Elijah sliding out of the church. 

 

We had fun exploring it!

Children's Museum

Back in March, we got the chance to go to the local children's museum with the mom's group at church. Elijah had lots of riding the carousel and the bus, playing fire engines, and watching the electric train.






l

Happy Easter!

Elijah has eagerly been counting down the days to Easter. We've enjoyed doing the Road to Calvary in preparation, where we looked at OT foreshadowings of Christ as well as the events of Holy Week. Elijah's sense of time is unfortunately weak, so we did end up some heretical statements about when Jesus was and was not alive ("Jesus will be alive on Easter!"). The boys both particularly enjoyed Fiona French's retelling and illustrations of the Easter story.

Elijah was captivated by our church's Good Friday service, carefully watching and listening. (And then he was very upset to find that he could not go to class after service.)

The boys dressed for church:

Josiah is currently obsessed with putting things in and out:

Elijah hunted for his eggs for his basket:

Look! There's candy inside!

After church (where Dustin played trumpet for three services), we headed down to my parents' for a delicious Easter lunch.

After lunch, the kids worked hard at digging while the adults lounged and chatted, and another Easter egg hunt was had.

Cousins at Play

For the past week, we've had a fun and full week with visiting family! The boys played really well together. Caeli (12 months) walks, so she definitely viewed herself in an older category than Josiah, leaving him to try to keep up as best he could or contently sit and watch.

Both boys had gotten Hi-Ho Cherry-O for their birthdays, so they enjoyed playing it together.

The easel was just right for two painters (poor Caeli was disappointed to not get to paint).

One of Teddy's particular desires this trip was to play in the sandbox with the spinning toy--easy to oblige!

The boys liked running in circles around the house, chasing each other.

There was also play dough, puzzles, trains, and shared storytimes.

More pictures to come!

Busy Hands

Trying to launch himself into the air by bouncing on his bottom

Something clicked for Josiah last week, and in the course of a couple of days, he learned how to clap his hands (occupied by a "hurray!"), play peek-a-boo, sign "all done," and wave hi and bye. It's fun to watch him make connections.

Roommates

We finally got all the parts for the crib, and Josiah moved into Elijah's room this weekend. Elijah likes having his little brother sleep with him; Josiah likes having more room in his bed (he pretty well fills the pack-n-play, although we're still using that for naptimes).


Even though Josiah gets up an hour or so before Elijah, Elijah wants to train him in the ways of reading in bed in the morning, so Josiah gets to come back for reading time.

Please note the "rabbit burrow" on the floor next to Elijah's bed (i.e. the blue blanket that covers some stuffed rabbits and toy carrots)