Tree + Swing = Happy Boy

So we have this tree behind our fenced in yard.

The tree has lovely branches. Branches that I could see swings coming off of, so far we have a swing.

What fun is had on this swing.

Because this boy loves to swing.

Although he is really the only boy in this family that loves this swing, the other two can't keep their little bottoms on it. Good thing this tree has more lovely branches on it. But they like to watch him swing and push him...but if they are swinging too, I may need to grow another arm.  

Boy Chores

The boys are getting old enough that they can start doing some chores around the house. They have recently been put in charge of unloading and reloading the dishwasher.

They do a pretty good job usually.

Though this guy doesn't like anything with ketchup on it, icky sippys, and any kind of knife.

I have chosen not to post any pics of another one of their chores...cleaning up after Diesel in the backyard. You can thank me for it, though if I run out of interesting topics to post about you may need to divert your eyes in a later post...I did post a picture of a diaper in a toilet once.

Mini Project

So when I switched the boys rooms a couple of months back, I came across these maps that we had stuck away in a closet. I thought it would add a little interest and color to the big boys room if I would stick them up on the wall. I also love the fact that they can visually think about the world we live in and the places we have been and I can also point out the places where daddy goes for his trips.

So I just started by using the 3M adhesive strips, that I use all over the house and love, and attached it to the wall. After I got them up there I realized that the maps probably wouldn't last with how these boys run around and would probably be on the floor ripped to shreds.

So I went and picked up some pre-primed faux wood trim and started making a frame to tack around the edges of the maps.

After making what seemed to be a thousand cuts with the miter box I ended up with a pile of frame pieces.

First map all framed up and cracks filled.

The semi-finished project. I am still debating on what color to paint the frames so they don't blend in with the wall. With the boys at home I don't want to tackle it since wet paint and little boys don't usually go together either (:  I still have cravings to go wild and paint their room, but know that it would be a huge pain to do it at this point and an even bigger pain when we end up having to move out of this house.

Easter Afternoon

We joined some of our wonderful friends for a late lunch at one of the local hotels.

The kids were able to find lots of food they liked.

Including marshmallows dipped in chocolate.

The kiddos with the balloon bunny

My boys.

The youngest two couldn't help but play in the fountain.

Then we headed to one of our friends house where the Easter Bunny had left some extra eggs.

It was a wonderful afternoon, and the kids ate their weight in candy and ran around the yard wearing it off.

Easter Morning

The boys woke up to find the Easter Bunny had left some things for them.

Some traditional things like (white) chocolate bunnies, eggs, and little toys.

But also a water park slide. Yeah they are spoiled. But they are super excited, and I am super excited to have a way for them to cool off when summer comes. The best part that now that we live on base we can plug it in, hook up the water and not worry so much about the cost of running it.

Next they went hunting for some eggs.

Checking out the loot.

Love this kid, no matter how chocolaty he got.

Updated Eye Pictures

Promised you some updated pictures of the black eye, or as J calls it his purple eye.

He hasn't been too happy about me document his "ugliness", as he calls it. He is still handsome to me.

He just has more character and "war" stories to tell his kids. He has had a broken arm and now a black eye, don't they issue those things to little boys. I am just waiting when the other two get to experience the same thing.

'cause with this character, it feels like it is only a matter of time and he will have some "war" stories to tell too.

Base Easter Egg Hunt

On Friday I took the boys to the base sponsored Easter Egg Hunt. They were excited to see friends and to get some candy, and I was excited for them to run around and wear off some energy.

They broke the kids into groups, N got some time with the EB himself waiting for his age group to start.

The hunt is on, N looks like he really knows what he is doing.

But he was just looking for his good pal, the EB. He was glued to him for half the hunt time showing him his basket and asking him for eggs, not understanding he had to look for the eggs.

Finally found one.

Checking out his loot.

Then it was time for the older two to hunt.

J decided to team up with his best friend, mentioned in this post, they are super sweet. J talks about her ALL the time.

M searching for some eggs, they had "egg droppers" launching eggs across the field, and the kids were always running from one end to the other when they saw one fly through the air.

I thought it was funny that they had more then one bunny at the event. The one with N was quite posh looking, this one not so much. I think this one is sick and in need of a vacation, or maybe should be thinking about retiring.

How to Eat Cake

With just celebrating a birthday around here we have our fair share of cupcakes for the boys to eat as dessert. N LOVES his cupcakes, but hasn't really figured out how to eat them without making a huge mess, which is ok, just kinda comical to see so I thought I would share.

He usually starts with picking the whole thing up and shoving into his mouth, but decides that he ends up with more on his face then in the mouth.

Then he decides to dissect it, frosting first.

Once the frosting is off then he resumes to pick it up and shove the whole thing in.

Eating it until nothing is left but the pile of crumbs on the floor and on his face.