Ten On Tuesday: Fun At Grammie And Papa's

1. We stopped by St. Louis on our way to Grammie and Papa's, but the zoo and the Magic House are getting their own posts. So here are our highlights from Papa's farm. Number one on this list has to the rope swing. Zane could have done this all day, but there were just so many fun things to do.

2. Secondly, lasso practice!!! Zane took this very seriously, couldn't even look at the camera because he was too serious! Rowan got in on this action too, so adorable.

3. As soon as we got to the farm Papa took the boys down to see his big CAT machines. Zane even got to drive, which was slightly terrifying, but he was so proud of himself.

4. Of course we went on a epic nature hunt/walk around the pond and through the woods. We did not find any snakes, which was disappointing, but we saw all sorts of new nature and found a turtle shell and a deer skull. Also, Zane got to climb up into a deer stand with Papa, great fun!!

 Lots of cousin love and fun throughout of course!

Rowan was completely petrified of Shy, the dog. So he had to be carried on all of our adventures.

5. Rowan made fast friends with his big cousins. Adeline took great care of him, carrying around everywhere. So cute to see them all playing together. 

6. While we were there Zane's armadillo, Soldier, needed yet another surgery. Grammie did a great job and Soldier spent a night in the ICU with Jangle to keep him company. 

 7. My favorite thing might have been the boys sleeping together for the first time. A huge pile of cuteness downstairs!

 8. Saturday night we met up with Uncle Adam at his brother's new restaurant. We finally got to meet little baby Mack, who is beyond adorable. Rowan was quite jealous of mommy holding the baby. We had so much fun and we were so happy to finally meet little Mack.

9. Zane loved Shy, even if Ro literally ran away screaming every time he saw him.

 Grammie's gardens were beautiful and lots of fun to explore.

 10. We had a great time, even if Zane spent all day Sunday sleeping, crying, and feeling miserable. I hate that he missed the last day of fun, but we still had so much fun and can't wait to go back.

Side note, Zane had his five year doctor's appointment today where we asked about Zane's possible migraine on Sunday. The doctor said that it could have been a migraine, but nothing really to be done unless he starts to have them a lot. As I suspected nothing to be done now, but hope it doesn't happen again. Everything else was great at Zane's appointment, he needs to go back and have his eyes checked again, which I knew, but otherwise is pretty healthy five year old. Zane took a huge nap today so hopefully on the mend for our upcoming fourth of July celebrations.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Zane got two new science kits for his birthday and was ready to dive into all things science yesterday. His first kit was called "Gross Science" and included a miniature toilet that mixes things, a worm straw, and molds to make vomit, maggots, and worms so all very gross things. We did four different experiments, but always come back to baking soda and vinegar, the best of all experiments, especially when it's done in a toilet!

 2. Friday night Abbey and I made a quick pit stop by Able and Kari's backyard camp out. Neither of us could leave our children all night to camp out, but it looked like lots of fun and we got this adorable photo while we were there. Love these people!

 3. Bike riding has become part of our daily routine around here since Zane's birthday. For unknown reasons Zane just wants to ride back and forth in front of our house. This means he has to get off and turn his bike around at the end of the street because he can't ride up driveways yet. All my attempts at trying to convincing him to go around the neighborhood have failed. This current set up does mean Rowan gets to ride his "bicycle" on the driveway, with his tiny helmet, which is so adorable.

 4. When they aren't riding bicycles the boys are in the pool, which is holding up wonderfully with Zach's constant supervision to the pH. About the time I thought they could play together safely I had to do a water rescue on Rowan Friday. It is felling a lot like summer 2001 - 2003 around here with a lot of my time spent life guarding. I even found my old lifeguard whistle last week. I need to put that to use, get these kids walking some laps!

 5. Zane also got lots of new nature exploring things which meant we were out on a nature hunt first thing Monday morning with our bug sucker upper in hand. There was not a lot of nature or bugs to be found Monday, but we managed to collect a few rolly pollies and ants. Somewhere in the hunt we lost the night vision light for Zane's bug sucker upper and had to go on a hunt for that, with out any luck. However, it did become clear that two bug suckers would be needed in the future to prevent violence on our nature walks.

6. Unlike Zane I woke up feeling rather terrible Monday morning and did not have any energy. After a day of science and nature hunts today I felt worse and was back at the doctor for antibiotics/steroids. Yet another terrible cough and sinus pain. It never ends and is always at the worst time possible times. I do think it is less frequent, but still terribly annoying. 

7. Between birthday celebrations and coughing my head off I haven't been to the gym in a week and am feeling bad about it. I work tomorrow then head out on vaca Thursday. I guess the key is to not let this  discourage me and just start back when I feel better and we're back in a routine. I had been getting my 10,000 steps a day until yesterday when I laid on the couch all afternoon. The struggle is real.

8.These pictures of the boys in their safety goggles crack me up. Rowan was covered in a mixture of cornstarch, from goo making, and powdered donut during afternoon science time and looked like a hot mess. They are nothing if not safe though!

 9. I cannot believe I am back sitting on stool, in the bathroom, for long periods of time each day watching a little boy try to go potty. My loyal readers will remember how much I despised potty training the first time around and are probably thinking why am I trying to potty train Rowan already. I am definitely not trying, but his little boy loves to sit on his choo choo potty seat and requests to often. He has been successful a handful of times, but mostly it's just this, sitting in the bathroom while he giggles and does what boys do in the bathroom, if you know what I mean. I am dreading this phase the second time around, wish me luck!

10. Lastly we are so looking forward to seeing our STL friends and Zach's family this weekend. We of course will be seeing the penguins and the new polar bear exhibit and hopefully we make into town in time to go to The Magic House. I can't believe Zane still has vivid memories of the Magic House a year and half later, so it must be pretty fun. Then we're off to Grammi and Papa's where there is sure to be lots of nature to explore. I am hoping to sleep at some point, but it's looking doubtful!

Side note: I wrote this earlier this afternoon, but now Zach is at the after hours clinic with Rowan who decided to spike a fever, I'm sure from his "hurting ear" he complained of all day. Life remains crazy here in case anyone was wondering!

Zane's Fifth Birthday Penguin Luau

Zane has been planning his birthday party for over a month. He watched Lilo and Stitch a few months ago and since then has been intrigued with all things Hawaii. We learned about what people in Hawaii eat, how they dance, what they wear, and of course how they party. Soon after he discovered his love for Hawaii we found a treasure trove of Hawaiian things at the Dollar Store so I was completely on board when Zane said he wanted a Hawaiian Luau for his birthday. Of course it being Zane we didn't stop there, he also wanted his favorite animal at the Luau, Penguins!!! Hence the penguin luau idea was born.

Zane's favorite part of every party is the decorating. Zane made lots of new penguins that were hung up for decorations and we got out the penguins we had made during our arctic learning week. I got a few penguin decorations online as well, but Zane was in charge of placement of all decorations. Our house has been in varying stages of a penguin luau all month, but Sunday  morning we put all the final touches up and were ready to party.

Everyone got a lei and a penguin beak upon entering the party. Our family all had gotten Hawaiian shirts in preparation for this luau. Zane had an entire outfit, which was amazing. Uncle Able, Aunt Abbey, Maggie, and Tracie all came in their Hawaiian outfits as well, which Zane loved.

 Sadly, Zane has forgotten how to smile like a normal human, and all his picture from birthday week have ended with this cheesy smile and head tilt. Hope he finds his real smile again soon.

 These two are obviously surfing on the foot stool.

 I think Uncle Able and Aunt Kari wore the penguin beaks the best!

Here is our Hawaiian shirt family photo. I think we look pretty amazing. 

Zane had a lot of things he wanted to do at this party and I let him choose the order. So of course first up was presents, which he tore through in record speed. He got lots of new nature things, toy golf, another science kit, snakes, a Z cape, Legos, and another snake book for his ever growing collection. As soon as he was done with presents it was out to the front yard for Penguin Pinata time. We let every kid have two turns with a plastic stick before getting out the real baseball bat. Brendan eventually decapitated and everyone got a few more hits in to break open his belly. No one got hit with a baseball bat so I considered that a success. Then it was dinner time, followed by swimming, cake time, limbo, and pin the bow tie on the penguin. 

 Lots of splashing and laughing in the pool which has been the case for all of Zane's birthday parties so far. That's the big bonus of a June baby I guess.

 

 We pretended to blow out candles since the Oklahoma wind was in full force yesterday. The penguin on surf board Hawaii cake was a huge hit. 

 All the kids loved playing limbo, which they had never done before. The Limbo Rock song really took me back to the roller skating rink. Of course everyone was a winner at this Luau!!

 Everyone got a couple turns at pinning the bow tie on the penguin as well. Lots of silly fun!

As is the case with every party it was over way to quickly for the birthday boy. He still wanted to watch Penguins of Madagascar with everyone but it was 7:30 and bedtime was quickly approaching. We will have time for that another day I'm sure. Zane did great with everyone leaving, but as I expected, fell into a puddle of sadness once everyone was gone. He loves so hard and celebrates so hard, that the let down after a big event is always difficult. He did manage to pull it together with lots of cuddles from Mommy while we read his new snake book. I think it's safe to say he had a wonderful time at his birthday Luau. Thank so much to everyone who came and celebrated our sweet boy with us. 

 

Everyone should be happy to hear that after Zane laid on the guilt thick in his fifth birthday interview, Aunt Anna made it to the party!!!!! He was beyond excited about.