Yard, Rocks, Roof

We are in the fine line between wind, cruddy out, and nice. The yard is still brown but they don't care. The house is out, the cars are out, the bikes and helmets are out, rocks are readily available. I decided to combine two of E's current passions - rocks and painting. We then took said painted rocks and hid them during one of our walk for someone else to find. We've found a couple rocks on our walks and thought it was our turn to return the favor.

We also put out the net swing out that G got for Christmas. They fell a bit in love with it at Papa's Pumpkin Patch but I didn't know how big of hit it would be. They love the spinning, swinging and pushing. I love the giggles that come from that part of the yard when they are on it. I'm sure someone will end up with a swing to the face one day but for right now, all is good in the yard.

Other big happening, we got a new roof. Even though our roof was only 5 years old, the hail storm last year on Grady's birthday required new gutters and roofing. Matt decided to go bolder and we went blue. It was completely distracting to work from home while they put it up. Nothing like a teams meeting where guys are going up and down ladders right behind you. But I'm glad it's done. The kids were completely enthralled by the roofers and are now pointing out all the other people getting new roofs in the neighborhood. We went for a walk later this week and they just stood and stared at the guys working - we finally had to walk back and remind them to keep going.

Eating supper

EER gets up to fill her own water glass.

sits back down.

EER: I have water in my glass.

GRR in deadpan tone: It's milk.

EER: It's water.

GRR: It's milk. 

EER beginning to get worked up: It's water!

GRR: milk.

EER: IT's WATer!

GRR: milk.

EER standing up in her chair: WATER!

GRR: milk.

EER now shouting and very irrational: WA-TER!!!!

GRR with no change in tone from initial declaration: milk.

EER officially begins to lose her mind.

MJR: It's fine. It doesn't matter, let's move on.

GRR in slightly quieter voice: milk.

Spring, Coloring, Shoes

COVID-19... a full month. Don't get me wrong, the frenzy of activity has slowed down. The weather perked up again and we had a good weekend especially given the fact that we could get those three outside into the fresh air.

It's officially spring according to the Remynse house...we officially took the tarp off the play cottage and those two busybodies didn't waste any time in digging in... literally. They were digging in the sand, dragging dirt and sand in to cook and decorate with.

The Easter Bunny brought the family a t-ball set for spring. G has been really good at it actually, we've been surprised. However, we've noticed that he may swing leftie. He colors with his right and throws with his right so far. We've actually had a ton of feedback on his coloring abilities including how he manipulates his crayons and how he holds them. I've also noticed that his counting has taken off - he does 1 - 10 no problems. We kinda blew past colors - everything is g-een but numbers are solid.

E has been all about the coloring too - she's actually started drawing things. Houses, plants, and our family. She did a family picture a while back but the people/masses required heavy explanation. She seems to have really mastered her subjects lately. The other thing that she's taken an interest in is bugs. We are bringing lady bugs home by the masses from daycare. We find them, cart them, pocket them, coo to them.

G has taken an interest again in his bike, which excites me. Walks have been a bit painful lately pushing him on his riding trike. We can't keep up with E who has no problems gliding and going.

Ains had a big weekend, she's been strutting around the house pretty well so we dug out some shoes. To be honest, she handled it the best out of her sibling. There was a bit of rolling and resisting but it did end with some horse feet clamps before just trailing about. I feel like my baby is no longer a baby and she's entering into the toddler stage.

EER has been pushing boundaries a bit so at supper we had a conversation.
ALR: E, do you want to talk about your day?
MJR: Did you make some bad decisions?
EER looks down
MJR: We can't break things
GRR: And she pushed me down.
ALR ignores GRR: E, let's correct our behavior and take care of things that are important to us.
GRR: And she pushed me down.
EER (also ignores GRR): I want to make good dec-
GRR: AND she pushed me down.
ALR: Yes, Grady, she already apologized earlier, let's move on.
ALR: And, E, please don't push your brother.
GRR nods in agreement

p.s. We don't always nap but sometimes if we slow down enough and cuddle on the couch while mom and dad watch the Governor's daily press conference, we will occassionally crash

Outtakes to get the Easter Picture

Be sure to take note of props, including shovel, pez dispenser, and plastic spoon.

Easter: Baskets, Bunnies, Eggs, Meal

 

Easter weekend. The kids are getting old enough that they really enjoy the holiday and the rituals and traditions that come. Among the ones that we've selected are the standard Easter baskets from Easter Bunny, coloring eggs, and Easter Outfits. 

Regarding the egg coloring, it went fairly well all things considered. I don't think we suffered any serious casualties of broken eggs. I did get some fake eggs but much to my dismay, they didn't color at all. No matter how much we put them into die. It was nice to give something to Ains tho so she could walk around with them and feel part of the plan. 

We had hoped to hide eggs on Easter morning outside. The weather was beautiful on Saturday - sunny, delightful, we played outside but that night things took a turn. Rain and cold and ick. So we hid eggs inside around the house. The Easter Bunny also hides Easter baskets so they were very excited about finding all the things. The thought it was so funny that G's basket was way up in the air. After baskets, we handed them buckets and let them search.

It felt weird to not be surrounded by family for the day or have other cousins with the egg hunt. Given the virus, we thought it would be best to stay home. 

It was a beautiful day and was a nice meal. We did finally get a pic of the kid - it only took 936 tries and 15 resets but we got something. The hardest part about all the activities of the day... the hunting and baskets were done by 10:00. Meal was done by 12:30 and then what! ha! Was glad that they enjoyed playing and coloring with items from their baskets.

Photos, Accomplisments, Interests and all things kids

New development - E has really taken to taking pictures with our phones - any chance she gets. She then wants us to look at her cinematography and she's a firm believer in more is more and to truely capture the essence of her subject you must snap 15 pictures. She seems to get into Matt's phone more than mine and when they sync up I love to see 21 pictures in the series entitled "stuffed animal on den floor amongst mess." She did get a pretty good one of her sister and the top of her own head.  

Ainsy's development is that she's really taken to expressing herself. If she wants to likes something, she will now gesture and point until she gets item that makes her happy. 

With the nicer weather, we got out Ainsey's car that she got when she was one. This was a hand-me down from her cousin Payton but fit in line with the belief in our house that every one year old deserves their own car. As the backyard continues to defrost and warm up, they've been enjoying the front yard - side walk chalk, bikes - E hasn't missed a skip in her gliding on her bike. It's nice to get a break in the weather.

When we can't go inside, those people have been making forts. There doesn't appear to be a sound design strategy in place - lack of basic engineering principles but the idea is the more blankets piled up on things the better the fort. Eleanor has much more finesse with the fort than Grady. This past weekend, we watched all of them build the fort for 25 minutes and in approximately 15 seconds, G went to go into fort and demolished the entire thing as a blanket got hooked on his shoulder and he kept barreling through. I was impressed with the entirety of his demolition as well as how Eleanor did not explode like a volcano like I was expecting. 

Each kid has been showing some independence lately too. Ains is going downstairs on her own - which makes us a little relieved. She will plant herself down and then butt scoot to the edge and use the drop and scoot method to get down. G is all about the kitchen. He likes setting the table and making things OR he'll head down to his little workbench and just utilize the hammer. E is interested in writing and identifying letters - she's pretty much 100% on the identification and the writing is starting to come along. She has an interest in coloring and pictures and drawing. Our first love is still probably cutting and gluing - also more is more follows in this concept too. 

Another pic of E's: I love the juxtaposition of this one and the combination of mixed media.