When we went to Imperial Beach this summer I decided to look at our memberships to see what we could do for free or low cost while on vacation. If you have a Desert Botanical Gardens membership you can vist the San Diego Botanic Gardens for free. If you have small children or just love enjoying nature I highly recommend these botanic gardens. They had two different kids gardens. One was more appropriate for toddlers and the other was fun for kids of all ages (even Matt.) There was a miniature railroad to view, dirt to dig, a treehouse to climb, a music garden, and lots of green (yea I live in the desert so I get excited about green.)
I love seeing other flowers!Color!Us!Tic Tac ToeSo green!Me and the boys in the bamboo forestDinosaurs to rideRunning through the bambooRock xylophoneAwesome treehouseDinosaur funLook mom, Dinosaurs!Turtle!So prettyBlocksThe music garden was lots of funArt timeWater playClimbing
The boys have had quite the adventurous spirit lately. They’ve figured out how to get out of their bedroom into the backyard via the window. They do this during “quiet” time. For the most part it is harmless adventure. Except now they are working on getting over the wall to the great big world. They are four and they really want to get out! What’s up with that?
In the above picture they were shouting towards the neighbors’ house, “Help us, Help us. We need to out of here and get to a fire station.” Luckily Matt had met the new neighbors this weekend and explained to them they might hear shouts for help.
Mommy Ezra is stuck on top of the puh-cycling bin.
Yesterday over the baby monitor I heard a conversation of where they wanted to go and how to get there. They were going to go visit daddy at his office. To get there they were going to get daddy’s tools, put their training wheels back on their bikes, and ride there.
Mommy Ezra’s stuck in the window
They figured out how to get back in yesterday too, but Ezra wouldn’t jump down into the room.
How they figured out how to climb back in
I love this adventurous spirit, but it is a lot of exhausting work keeping them safe!
PS: We have now locked the window! I know it is a safety issue with a fire, but seriously I would like to keep them in the house. All the doors have beep warnings so I know where they are.
For the kids upcoming birthdays Gamma and Papa took them to build a bear. It was a wild good time. They each had a lot of fun watching their bears get made. Noah’s bear is Firman Sam, Ezra’s bear is Fireman in a truck, and Abby’s is Abigail.
Watching abby’s bear get made Ezra’s face crack me up Warming up the heart Noah testing his bear’s softness Making a wish Ezra was the last to go and was mostly patient Getting to fill his bear Making a wish Washing his bear Noah and Abby washing their bears Them and the bears The even got to ride the train at the mall with papa
We celebrated my birthday over a month ago, but never got around to posting. I wanted to do something new and decided on kayaking at Tempe Town Lake. It was amazing and we happened to time it just right and saw the sunset on the lake. Gamma and Papa watched the boys and made me a cake. We had to come home between kayaking and dinner because our butts were soaking wet. Did NOT think that through. We also went out for yummy Ethiopian food where I ate way too much and couldn’t eat any cake afterwards.
Matt and me ready to go me Fun times Noah doing the happy dance More happy dance
Last Saturday we went to the boys’ first light parade. They had so much fun and were so excited the entire time. Everyone around was giggling at their excitement and also well aware of their LOVE of firetrucks.
One of the horses did his business right in front of where we were and for some reason that didn’t have a scooper following them. Can you imagine all the little boys’ delight at getting to yell, “watch out for the poop!” to everyone that followed?
Playing with glow sticks waiting for the parade.Admiring snoopy.
The boys LOVE Christmas. We LOVE their enthusiasm. Therefore they now have their very own tree for their playroom. They can decorate it however they want. They love it. We put it up last night and they insisted it needed a star, so daddy made them one. They thought their daddy was the BEST.
Decorating the treeYes you can hang a fire boot on it.
On the boys actual birthday we celebrated with ballons, donuts, a tea party, and pizza for dinner. They also had their school friends over for some PB&J’s at lunch. They had a lot of fun turning 4, but ask every day if they are 5 yet. Stop trying to grow up so fast boys!
Balloon avalanche for the birthday boys
Happy Boy (let’s just say Noah wasn’t dressed blog appropriate)
Birthday Donuts with candles! Tea out of a real tea cup! Tea partyAfter we had our tea party, they had their own.
The boys were in their room for quiet time and I heard interesting noises. Went to check Ezra had opened the window, popped out the screen, and tossed down a bunch of blankets and pillows for a soft landing spot.
“Come on girls hop in my firetruck.” Noah
“You get the boys.” Noah to Ezra
“No I want to get the girls!” Ezra
“Come on girls get in my firetruck.” Ezra
Noah locked me outside so someone could get his step stool and try to sneak Halloween candy.
During quiet time I heard shouts of “it’s a hang glider!” I thought nothing of this until I heard, “maybe we should ask mom.” Walked in and Noah was holding his curtain rod. I was then informed “but we needed to be Diego.”
During quiet time the boys played doing laundry, they cutely hung stuff up on their beds to dry. Of course, the “laundry” was actually wet, and the humidifier was empty. 🙂
We celebrated the boys’ 4th birthday yesterday! We had lots of fun and no shortage of fire trucks.
Noah is serious about his play. My goofy boy. Swinging with Abby. Three little turkeys. Clothes! A fire station! An ambulance, a fire truck! Happy boy. Fire truck book! Abby 🙂 A truck! (Noah asked to learn how to drive the car for his birthday) Happy Ez All ready to drive. Noah taking a swing at the piñata Abby was serious! Fire truck cake. Oh daddy, you’re making fire trucks! Yippy skippy! – Ezra My little firefighters. Blowing out the candles. Noah blowing out his candles
Too cool for pictures I made Jonah and the Whale hold hands to cross the parking lot.
For preschool the boys needed to be Bible characters. I decided on Jonah and the Whale since that is their favorite story in their picture Bible. Thanks to fabric glue and the thrift store it was easy and frugal. Which is good because they stripped them off as soon as they got in the classroom.
For Halloween night they were… wait for it you’re going to be shocked… firefighters! Okay actually if you just know us via the blog you might be shocked but for everyone else you know they are obsessed. We had friends come over to join us in trick or treating and had a lot of fun.
Noah getting his beard on. Ezra getting his beard on Almost ready Watching for Sydni Sydni the hot dog. Ezra Noah Sydni and Jude Silly boy Fire safety discussion? Ezra and Sydni We were trying to get them to squeeze together so we said stand with your shoulders touching. Smiley Ez Silly Ready for action Trick or Treat! Waiting patiently (sorta) Nothing like refreshing swamp juice after trick or treating.
