Who doesn't have fun in the bath? Every night or bust! ---SM

I've been trying to capture short videos lately just so that I can have a record of the boys' voices and the way they articulate their words and stories. This one is mainly about preschool and the art project they made today---elephant straw sippers. ---SM

Testing out his dinosaur that Jared's family gave him a few Christmas' ago, Grant prepares it for preschool show and tell.

Grant: "These dinosaurs are cool. Everybody will love these. (Passes Lennox who is sitting on my bed) But you, little buddy, are getting a check-up today. And if you're good, you'll get a toy. But you have to wait for that." (Grant runs off as fast as lightning.) ---SM


[Above: Lennox's leg after taking three shots at his check-up. He had his own show-and-tell for his brothers after their preschool today.]

It's getting to be the time for big boy bikes. Today we practiced outside on the front court. The boys did so well that we celebrated with a bus ride over to Baskin Robbins afterward. Lennox really liked that idea because there was no pedaling involved. ---SM


[Above: The bike riders and their cheering squad]


[Above: A bus load!]


[Above: Just can't get enough!]

This year marks the second annual Fathers and Sons camp out for our family. On Friday afternoon, while the boys headed to the Gilroy hills, the girls (and one baby boy) headed to the Gilroy Outlets (no pictures of that, unfortunately!).

Grant tented with Justin and Kellen tented with my dad; they all roasted marshmallows, and returned Saturday morning at a bright and early 8:30 a.m.! 'Twas a quick but memorable trip! ---SM




[Above: Grant discovers the banana slug!]


[Above: Banana slug take two.]


[Above: Roasting the marshmallows.]






[Above: The motley crew: Grant, Papa, Justin, and Kellen]

We met up with some friends at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont today. The boys weren't the only twins there (they usually aren't)---a pair of baby goats was born the day before and the boys got to pet them.

There was plenty to do, despite all those blasted school kids who clogged up the train rides! Instead, we were schooled in making chicken feed from different kinds of corn, and Grant and Kellen got to churn it up and later feed it to the chickens.

Auntie Staci was with us, too, and we all learned about (and watched) sheep's wool as it was spun into yarn. ---SM


[Above: Lennox points to the sheep]


[Above: Grant pumps water from the well]


[Above: Auntie Staci and the boys look at the pigs]


[Above: Lennox wants to ride in the truck. Not gonna happen.]


[Above: Chicken in a basket!]


[Above: Touching the wool that has been washed then will be spun]

Breakfast time, mid-morning. Grant is bouncing a giant plastic ball while I am making toast.

G: "Bouncey, bouncey, bouncey, bouncey, bouncey . . . "

CRASH!

I look up and see the ball has "bouncey-d" right onto my kitchen sink, cracking the orchid flower completely off, knocking the temperature gnome into gnome heaven, and knocking the avocado seed out of its bowl and rolling onto the tile.

Goodbye orchid. Goodbye gnome. Goodbye avocado seed.

Sigh. No more bouncey-ing in the kitchen. ---SM