A Really Good Day

Yesterday was a really good family day. We woke up, had breakfast together, and got things ready for swimming. We woke up from morning nap and headed for swimming, which is at a later time this session, which helps while the boys are still taking 2 naps a day. We went home, had lunch, played for awhile, then the boys (including Timo) went down for their afternoon nap. Meanwhile, I got things ready for us to go out that evening for the Procession of the Species parade, which is part of Spring Arts Walk in Olympia. Neither Timoteo or I had ever seen the parade from start to finish. I picked up dinner at the deli, and went home to wake up the boys. We all got up and out the door, found free parking, and walked down to the parade route. We were a little bit late, but as we were about halfway along the parade route, we didn't miss a thing! It was really great! By the end of it (we were standing up the whole time with the boys in the backpack carriers on our backs) we were very physically sore and tired, but we went back to the van, switched the boys over into their stroller, got our dinner & picnic chairs, and headed over to the state capitol campus to eat dinner while looking at the fountain. We had a nice dinner together, then let the boys out of the stroller to run around and play on the grass. They had a blast! We got home at little after 7pm, got the boys ready for bed, read stories, and down they went. They slept the whole night and didn't complain once. It was a wonderful, wonderful day. And, I don't think Timo and I argued the whole day. Now that's something to be happy about.

Pt. Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Today we took the boys to the zoo for the first time. It was a learning experience for us, that is certain.

Lesson #1: Don't go to the zoo on the first sunny Saturday of the season.

Lesson #2: See lesson #1.

I think everyone was at the zoo today. We at least got some experience with taking the boys on outings during this toddler stage.

My Sunday Hat & Language Explosion

So, my sister-in-law (Timo's sister) is pregnant, and is due in May. Her baby shower was this last Sunday, and the theme was Garden Tea Party. Everyone was encouraged to wear their "best" Sunday hat - and there would be prizes for best, and most outrageous, hat. Well, I figured since it was a garden party, I would wear a garden on my head. Making this hat was a lot more fun than I thought it would be, and the greatest part about it is that the pinwheels move when I walk. I actually tore it apart today and made a flower arrangement in a basket out of it for my table. But, it was really fun to make, wear, and just to look at it on my table.

Dario & Raymond are now 17 months old. We haven't done professional pictures since their birthday, but we plan to do more pictures in a month when they turn 18 months. They have changed so much in the last 5 months, I was looking at their 12 month pictures last night. They are having so much fun, and they are really developing. Raymond is finally saying some words and learning new signs. He is having a language explosion - if you call 2 new words and 2 new signs in 2 days an "explosion". I do, at least for Ray. He of course knows mama, dada, and bye bye, but he is now saying "shoe" and "amen" and "ball" (he also signs ball). He also signed "cracker" for the first time today, and has been signing "book" this last week! He is regularly signing "milk" when he wants to nurse (after looking down my shirt, that is), and signs hat, and sleep. He also signs more, that was his first sign around 12 months. What a champ.

Darios words include mama, dada, daddy, he sings e-i-e-i-o when he looks at the Old MacDonald book, amen, shoe, cracker, bucket, duck, he knows the duck says quack quack quack, cheese, and he knows the signs for shoe, cracker, milk, please, cheese, more, ball, waves (and says) bye bye. He has also been mimicking words these past few weeks. Timo said "football" and Dario said "foo - ba", Timo said "pocket" and Dario said "poc-ket". Our amazing boys. Now I really need to watch my language before mommy says "sh*t" and Dario says "sh*t", or some other bad word.

Anyway, here's a recent pic of our boys.