Launching

I came home from parent teacher conferences 2 weeks ago to find that Jeff and the boys had been playing rough.  He flipped the bouncer and was throwing them on it and watching them slide down.  It was pretty funny and they were having a blast.

 

Owen and Chase climbing the bouncer

 

Chase wide eyed

 

Owen preparing to be launched

Owen being launched through the air.

 

Chase being launched

Chase flying through the air the moment before he slipped off my side and landed on his head, thus ending the fun.

Monkey

This is our flying monkey. Jeff and I bought it a few weeks back thinking the boys would like it. It works like a slingshot. You put your fingers in these little pockets in his hands, pull his tail and he flies through the air making monkey sounds.

The boys are TERRIFIED of him.

The minute he flew through the air for the first time Owen started shaking and crying and I think Chase cried too. We brought the monkey over to them and they wouldn't touch him. They just clung to us, and looked away. They were so scared. We put him away and brought him out again a few days later. Same thing.

So, the other night the boys were eating dinner and were acting up. I told Jeff we should bring out the monkey to see if it would stop them from being wild. I put it on the island and sure enough, everything stopped. They pointed, were silent and were, well . . .scared. That didn't make me feel good, but the silence did. Owen was shaking and his lip was quivering. We would reassure him and finally he could sit there and just look at the monkey. We flung it into the living room and when the boys were done with their dinner they wouldn't even go into the living room because they saw the monkey there. Crazy.

Zoo

We took our first trip to the MN zoo last Sunday.  It was a beautiful day in the 40's and the boys had a great time being outside, running in the warmth.  They saw monkeys, dolphins, fish, camels, bears (their favorite), a leopard, a tiger, buffalo, horses, and birds.  They had fun watching the birds fly over their heads at the bird show.  They were mezmerized by the leopard pacing in front of them.  It was a fun family outing and one that I've been looking forward to for a long time.  It was great to see looks of amazement on their faces.

 

 

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Owen all tuckered out after a fun day at the zoo.

  

Chase crashed after a fun day a the zoo.

All that Glitters

We had a arts and crafts day a couple weekends ago.  Chase and Owen made penguins, colored and I let them use glitter.  It was an interesting time. They got frustrated when the glitter didn't come out fast enough.  There was not as much glitter floating around the house as I thought there would be! :)

Chase playing in the glitter

Owen examining the glitter stuck to his fingers

Chase smearing glitter around his page

Chase's little hands

Owen's little fingers with glitter stuck to them

Reading

Jeff found the boys reading to each other.  How cute is this?  They are pointing at pictures, pointing them out to each other.  Gotta love early literacy skills.

Garland

Owen and Chase have been obsessed with garland outside our front door-left over from Christmas. They like it so much and it provides so much entertainment in and out of the house that we have not taken it down yet. I think they think it's alive. So, we were outside the other day and Chase and Owen were having fun looking at the garland.

Jeff and Chase

Owen and Susie

Chase wondering about the garland.

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Owen pointing at the garland in awe.

Smooches

I'm home today with a child with a fever.  Chase has not been feeling well since yesterday after work.  I stayed home today and we've all cuddled, played and they are now napping. I hope it will break him out of his fever. 

In the meantime, check out these smooching pictures.  Giving kisses is fun around our house!

Steps of Hope

Chase and Owen went to their first walk to support Autism, called Steps of Hope, which was at Ridgedale Mall last Sunday.  A coworker of mine organized a group of us from school to walk.  It was a very busy place and there was a lot to see.  My coworkers got to talk to Chase and Owen and Chase and Owen got to stare back-no smiling of course. That would be too easy.  :)  They had fun dancing to the accordian band, ate good food and enjoyed a stoll.

Owen is trying not to look at my coworker taking the picture, and is trying not to smile.

Chase hangs out in the back while Owen continues to try not to look.

Not Always Together but Never Apart

Chase and Owen don't always play together (with each other), but they are never apart. Most things must be done side by side.

Here they are playing with the balls and are sticking stickers on them.

Chase

Owen asks for more stickers