Introducing Our Youngest Artist

     Tonight is windy and cold and we've retreated back into the house (is winter winding down yet?), so what did we do to entertain Froggie while Big Brother was napping? Break out a brand new box of crayons and see what she would do with them! She just moved them around her tray for a little bit until I drew on her paper, then she colored away. She did pretty well and didn't start putting the crayons in her mouth until she had exhausted her attention with it.

Coloring

Investigating the crayon

back to coloring

Sibling Fun time

     After nap time this afternoon the kids picked out a movie, Froggie picked Fairies, and started watching on my computer until Big Brother woke up. I switched it over to the tv and they sat together on the couch with cups full of teddy grahams while they watched.

Nap time starts out in the car

Froggie watching Fairies on my computer

The kids watching Fairies together

     Then after dinner we opened up some new packages of Play-doh and the kids played for a while with that. Big Brother has gotten really good at playing with it and using cookie cutters to make shapes. Froggie did pretty well with it considering it was her first time with anything like it.

Cutting out bears

Investigating her play-doh

Cutting out apples

November Challenge: Day 15 & 16

     I'm thankful for my mom and my sister. Without them I wouldn't go on most of the crazy adventures  they drag me on. Most recently we were taken out to the zoo for their annual Animal art show and sale! It's as crazy as it sounds… Throughout the year the animals do artwork with the zoo staff and then they set up a show and have demonstrations of animals making art.

A painting hedgehog

Watching a painting hedgehog

A painting snake

Watching a painting snake

His artwork

November Challenge: Day 8

     Today I'm thankful that my kids (at least Big Brother) are as creative as I am. He never passes up an opportunity to color, paint or create in some fashion. He's got such a great imagination and Froggie doesn't have much of a choice but to follow in his footsteps or at least be tolerant of craft time!

Big Brother and his cars coloring Dusty.

Thursday Night Fun

     After work and a dress fitting appointment Big Brother and I made our way through the Starbucks drive-thru before making a pit stop at a couple stores. Today was just one of those days that define the "Terrible Two's". Big Brother was REALLY grumpy this morning about getting his sweatshirt on and carrying his cup and he and I just seemed to butt heads all day. When I was getting ready to leave work to head to my fitting he had woken up and he's always pretty grumpy right after nap or he's really clingy depending on the day. Today he just so happened to be grumpy...
     He was fairly well behaved and the seamstress was able to get through pinning up my dress after what they had done to it already didn't rectify its fit issues. He was excited to get some pumpkin bread and was really disappointed that we could only find girly Toms in his size. We headed into a local discount store and found a bunch of books and a couple toys (including a froggy pillow for Froggie!). Some things we'll put away for upcoming holidays and Hubby's schooling.
     After that we decided to grab dinner out before heading home. Froggie slept through 99% of dinner and seemed pretty comfy on the booth next to me!

Snuggly baby

     Before Froggie was born I made her a blanket on a knitting loom before I taught myself to crochet. I then made a blanket for Big Brother as I learned to crochet. I put a lot of time and effort into Froggie's blanket but I like the crochet blankets much better so I'm making Froggie a new blanket. I started tonight so we'll see how long it takes to finish!

blanket beginnings

The Simple Things

     After work today we headed to the library as a family. Big Brother ran around saying he wanted to buy some books and had to be reminded that we borrow books from the library and have to take them back. He picked out 10 books and a movie and we had to read ALL of the books tonight before bed!
     We also made a pit stop at the craft store. Hubby and I wanted to look at some things and we noticed that Crayola supplies were buy one get one 50% off. So we picked up some new finger paints for Froggie and Big Brother got a GIANT coloring book. It makes me so happy that he is so excited by things like reading and art. Hopefully Froggie will love these things as well since we're going to be doing some craft nights in the near future!

Coloring books bring such joy!

Outtakes

     So this evening I decided I wanted to take pictures of the kids together since the weather was pretty nice and at any moment it could snow. Not really, but I feel like months of nasty weather is quickly approaching.
     I got some nice shots and I'll share those at another time; however, I thought I'd share some of the "outtakes" tonight since I laughed a little about them. My kids are pretty goofy.

Not the worst but a funny face

silly Big Brother

Hubby trying to keep the kids from eating sand!     

Froggie's First Day Trip

*** TONS of photos in this entry!***

Getting ready for our day.

On the road

     Today we did something that we haven't done maybe ever. We took off from work and went for a day trip on a week day as a family. We "slept in" till 8 and got up and packed our stuff up, ate breakfast and loaded the car. We headed south for Pittsburgh to spend the day in the city. Hubby is in the Navy so we took advantage of free Military admission to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum. We had a picnic lunch before heading in which was super simple.
     It was a blast! It was a lot of fun for everyone and there was SO much to do. Even Froggie seemed to enjoy it! (The only downfall was that at this point I realized I packed my Camera and extra lens but left the camera battery on the table. So all cell phone shots it was.... I'm kind of a picture snob so this was REALLY hard for me!)

the ceiling in the studio!

Big Brother wanted to paint first!

Mr. Rogers' sweater!

Feeding Clifford

Froggie & Big Brother with Clifford

Froggie having fun

Making bubbles with a new friend

Froggie and I in the garden

Hubby & Big Brother in the water play room

Big Brother found a boat

Filling a bucket

Watching the big kids play in the water

Drying off

Playing with sand

Froggie food break

Big Brother climbing in the wall

Neat video wall with letters

We parked in the fish lot!

     After we left the Children's Museum we had another quick snack in the car so that we could wait a little later to eat dinner at the game. Once we found parking and walked a block or so to PNC Park we strolled around a bit and got some free drawstring bags from the State farm table and headed for the river walk. It was also Free Shirt Friday so after we stashed away our shirts and acquired gear we actually got to check out the Riverwalk. We  were able to walk around there for a bit before the gates opened and even found a playground which was perfect for entertaining Big Brother.

     We had bought standing room only tickets so once the gates opened we headed for the main concourse to get something to eat. After a nice woman and her mother gave us their table we sat down to eat. We had to bribe Big Brother to eat a nugget and some Fries by letting him eat half a jar of Froggie's banana baby food - hey, whatever works right? 

     After finding a nice spot to watch the game we pretty much stayed put. Froggie did great until the very end and Big Brother had a few periods of being cranky that were quickly resolved by a snack or walk to one of the gift shops.

Froggie's finished shirt!

Welcome to the park

Hubby & Froggie

Playing in the park

Watching the Gateway Clipper

Dinner at the game

The Ergo works for Big Brother too

Froggie's 1st game

Family picture time

Cheese face!

Froggie and Big Brother showing off their new bats

Big Brother and his new bat

Froggie and her new bat

Froggie and Big Brother outside of PNC Park

     It was a GREAT day despite our late return home. We'll have to plan another day trip, maybe one including the Steelers 5K in a couple weeks!