...and make a rain stick

Having never made a rain stick myself I never knew just how cool these sound. I wanted to do something artistic with him and still within our weather theme. This kept us talking about weather. We just used an old paper towel tube with tin foil twisted up inside and added some rice then we covered it and sealed it. Then Maddox had to be creative and decorate it. I took out some of my craft supplies in hopes that he would get excited and it worked. I left the room and came back and he had all of the markers open and was holding them all in one hand making a big swirl on the paper. It looked really cool! Then he added some ribbon and stickers to it. We had some crazy weather today! One minute we were in the pool and the next we were running inside to take cover for the incoming thunderstorm. It has created an awesome learning experience and lots of fun laughs too!

What kid doesn't love stickers! 

I also made this for Maddy during his nap yesterday. He has been changing it constantly  in these last few days. Cute right?

...and wave to Landon

Landon just started waving and I just think it is the cutest thing how when babies first start learning to wave they look at their hand like it is the most amazing thing that they have learned that they now have control over their own movements. This is a very serious Landon but I just love the cute little wave towards himself.

...and make it rain

A few of our playgroup friends and I are getting ready for the upcoming "school" year. What I mean is that we are coming up with ways for our kiddies to learn through playing together. While sharing ideas I thought why not start now! I came up with the idea to focus on weather since we have been experiencing so many different kinds right now. This week we are focusing on clouds and rain. I set up their little pool with water and provided some materials that could represent clouds and others that could create the sense of rain. They both really enjoy the water and like most children when you introduce new props they seem to really enjoy exploring and experimenting. I loved to see them so engaged in the activity and was able to take plenty of pictures because of this. 

I poked holes in the lid so they could fill it up and flip it over for a rain effect.  

Sponges as clouds to fill with water and squeeze (or munch on)

Tell me he wasn't having fun!

Then I put cotton "clouds" in the ziplock (that I poked holes in)  so they could have a different textured "cloud". 

Squeezing the water out of the "cloud"

Lu even made it rain!

How awesome are his eyes?! Oh and the cotton apparently  makes for an interesting textured snack. hehe

Aren't Maddox's eyelashes amazing! They are so beautifully long! 

Another "cloud" picture. Landon enjoyed this much more then I could have asked for which was great for both boys!

We ended the day with a snack of marshmallow fluff "clouds" with pretzels. Maddox was more then thrilled! 

 

...and dance to steel drum music

A couple of weeks ago we went to a local library and got to see an awesome steel drum performance. We all had so much fun. We danced pretty much the whole time. I even worked up a sweat!! I was so impressed with Maddox's dancing skills. He wasn't shy about it at all and even danced with his friend Lily. At one point he even lifted her arm up and spun under it so professionally. I guess he does have some Dominican blood running through his veins.  The musicians were great and even gave a little lesson on the steel drum and how the different sounds are made by the different sized indentations. I love that as much fun as we had we all learned a little something too. They are going to have another performance in a few weeks and we will be sure to go again and this time I will take a video of the impressive dancing going on. 

A picture of the 3 of us! 

Just look at those moves! hehe :o)

Lu even wanted to dance!

They were soooo cute!

...and play at the zoo splash park

We have been lucky enough to go to the zoo quite often with some friends from our playgroup. As if the zoo isn't fun enough itself we love going to the splash area to cool off. Maddox loves it and could run around for hours upon hours if I let him. He loves trying to catch the water or step on the little spouts that come up from the ground. Landon seems to enjoy it too (for the most part). He doesn't like when the spontaneously goes on and hits him in the face I have found out. I guess I wouldn't like that very much either.

Maddox telling his new friend to "come on in"! He had just meet him 3 minutes before I took this shot and was already attached. 

Trying to step on the water.

Landon and his little friends. 

See we really were at the zoo. (See the snake head?)

Landon is thrilled to be there! (hehe...okay it was his nap time)

I love Maddox in the back trying to catch the water! 

...take a picture of an 11 month old (or at least try)

Can he really be 11 months old!! When did this happen??? I may actually cry about this one. Tomorrow I could say (not that I will) in less than a month my baby will be a year old. Okay enough about how quickly the time flies and let's enjoy the baby that he is today. Every month I take a bunch of pictures of Landon on the couch. It was a little harder this time then in the past. He had taken a two and a half hour nap (oh yea) and was so happy and awake when he woke up. This made for many smiling and happy pictures but also many of them turned into a blur due to all the movement. Just take a look at my adorable BABY boy!! Love him to pieces!

He sweats soooo much when he sleeps...thus the reason for the  slicked down hair. 

He reaches for EVERYTHING. I love how he is just exploring anything within reach at every moment of the day. 

"Mom why do I need to sit here?!"

That's his "chatting face"...trying to get a word in while Maddox is speaking. 

...and look at all this cuteness

Thanks grandma for our matching outfits! Don't we just look so cute! It is getting harder and harder to get a good picture of the two of them. Up until a couple of months ago Landon would stay put and look at the camera whenever I would make a noise. Now I can't get him to look at me for more then 1 second and I have to work so hard for that one second. He is so into the world around him and what can he play with that taking pictures is not on his agenda. Then there is Maddox always being silly! He can't just smile because that is just not fun. I do love the pictures of them interacting with each other. The day is coming when they can really really play with each other and I think it is going to be a non-stop party around here! :o) The fun never stops!

I love the way Landon is so intrigued as to what Maddox is doing! haha

Yea two boys smiling!!! 

Maddox really does share very well with Landon! He does love his little buddy!

Hehe there is that look from Landon again!

...to the Memorial Day air show at Jones Beach

We were so lucky to be in town during the weekend of the air show at Jones Beach. Harold and I have been so many times and would go back every year if we could. Watching all the cools planes and talented pilots never gets old. Maddox was born just a couple weeks before Memorial day which was when he first went to the show. This air show was Landon's first. We were lucky enough to get a beautiful day and thanks to my smart thinking we didn't sit in too much traffic and left before the chaotic exit took place. I'm so glad we were able to share this day with my mom and dad. If only Harold was there it would have been perfect! 

...and watch Maddox swim!!

This child never fails to amaze me with the things that he is capable of doing! Considering he swam for the first time without his vest on this past Sunday he is doing incredible. It was a hard task for me to get a good video and although this video doesn't show just how awesome he is doing you can get the picture. Every time I turned the camera on he kept swimming in circles because he says that he is a dolphin. The second video is the dolphin video! He is always so silly!!!

...and the Kellerman's to Heckshire Park

It was my birthday while we were in NY. All I wanted was a NY bagel and to spend time with my family. After  picking up breakfast we drove over to a local park. This is one of my favorite park because of all the memories that were created there. Growing up this is where we went camping and this is where Harold and I used to run when we were dating and we spent many hours just chatting and eventually falling in love. I love that I can now take my babies to this same park and we can create all new memories there. 

Grandpa and Maddox getting some grub!

Grandma told him it taste better if he eats it under there. (See what happens when I leave him alone with  the two of them!) hehe 

The Long Island sound

We don't have beach rocks in Miami :o( Glad he got to enjoy them while here. 

...and bowl with PWC

We had the opportunity to join Harold's work team at an event last night. We first started off bowling and then finished it off with a great Southern Style dinner. The bowling alley was lots of fun! It was the first time we meet many of the people that Harold works with.The boy did awesome. Maddox loved playing with the older boys that were there. One of which was his bosses son because our boys were playing I had lots of time to talk with his boss. He is a very nice and likes Harold which is great for us! ;o) Landon got passed around most of the team and although he was extremely tired he didn't fuss much at all and actually fell asleep in the bowling alley in his stroller!! It couldn't have been any louder in there but he still managed to take a nap at least until we got to the restaurant. This brings me to the food! I had my first taste of shrimp and grits. It was so great! Then there was the fried green tomatoes and the root beer chocolate cake!! I didn't get any pictures though...ugh...by this time the boys were pretty much done but we were able to eat half our dinners and take the rest to go. It was a great night out and the perks that come with the hard work that Harold does are pretty good too!

He got to use the ramp...why didn't we do this the first time! lol

He is so silly! This was him doing a little dance. 

Papa was happy to get some fun time with us! Can you tell?! Love him!!! 

Another silly Maddox face....this is a common one lately. The one eye look! hehe

My little sleepyhead!! 

This was one of the couple pictures from the restaurant. It pretty much  tells the story of the time we were there. Maddox with endless energy that couldn't stop moving and Landon who was chatting (complaining) because he was so tired.  We did survive the night and had lots of fun! 

...and have fun in the sprinkler!

One of the last days we were in NY it warmed up for us and was sunny too! The boys decided they wanted to run through the sprinkler. It was nice watching the "kids" being kids. JT and Cai enjoyed it as much if not more than Maddox. I think it was a tab bit cool for Maddox but watching the older boys running through meant he had to try it. I'm so glad that Maddox was able to "play" with his awesome Uncle and cousin. He wanted to be alone with the "boys" as he would tell me, in the front yard to just watch them scooter. Then he would try to impress them with his cool tricks. hehe. He really looks up to them and misses them so much!!

All the boys!

I'm sure he learned this from one of the boys. The water is hitting him right in the bum!

Cai catching the water in his mouth. I love how you can see a big smile under there!

Maddox trying to look at the piece of grass on his nose...so silly!! 

...and watch Maddox bowl for the first time

 It was pretty rainy while we were in New York. Coming up with things to do to keep the kiddies entertained was hard at times but not on this night. It was so great that the whole family came and really seemed to enjoy this mid week outing. Maddy has never been bowling before so I wasn't sure how it would go. He had a ball! (pun intended)! He would roll the ball to the line and give it a push. It took about 8 and a 1/2 minutes to get down the lane but he did it! Only once did he try to kick it down the lane but besides that he did a great job. Landon was lucky to get a little entertainment from everyone that day. While I was busy making sure Maddox wouldn't end up down the lane with the ball, the rest of the family passed Landon around keeping him busy. It was a great night spent together. Maybe in the next few YEARS we will take him bowling again.

Getting ready to roll the ball while getting some pointers from  grandpa. 

Waiting...

Still waiting!

Lu spending time with granny pants!

Landon mesmerized by his beautiful cousin Chanel.