Thursday, April 30, 2015

Star Wars

Jeff has shown the kids the Star Wars movies now. Aaron has particularly taken to Star Wars. He loves playing Yoda. So we are thinking for Halloween, he will be Yoda, Kyle & Em as Luke & Leia, and Jeff and myself as Darth Vader and Padme. 


Yoda & Skywalker light saber fight.

Aaron is Yoda

Star Wars characters in our family

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

This is 3

Aaron is 3 years old and boy is he 3. I love the character that shines through. Here are glimpses of 3 year old Aaron. 

Still loves his marbles. 

Walking through the woods in his pajamas and crocs. 

Goggles and ninja pajamas. 

I love this pictures because this Kristin painted a picture of a kid and an umbrella that looks just like this when she was maybe 5 years old. 

Star Wars ABCs

Finger painting

Selfie!

He loves his Marbles science experiments. 

Cool dude!

Dr. Bear

Pajamas, a sun hat and Curious George lunch box. What else does a kid need? 

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Aaron's words

Here is a quick video of some of Aaron's cute words. His "thank you" is so musical. "Wert" is dessert. 

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Busy tennis day

Kyle had a busy tennis weekend. He started Saturday off with team tennis. Only one other kid on his team showed up so the two of them took on the other team of 5. They had to automatically default the second doubles match, but they both won their singles match and the doubles match together so they pulled off the victory as a two man team! 
After the team matches, Kyle had a regular tournament. He played some great tennis and won that tournament. Not a bad weekend! Well done Kyle!

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Easter egg hunt (2015)

Josh and Steph's family joined us in Raleigh for Easter and Passover.  We had a fun time having Ben and David join us for the Easter Egg Hunt.


2015 Scavenger Egg Hunt

Happy Easter Kyle, Em,
Ben, David and Aaron!
A posse five, a group you have,
for this great fun to share in.  

An easter hunt!  Tradition here.
But now larger than the past.  
And harder too to match your brains
and keep you guessing to the last.  

Now read these clues  with a Southern drawl
And the 16 eggs you’ll finda. 
A new home to test y’alls chops
In this here state of Carolina.

New rules as well, we do insist,
shall guide your egg hunt’s stroll:
Switch off each egg as “reader”
then all scamper to your goal.

What’s more: there’s little Aaron,
To be like you he’ll beg.
Some clues have bolded guidance:
Let Bear Bear find that egg!

And at the end a special prize
for each of you does wait.
But first, the final clue:  
a map to navigate.

For intellect and thinking hard
are now the tools to use.
Be off, enjoy the hunt,
and gather up those clues.

The Easter Eggs are near now,
On this I'd like to bet.
The first place that one’s hiding in
He’s bound to get quite wet.
If water drops it will make a clink, 
you will find your next clue right in the __________.




(1 -sink)


Following David, Aaron’s also delight!
I take away gross stuff, keep it out of sight.
Beep Beep Beep Beep
Now eggie too, I also keep.

[2 - one of Aaron’s garbage trucks]

THIS CLUE IS FOR BEAR.  READ IT OUT LOUD FOR HIM.
An expert chef, our little Bear,
You help us like a pro.
To where you cook alone
is where you now must go.
LET BEAR SEARCH ONCE YOU GET THERE.

[3 - Bear’s kitchen]

Unscramble: I’m dinhgi in het crowiaevm in het nithkec.

[4 - In the microwave]

All the world’s wisdom can be found inside, 
but by which tomb will your next egg hide?
This room holds all: monkeys, space and survival;
And the eggie hides by the words of Geisel.

[5 - Aaron bookshelves in library - behind monkey]

“He shoots, he scores!”
Goes the happy refrain.
Your next egg hides 
by the balls for this game.

[6 - Basketball game]

Do 2x5 pushups and then 1 more. 
Your next egg is waiting by the downstairs porch door. 

[7 - downstairs porch door]

What has a flag but cannot wave?
What’s filled six days a week, but if you don’t own it
you can’t take a peek?

[8 - Mailbox]    
  
Reach high and touch the sky
Now bend down and touch your toes. 
Hold the stretch for 10 seconds. 
Then go get the egg at the outside hose. 

[9 - outside hose]

When you're feeling kinda stinky
there's just one place to go.
To wash and get all squeaky clean
and scrub between each toe.
(hint:  Ahoy there matey!)

[10 - Master shower]

THIS CLUE IS FOR BEAR.  READ IT OUT LOUD FOR HIM.
YOU CAN HELP GUIDE HIM TO THE ANSWER, BUT PLEASE LET HIM SEARCH.
When clues are too confusing
Roll your shoulders and say “Huh?”
The next egg’s in Tuh-Mater--
only you got to drop the Tuh

[11 - Mater]

Your next egg hides by something which has keys but opens no locks,
with “space” but no room, and allows you to “enter” but not to go in?

[12 - Computer Keyboard] 

128 / 16 =  ? 
Make a rhyme with the answer and check beneath where Mommy & Daddy check their  __________.

[13 - Under the Scale]

The next Easter egg will be found with ease,
If you get a sudden urge to sneeze.
(hint:  1st floor)



[14 - Tissue Box in guest bathroom]
  
What has four legs, but cannot walk?
Around this we nightly talk.
[
15 - Under the kitchen table]

Cryptogram

[16 - Under Couch Cusion:  Map to prizes] 


Ben & David visit Raleigh

Josh, Stephanie, Ben & David came to Raleigh to visit us over their spring break. We had a wonderful time hanging with them. We ate great meals, drank great wine, saw the beautiful Duke gardens, made a great seder, and had a fun Easter egg hunt. (Jeff, can you make the egg hunt video?)

Cousins climbing trees after dinner downtown. 

Smelling the flowers at the Duke Gardens

Kyle, Ben & Aaron chilling

The intro to our egg hunt

Stephanie & Aaron

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Aaron swinging age 3

One of these days I will put together a video of the kids swinging through the years. Here is Aaron swinging at age 3. 

Aaron bike

Aaron got a balance bike for his birthday. Kyle and Emily had one when they were his age. It made the transition to a regular bike incredibly simple. Unfortunately, we did not save that bike to pass along to Aaron so he got one for his birthday. And his tricycle had been stolen right before we moved so the kid was without wheels. So it only made sense to right this wrong for Aaron. :-) And he sure is learning how to ride it very fast! 

Monday, March 16, 2015

Pullen Park

Continuing birthday week for Aaron, we went over to Pullen Park while the kids were at school. We had a fun time playing in the park, swinging, riding the train and the carousel. And testing out his birthday truck in the sand. 
Selfie on the train
Aaron bought the tickets all by himself!! 
Riding the carousel

Friday, March 13, 2015

Aaron riding tractor

During my run with Aaron, we sometimes see these tractors parked. And sometimes Aaron can't contain himself and needs to try to drive them. So today he did. 

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Happy 3rd birthday Aaron!!

Somehow Aaron is now 3 years old!! Talk about time flying!!

We spent the morning at his favorite place in Raleigh - Marbles Children's Museum!! This kid sure loves his marbles and Marbles.

Leading up to his birthday, he said he wanted a Curious George cake. Good, I have made a monkey cake before for Kyle. Then Aaron changed his mind and said he wanted a digger cake. He is going through a serious car, truck, garbage truck, digger, construction equipment stage. Then he said he wanted a Curious George digger cake. At that point, I became deaf to any other whim suggestions and went with Curious George digger cake. And here you have it! Note: Curious George manning the construction site in the corner. 

And we invited over our favorite people in Raleigh: Amy, Tony, Annalise and Anthony to help us celebrate Aaron. Everyone has a great time together so it was only fitting to have Aaron's birthday party be with them. 

Happy birthday song

Aaron scored some pretty awesome trucks for his birthday. Here he is with his prized garbage truck.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Aaron rocking out to Hullabaloo

Aaron loves his Hullaballoo music. It is very cute, clever, adult friendly, kid-folk music. We have listened to it since Kyle and Emily were little. Hullaballoo is a San Diego staple so we went to his concerts when we could and bought his CD's. When we drive in the car, Aaron asks for his Hullaballoo music. And here he is rocking out to it in the garage. 

Monday, March 2, 2015

Aaron sleeping

Still not adjusted to the time zone change and long travel day, Aaron found his way into our bed at some point during the night. I was watching him sleep so why not record it. So yes, this is a video of Aaron sleeping. 

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Home

So we returned late Friday night / early Saturday morning. And this was the scene at our house: 
7am the guys came to build the shelves in what will become our library. Thankfully we all slept through the commotion until 1pm!!! Yes, even Aaron!! Amazing what a long day of travel and jet lag will do for sleep. 
This was the dishwasher from Jeff while we were away: coffee and whiskey cups. 
Loads of laundry. When you mix skiing with the beach, you are in for a lot of different things to wash!
The finished library with books starting to populate it.