I can do whatever he can do

Stephen decided to visit with Rockam this morning.

After the two of them jumped around in the bed for a while, they took a little breather. Actually, Stephen was doing the jumping, and I was bouncing Rockam so he'd feel like he was part of the action. Rockam isn't able to pull up on his own, but he can stand if I prop him.

Boys' first bon fire

Last Friday night we brought the boys with us to our small group meeting at the Weatherfords. Here Melody cuddles with her favorite baby.

Danny and Melody made an awesome bon fire and picnic spread for us.

We roasted weenies and giant marshmallows. It was already dark by that point, and I didn't want to get my camera sticky... otherwise I would've taken a picture of them.

After a while, Stephen, Rockam, Kayleigh and Bryleigh all wanted to come inside. There was hay stuck in Steve's socks, so he shed them.

I'd bet he'd like a hug.

Nature Fest 2011

On Saturday we took the boys to Nature Fest at Jeffer's Bend. We met up with the Couchmans. Stephen and Evan both like looking at the butterflies.

Rockam joined in too.

One Monarch was willing to hang around and be observed up close.

After petting some miniature ponies and hugging an alpaca (joe's got a pic of that on his phone), the kids wanted to paint pumpkins. Stephen said, "I'm painting the OCEAN!" His pumkin turned out looking like a globe.

Stephen also liked this bunny and little chicken. He was all about touching all the animals.

Next, we took a walk into the woods.

Where the kids made peanut butter-pinecone bird squirrel feeders.

Dr. Selbe said that the squirrels would bite the yarn and steal the pinecone.
He was right. All that remains on our tree is a bit of frayed yarn.

And, as the perfect ending to the day, they even got a little canoe ride.
Stephen went with Brenden and Emily.

Puffard the Big Red Dog

Stephen got a special surprise in the mail from Aunt Alice,
Uncle John and Cousin Maria this past week!

He knows his name is "Clifford," but because it sounds too much like "clippers," the sound of which Stephen is terrified, he's renamed him "Puffard." Only my son.

"I wuv you, Puffard!"

Cincinatti Trip

Last Friday evening, we drove through the night to Cincinatti for a quick day-cation with the Parrinos to celebrate "Papa's" 60th birthday.

There were some great views in Newport, Kentucky, where the Aquarium is located.

Though not as big as Chicago's Shed Aquarium or Chattanooga's Tennessee Aquarium, the Cincinatti Aquarium was just right for us, taking about two hours to complete. They were also quite kid friendly.

A ginormous puffer fish. He was like an overgrown football with fins and an unusual flowing tail. I wanted to take him home with me, under my arm.

Rockam enjoyed the views of several aquarium tunnels from the double stroller. Uncle Jack and Tia Cris were also with us for the weekend. They relieved me of Stroller Duty almost the entire time... cuz they're awesome :)

Stephen got nose-to-nose with a little puffer. I can't decide who is cuter.

Rockam managed to get some time out of the stroller too.

Ever since an aggressive Lorakeet gnawed on the webbing between my thumb and forefinger when I was trying to feed it at the Cleveland Zoo, I haven't been so fond of the colorful and cachophonious birds. But that didn't stop Papa from trying his hand at feeding them from a cup. No, I didn't ask all the strangers in the photo to smile. They all did it on their own.

He tried three times. Each time, the Lorakeet quickly snatched the cup out of his hand.

Until another Lorakeet came along and snatched the cup from him.

After the aquarium, we walked over to a seafood restaurant and had some awesome calamari (along with other food). Stephen LOVES calamari and requests it every time we go to a restaurant. Every restaurant. Sometimes it's tough to explain to a 3-year-old why Waffle House doesn't serve fried squid.

After enjoying Newport's quirky Levee district, we headed back to the hotel where Stephen went swimming with Papa and Uncle Jack. Once appetites were restored, we sang "Happy Birthday," slapped on our Spidee masks and feasted on cheese, fruit, pretzel rods, nuts and an enormous cheese cake. A pretty normal birthday celebration.

Spider women can shoot imaginary webs too.

Oddly enough, I think the one who looks most like a spider (Little Mr. StickyFingers)  isn't wearing a mask.

Conversations with a 3-year-old

Me, singing: "I'll become even more undignified than this!"
STEVE: "NO! Don't sing this. You're not undignified, you're MOMMA!"
Me: "But I thought you liked that song, Stephen."
STEVE: "You're not Dave Crowder, You're a mama."
Me: "Fair enough."

Brotherly love

Stephen has really been fond of cuddling with his baby brother lately. Yesterday I let Rockam fall back to sleep on our bed after his early nursing and Stephen eventually found him, woke him up, covered him in all the age-appropriate toys he could find and then stuck his face right up in Rockam's and said "Hiiii, Wittle BABY! Hiiiiii! Awwwww, THAT's NICE!" Rockam was laughing.

Double duty hamper

So it turns out that in a pinch, the laundry hamper is a great place to plop your kid.

Cabbage?! You call this a toy?

Stephen's third birthday party

 I caught my shirt on fire trying to light Steve's three candles, but he still got to blow them out.

We did a "David Crowder" themed party for Stephen this year. Stephen knows the lyrics for a lot of his worship songs and likes to sing them to himself. while looking in my full-length mirror.

Rockam watched and played along with the other little rockers.

As the birthday boy, Stephen got to play Mike's electric guitar... with some assistance.

Inflatable guitars served as both party decor and favors :)

Get down, Emily C.!