Summer Weekends

We're really enjoying the summer this year.  Being 2 is such a great age for Graham, and for us.  He's so interested in learning new things and seeing new places now, much more than ever before.  He loves to watch sports with daddy, and that's opened up a new door of activities for those two on the weekends.  Golf and baseball are his two favorites right now (of course, no activity compares to mowing) and he was out practicing on Saturday.

Sunday was rainy, so we opted for a visit to the Children's Museum in Providence.  We were all having a great time and were seeing lots of cool things.  But the exploration ceased the minute we came across an old tractor that was green and yellow, prompting Graham to repeat "John Deeeeeeeere!" over and over. He was so enamored with it that he did not want to do anything but play on it.  So we were basically in one spot for a very long time!  But we had to be grateful, because he was really good at sharing whenever other children came to play on it.  After a few minutes, he'd say as politely as he could, "Boom's turn now, mommy!" and see if he could get back on.  Leaving was tough, and I have a feeling that our next visit will only involve one exhibit!   

Before the John Deeeeere

As good as it gets

 

Chez Boom

So Graham's birthday present from us was a new kitchen.  This wasn't Chris's first choice on a gift, but the lure of having an occupied 2-year-old inside our house convinced him.   And I think it was the right choice, because even Chris agrees that he loves it!  The other day, Chris got to watch an NBA playoff game 3 feet away from Graham almost completely uninterrupted.  He's cooking on it every day, and now I can't throw out any boxes or containers without him using them in Boom's Kitchen first.  We just might have the first pro mower/chef in the family!

Two Years Old

His favorite food, pizza 

It took a few tries, but he finally got the candle out!

I still cannot believe that our little guy is now 2!  Part of me is really happy because I love the boy he's growing up to be.  But of course, part of me is sad, since he's no longer a baby.   He had a really fun party with his best buddies where he jumped to his heart's content in a bouncy house.  All the play was followed by a fireman ice cream cake, which had some serious red icing, leaving a memory of the cake long afterwards.

Graham's really into mowing right now, and he mows several times a day.  He's got a few in the house, but his favorites are his daddy's two in the garage.  I like our garage just fine, but I never thought it would be a place that rivaled the kitchen for the amount of time I spend there every day.  And any time we hear a mower outside, the excitement is stirred and I'm trying to explain why we can't track the mower down and watch!  

And he calls himself Boom.  Pretty much all the time now.  We have ideas of where this came from (my dad is "Boompa", and he likes to jump off things and say "boom"), but since it doesn't seem to be leaving his vocabulary, it's definitely started to stick with us as well.   We hope our little Boom has a great 2nd year ahead of him!!!

 

Easter in the Big Apple

We had a wonderful time last weekend with Jen and Lew in NY.  We went to the Children's Museum, played at the park, and of course, Easter eggs were dyed - both white and brown!  Graham always loves to see Ellie, and of course he got a big thrill when Uncle Lew let him watch the trucks on his computer.  All the way home he kept asking to go back to "Uncle's house" and for "Nen".  When we pulled into our driveway and excitedly proclaimed that we were home, he began crying and told us he wanted to be at Jen's!  We'll have to go for a visit again soon.

Trucks with Uncle Lew

With Ellie, very excited

Aunt Jen and Ellie

What a face!

At the playground with Dad

Tesas

Last week we visited family and friends in the great state of Texas, or Tesas, as Graham calls it. He'd been talking about the trip for weeks, pretty much ever since we booked it.  He couldn't wait to go and see everyone.

We had a full week.  We went to the zoo, saw his cousin's Tae Kwan Do tournament (he can now show you his moves), played outside, went to the park (where he couldn't stop chasing birds and squirrels - and got very upset when they got away), had a surprise visit from Uncle Larry, Aunt Sheila and cousin Matt (so good to see everyone!), and got to remember what warm weather feels like.  

At the playground

Feeding the birds

His first trip to the zoo!

With cousins Cameron and Spencer - there was never a dull moment!

Nanna

We got to watch the sea lions eat their breakfast

Climbing through a tunnel in the aquarium - he loved this!

You can't tell by his face, but he also loved the carousel ride!

Uncle John

  

Playtown Express

Graham's favorite place to play in the winter is an inside playground called Playtown Express.  They have a huge slide, which he loves, lots of little playrooms to explore, and several bouncies.  It's nonstop the minute we walk in the door, and he's never ready to go home.  Here's some pics from our last visit.

Climbing up the big slide

Hair Cut

Yesterday Graham went for his first official haircut.  We took him to Michelle, who cuts Chris's and my hair.  We talked about it most of the week, and he was very excited.    He'd pull on his hair and ask "cut?" almost every day.

He was a little nervous at first, but once he had a lollypop or two, all was good.  He was even holding Michelle's hand when we were walking out.  Of course, I wasn't able to get pictures of him during the cut because he was sitting in my lap!  But here's some of the before and afters, and a few other random pictures taken in the past week.  

Before, hanging out w/ Higgins

Shorter!

Fropper!

This is Chris's doing.