SUMMER!

We enjoyed a glorious, sunny, hot weekend in Ithaca with Grandma Joanie and Grandpa Stu. We went to Cass Park Saturday morning to ride bikes along the inlet (more of a half-jog--they are getting quite fast on their strider bikes) and then play at the playground. The rest of the weekend, however, was spent in the blow-up pool under the crabapple tree and riding the stone frog next to the actual frog pond, plus some good old-fashioned baby throwing. All naked, of course (kids, not adults, I feel compelled to say).

Fun with Sarah, Toby and the Bobos

Tuesday Sarah and Toby and little brothers Josh and Sam came to visit for the day. Everyone shared pretty well in the morning, then we had lunch and trekked over to the park to play in the fountain and on the swings. Here they are riding on the "train" on the back of the bench next to Mama Sarah and a nursling.

Theo and Beckett missed their nap in all the fun, so when I went upstairs to take a little snooze on my bed, they came up with me. Beckett really wanted to read his Berenstain Bears book but couldn't keep his eyes open.

Kathy's retirement party

Saturday we went to Johnstown to celebrate Grandma Kathy's retirement from her teaching career. It was a beautiful night and the whole family got together to celebrate with Kathy and her colleagues.

 Playing soccer with cousin Emily.

 Dancing with Grandma Kathy and Great Aunt Debby.

 Dancing with Great Great Aunt Renee.

 Dancing with Grandma Kathy.

Goofing off at dinner with Uncle Jon.

Doing puzzles with Rachel.

Theo riding on Grandpa Greg's back.

Beck and cousin Emily.

Dancing with Mama.

Brother hugs.

Beckett and Theo were having too much fun mowing the lawn at the Moose lodge to take a picture but we took advantage of almost everyone together (we missed Uncle Rich!). 

Sciencenter Trip

Thursday we went to the Ithaca Sciencenter and then had a great visit with Tricia and Robin in the afternoon. Unfortunately I got no pictures of Tricia or Robin, but some good ones with Beckett and Theo and Grandma Joanie and Grandpa Stu.

Happy Fathers' Day

We love you, Daddy Lovebo, Grandpa Stu, and Grandpa Greg!!

Saturday Auntie Tara and her baby Zoey came over to have dinner with us and then take us as her plus-threes to the zoo for a special evening event she was invited to.

This is right before Zoey snagged some of Theo's cotton candy.

Pulling their weight

The boys are very interested in helping out with pretty much everything that's not super appropriate for them to help with. We've washed the cars a couple of times and they do a great job spraying the car and everything (and everyone) and sponging the car and squeezing soap out everywhere. They helped me wash off furniture I'm cleaning up to try to sell, sponging it off and rinsing. They also like emptying the dishwasher and bringing up toys from the basement. When they bring their dishes into the kitchen after a meal, Beckett especially likes to throw his (plastic) silverware and bowls/plates into the sink.

I'm happy that the boys are more and more using please, thank you, excuse me and other polite niceties. There's also a lot of whiny demands of "talk to me mama, talk to me!" But then there's a moment like today after nap when I had already agreed to let the boys watch a short show, and then they disagreed about what they were going to watch. They were both complaining to me about how they each wanted to watch their own preferred show, and I told them that they had to work it out among themselves. I then watched them have a conversation in which they told each other what they wanted, and listened to each other, and came to the conclusion that they would watch Theo's preferred show today, and save Beckett's preferred show to tomorrow. A-mazing! (Also because Theo is more prone to giving in than Beckett, so Beckett giving in today was refreshing.)