Here's an idea for you!

Just a tip for those of you with small ones:

Instead of using a babygate to keep kids out of rooms that may not be safe for them to be in unattended, use a chain like the one pictured. This is installed on our bathroom door to keep Brendan and Isaiah out! It is cheaper and easier to operate than a babygate and does the job better too! Also, I am pretty sure it has already paid for itself since my youngest has a fetish for pouring shampoo out of the bottle onto the floor when Mommy isn't looking! Not to mention the fact that the bathroom is not a safe zone for toddlers! Now I don't have to worry when I am in the kitchen cooking dinner or the like!

It's official: Brendan made it to TWO!

Today at 1:00 PM, Brendan officially made to the ripe ol' age of TWO!

Brendan is a very independent soul - a quality I will some day enjoy - which has made for quite a few moments where all I could do was hold my breath!

This year Brendan has started talking. He is actually pretty vocal. Brendan has also started taking swimming lessons. He wants to be independent there too but alas, he cannot float. Brendan can walk, run, jump, hop, swing, climb, and slide. Really not too many things can stop him when he wants to GO! (Not even the three foot high piece of plywood he have blocking him from getting into the dining/kitchen area. He merely scales it.)

Brendan has a favorite stuffed animal which is his constant companion. It is a little white doggie he calls "Woe-Woe." He loves pickles, tomatoes, and pizza. He isn't a huge fan of chocolate. He loves to be outside, especially on warm days when he can play with the water hose.

Brendan is sweet with a twist of devious thrown in for good measure. He is a thinker. He loves to be snuggled when it suits him, and yet will initiate a family dog pile without warning! He thinks he can keep up with the Bubbas no matter what and becomes frustrated when he realizes there are somethings he just cannot do quite yet.

Isaiah has a joke for you!

Isaiah: Knock, knock Bubba.

Jarom: Who's there?

Isaiah: Boo!

Jarom: Boo, who?

Isaiah: What (are) you crying for?

JAROM

I think it must be fun! Or cold! What is that face about?

Here I go!

Summer Fun!

ISAIAH

A Little Leary the First Go 'Round!

Ahhhh! This IS fun!

I'm gettin' ready to go!

BRENDAN

Splish Splash!

Sort of like Wild Waves, but cheaper!

Watch out below!

That's the fun part!

One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready,

and four to GO!

SWIM LESSONS

Jarom during a swim lesson.

Brendan.


And Isaiah.
(Accompanied by Dad.)

Last Mt. St. Helens Post, I Promise!

Dad and Brendan on the nature walk through the woods at Mt. St. Helens!

Jarom and Isaiah in the woods at the mountain.
We were able to learn about how a forest repairs itself after a disaster!

Jarom's attempt at photography. We think he has an eye for it.
Oh wait, where are Dad's brains? Ahh, he'll get it one of these days!

Jarom and Isaiah playing in dirty snow.

Yes, there's snow up there in mid-May.

Our kids are TOO COOL!

(Just ask them, they'll tell ya!)

Mt. St. Helens has the coolest play ground for the kids!

Jarom is hanging out at the playground at Mt. St. Helens. Who says the mountain is the only cool part of the day up there?

Brendan was rocking it on the squirrel toy. I know, punny ain't I?

Isaiah and Jarom playing at the playground!








Jarom was digging our trip to Mt. St. Helens!
(Oh, come on, like I wasn't going to say that!)



















Here's Brendan on the Big Toy! And man was it ever a big Big Toy!

Our Trip To Mt. St. Helens on May 18, 2009

Brendan and Jarom met Big Foot! Isaiah was sleeping at the time. Big Foot agreed to pose real quick for a picture before running away into the woods! ;-)










Dad and the boys take a moment to relax in front of the mountain.








Jarom wanted to try his hand at being the photographer! After about three takes, Mom and Dad both have heads! Amazing!







Here are our boys in front of the majestic Mt. St. Helens 29 years after the erruption! We had just visited the Observation Center and viewed the film showing footage from the fateful day. The boys were all in awe by the film.





Postcard-ish, for sure! But I couldn't get over the awesome sight of the mountain. If you have never been, you should make the time. It's too cool, and even young children seem to understand the magnitude of the experience. FYI- Every year on May 18th (the anniversary of the erruption) everything there is FREE!