It rained all day today

Like the title says, it rained all day today, plus it was cold. So outside plans were not high on the list. I pulled the car out of the garage and the boys took turns riding the motorcycle around while the other played on Waymond's truck. It made them happy for almost two hours!

Video: Dinner in the backyard

Over the weekend

The boys are getting more free & creative. I was breaking down a box to recycle and Isayas asked for it. The boys then made this "home" for themselves.

Don't let them fool you, they aren't asleep, but pretending for the camera!

Waymond created the little door behind them. He cut down a door and made a tiny door & windows with locks and such. They love it. Lock, unlock, open, close, lock.

Ermias is loving this motorcycle right now. He loves it so much that he doesn't want to give his brother a turn on it. So the motorcycle spends a fair amount of time hidden away. He's getting better!! Saturday he spend a good amount of time driving around our little toy people & animals. And, he did share with his brother so the cycle is actually still in the back yard now. It's the longest run yet!

We had a little fire in the backyard this evening (on purpose). We ate dinner outside and then roasted a few marshmallows. The boys had a great time! They have found that they love roasted marshmallows! They kept asking for chocolate, which is funny because they've only had smores once and that was weeks ago. I'll post a video of dancing in the backyard as soon as it up loads to Youtube.

Video: This boy can keep a beat!

Party

The boys got out the drum and created a "party" according to them. They had a great time in the basement! I think we have a couple of musicians on our hands!

Cookies

Today we baked! I wanted to make cookies to take with dinner to some friends who just had a baby last week. After the boys got up from their nap I asked them if they wanted to bake cookies. They just said, "cookies?" I had the kitchen set up so they got up in the chairs, a little confused, and was pointing at everything asking if it was cookies. They got the hang of it and enjoyed tasting everything. They both got two from the first ones out of the oven, but it didn't stop them from asking for more and more as the day went on! They love chocolate!!

We made chocolate, chocolate chip cookies. Ermias bit into one of his cookies and saw the gooey melted chocolate chip and showed it to me. I said, that the chocolate chip and showed him the bag. He smiled and took a large bite of his cookie!

Date Night

Our friend Faith came over last night after the boys went to bed and stayed with them while Waymond & I went out. We didn't do anything exciting, just coffee (a giant cookie) and a grocery run. But it was nice to get out of the house - just the two of us!

Free bowling for kids

http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/all_centers.php Sign your kids up for two free bowling games per day for the summer. I just signed our two up. They email you tickets that you can print off, super easy! I think Waymond is going to take them tomorrow. Should be really interesting. I'll have him do some video because I'm sure it will be priceless!!

Video: Dinner & a Show

Some how between 5pm and 7:30pm our boys loose their minds. If you come to dinner at the Hampton house, you will most likely get a show too. Thankfully they get silly instead of angry, I am super thankful for that!

On our way home

This morning we were coming home from playing at the kids' area in the mall (yes, shockingly it's pouring rain & the boys went to the dentist this morning and they have to go back two more times in the next month). I was stopped at a stop light. Normally Isayas would pipe up from the backseat, "red. stop." and then spell stop. He's into knowing how everything is spelled. Well, today, instead of the normal red stop, he says, "Go mommy" and I said "I can't the light is red, red means stop, remember?" He then says to me, "It's Ok mommy, GO! It's OK." and then he laughed and laughed at himself.

I really wish I could have a camera on these guys all the time. They are so funny!!

Yesterday

In the morning we practiced our letters and numbers with dry erase markers.

He has his fake smile down pat!

Then we hit the park. Isayas has been trying to get across these monkey bars since he first came. And, yesterday he made it all the way across all by himself! He was so excited and then he hurt himself on the way down.

Help Joplin

As most of you might be aware, Joplin had a HUGE tornado blow through. We have many friends who live there and lost their houses, but thankfully are still alive. The neighborhood we used to live in is no longer there! Crazy.

I wanted to post a link to a way to help the relief effort, http://restorejoplin.com/. We know it is a reputable site because we personally know the people behind it. So, everyone get a t-shirt!!

And, please be praying for everyone in Joplin!

If you would like to personally/physically help in Joplin check out this site, http://www.newfrontiersusa.org/cms/index.php/news/79-joplin-relief-update. The family of churches we belong to has a church in Joplin (Christ's Church), which Waymond & I were a part of for several years. They are organizing teams now.

Uncle Ryan's leaving

The boys had to say good-bye to Uncle Ryan tonight because he'll be gone early in the morning. We took a few more shot of the three of them. I think they are going to be super sad when they realize he is gone!

Saturday Morning

This morning after breakfast we watched Finding Nemo (Waymond's been sick and we all needed to relax this morning). It took some convincing because both boys wanted to watch The Lion King (which has been their first choice since Uncle Ryan brought it from Grandma's house). The rest of the adults were tired of Simba so Nemo it was.

Isayas is really loving our Echa-sketch (its Homer Simpson's head, but he doesn't know that). He plays with it often these days.

For whatever reason Isayas has decided that he wants to wear his neck pillow around (its a bull dog). He had it on all morning until after lunch.

While the movie was on Ermias practiced his cutting using the Big scissors. He was very excited.

Nice hat!

Video: Calling each other

Waymond gave the boys two of his old cell phones and they are having a great time with them. Today they were calling each other and having conversations.

Video: Making video on Uncle Ry's computer

The boys had such a great time making videos on Uncle Ry's computer!!

Uncle Ryan is in town

Uncle Ryan is in town & the four of us went to a baseball game (sadly Waymond had to work). The boys did really well, they made it through the entire game with a small play time in the kids area. Mostly they ate and watched everyone around us. We did sit near the score board so they watched the "tv" as they called it. We all had a great time and the Mariner's actually won!

We sat in the sun, which was AMAZING, but Isayas got hot and was using his sweatshirt as shade. Clever and resourceful boy!

Ermias spent most of the game on Uncle Ryan's lap or leaning against him, or having his feet on him.

Just a random addition, yesterday there was a chicken "free ranging" in our neighborhood all day. Hopefully it was eating some bugs from our yard!!

Video: Fun in the backyard

Video: They like cornbread muffins

Random

My mom sent me a Mother's Day card. I think I might make a new line of cards for first time mothers...Welcome to the Funny Farm!! :o)

Sidewalk chalk!

The boys enjoyed watching Waymond mow the lawn. The first time he mowed since we have been back the boys clapped for him when he was finished. So cute!

Video: The Memory Game

This is how Ermias plays the memory game!

Video: Snapping

At the park

We ran a few errands today; the boys experiences the wonderful world of standing in line at the Post Office. They just stood there looking around at everyone and every thing.

When errands were done we played at the park. Since the park is literally a couple of blocks from where I work, I texted Stacy (co-worker) and she met us for a few moments and brought along the office dog. She got these shots for us. And NO we won't be getting a dog anytime soon!!

The other day

The boys played with playdough for (probably) the first time, well at least the store bought kind. Ermias was more interested in setting at the computer and writing than playdough. But when he saw his brother making stuff (and more importantly things to cut with) he joined right in. Isayas was so excited about the guy he made. He wanted MANY pictures. He even posted him a couple of times to get some shots. I think Waymond had a good time too!

Video: Dad and the boys

Video: Our crazy kids in the car

Gardening

We finally started our garden. It's been pretty cold and we've been out of the country so we thought both were good reasons to wait to plant. We bought a few plants today at the Farmer's Market. The boys were a big help digging up the weeds. Of course they both had to have gloves on since I did. They wore some of my older gloves, hilarious!