Our new patio

At our old place, we did not have any kind of yard/patio and with a very active 4 year old boy, it was getting hard not having an outside space of our own.  We are so blessed to have not 1, but 2 little patios at our new place. They are not anything huge, but since we are used to having nothing, it is a big deal for us.  There is enough room for Owen to ride his tricycle around in a little oval and enough room for drawing with chalk, blowing bubbles, having picnics, and setting up the little tent.  It is such a blessing to have that outside space!  Here are a few pictures from our outside adventures.

Lexie hitchin' a ride with Owen. She figured this out all by herself and Owen is usually a good sport and takes her around for a few laps.

Lexie trying to catch a bubble.

This was a rainy day in January. Owen really wanted to go out there while it was raining, and because our patio is covered, we can! They ate breakfast out there and thought it was such a treat.

The view from the other side. As you can see, it is not huge, but it feels huge to us!

My Little Scientist

For Christmas, Owen received two science experiment kits and he was in heaven!  The day after we got home from our trip he was begging to do his "spearamints." 

 

Rick and Owen building their volcano.  The wet gauze had to dry overnight before they could paint it.  Patience is not an attribute that comes easily to an eager 4 year old.

At last - the volcano erupting.  I told Owen to "act surprised."  I think it looks pretty authentic.

 

Paleontologist Owen with his goggles, mallet, pick, and brush for finding dinosaur fossils.

Eureka! He found a dino skeleton!  He was SUPER excited about this and

I had a great time being his assistant while Lexie napped.  Good job on the gifts this year, Santa!

Cousin Time!

Last week my niece Chloe came over for a little while. She is the cutest little thing so I had to snap a few pictures while she was with us.

Isn't she pretty?

Thanks for coming over, Chloe! We love you!

Rice & Beans

I've been channeling my inner pre-school teacher and doing some fun activities with Owen. He loves anything he can do with his hands and especially likes science experiments. We have made peanut butter playdough, baking soda & vinegar volcanoes, cornstarch & water slime, and most recently, I put a bunch of dry rice and beans on a cookie sheet, put in a few toys, and let him go to town.

"Let's Make a Porch!"

I've been feeling a little guilty that I haven't been stimulating Owen enough at home. We recently got a dvd player that streams Netflix and in the excitement of having hundreds of shows at our fingertips, we've been watching WAY too much tv.  

I thought it would be fun to make a fort under our kitchen table. Owen was very excited about it and all of his stuffed animals joined us in the fort. 

Owen kept mispronouncing fort and kept calling it a porch!  It was so cute!  I'm sure there will be many more "porches" in our future!