Macie and Cap Visit

My mom and dad drove up last weekend and we have been a busy bunch.

Riding bikes and hitting the parks have been a big priority...not only to wear out the kids but also Riley - 4 1/2 months and full of energy!

 Macie and Beckett enjoying the first of many many books.

 Beckett taking a break from riding...Macie makes a great bed! :-)

 Beckett climbing up the rock wall...no fear in this one!

 Goofy Grant - strapped his shin pads to his head after riding his bike at the park.

 Beckett and Daddy walking into the mall on a very windy and chilly day.

 Beckett getting ready to slide.

 The kids checking out the LEGO race car - super cool.

We went to the museum today and saw 2 new things that the kids were super excited about - LEGO exhibit and Bumblebee! When we found out the Bumblebee lives at the museum now and will be coming out everyday....well, Grant wants to go back today to say hi! :-)

Watch me Mommy! I'm amazing!

Grant has mastered 2 wheels and he couldn't be more excited or more proud! Macie and Cap arrived this weekend and bought him a big packet of pads - elbow and gloves were the most important. Those combined with his soccer shin pads and helmet, he's one of the safest kids out there!

As you will see in the video, he's feeling very confident and a little daring. He loves to try out tight turns and new terrains. There have been a few falls (of course), but for the most part he just rubs the new bruise (you should see his legs now!) and jumps right back on.

Beckett is already saying that he doesn't need training wheels anymore. I am afraid that might be true by the end of the summer. UGH! He's already quite the speed demon, even with one broken pedal!

Sunday Performance

Today Grant performed during one of the Sunday services at the church that sponsors his preschool. He was so excited to go...even though he didn't remember any of the words or even what songs they were going to sing. :-)

Our Star of the Week

Today was Grant's first day back at school after spring break. He is over the moon excited for 3 reasons:

1 - He's back in school and gets to see his friends.
2 - This week is dinosaur week - his favorite subject!
3 - And most important....he's the class' STAR OF THE WEEK!

What does that mean? Well, we did 2 posters over break with pictures and facts. He wears the Star of the Week necklace all week. There is a special chair for him to sit in during story time...everyone else is on the floor. And, on Thursday, he gets to wear a crown. :-) How much better does it get? :-)

Here is a picture of him on our way out the door...poster in hand. Can you tell he's excited? :-)

Thank you Easter Bunny!

For the first time, the Easter Bunny visited the Simmons house. Grant's friends at school filled him in, so I put in a good word and he visited with treats in paw. Beckett was just trying to keep up. :-)

Grant and I made the bunny cake this year. My mom said a big thank you goes out to Nana for starting this tradition! :-)

Here is a video of the kids finding their "baskets" (i.e. Spiderman buckets. :-) filled with bubbles, bug collector, tops, and snorkel and goggles. :-) Then about 2 hours later, they finally noticed some colorful eggs in the yard and on the front porch. So out we went. :-)

Crazy Boys

Today we went to Forrest Park in Noblesville. It's a great park with 2 playgrounds, a putt-putt course and a carousel. Today we explored the skate park. Riley ran around and I thought, oh the kids will ride their bikes around all the ramps and have fun. Uh, no. Both kids went down the ramps and wanted to try all of them...Roger and I frequently had to stop them from trying the higher and steeper ones. Ugh. I just had to close my eyes and tell them to keep their wheels straight!

In case you are wondering re Grant and training wheels. He hasn't had another full lesson on just 2 wheels. But he's ready. He's on spring break this week and I am really hoping to get him out there. He bent one of them pretty much perpendicular to his bike last night and didn't have any trouble. Just need to take the time and do it. :-)

 Roger is such a softy when it comes to Riley. The kids were bugging her so he decided that he needed to hold her...

Getting ready to go down one of the ramps. Helmets...check. Training wheels...check. :-)

Easter Egg Craziness

We LOVE our Y. So many great things for the boys to do, so many great classes, and this weekend was no exception. On Saturday we went to the Easter Egg Hunt at the Y. Unlike all the others we have seen...this one was in the pool! :-) In case you are wondering....the eggs were empty and they got a prize as they left the pool.

Here is a video of the kids:

I also took a few pictures:

 Hmmm...which one next?

 1st tattoo!

I Know That Voice

At the end of our weekly library trip, I hear a very familiar voice yell "I have to poop!" I turn around and see him running into the bathroom. I tell him to get on the potty and I am right behind. The discreetly chuckling librarian says that she'll get all of our stuff checked out and ready to go. So I grab Grant's hand and we head into the bathroom. When I enter the stall, this is what I see...blurred out for privacy. :-)