Playing with trains

Last year, I bought the boys a bunch of Brio wooden train track and a few trains. At the time, they couldn't have cared less. Building tracks was more fun for me than for them, without a doubt.

Well, fast-forward a year, and now they want to play trains. So we built a decent-sized track and had a blast.
Now I need to get some non-motorized engines, since Gabe likes pushing them, not just watching them go around...

Playing at the park

Today, the boys and I went to a park that we used to come to when Gabe was smaller.

They were human dynamos. We could solve the world's energy crisis (or at least power a small moped) if we could hook a generator up to Gabe.

It got interesting once other kids showed up. Gabe is like some weird, toddler alpha-dog. He has to stake his territory and let other kids know who's boss. Not violent or anything, just staking his ground.

The next few years should be interesting to say the least.

Swinging

At the park, not long ago, Gavin decided to sit contently in the swing. Usually, he wants to climb and run and jump and do all the things that Gabe does. Have to remind myself and him that he's a 2yr old because he thinks he's 3 1/2 like Gabe. Gav has a mind of his own and has begun to voice his opinion more often.

He still loves to swing and it makes me feel as though he's still Mommy's baby...Snug in the toddler swing and grinning at me, joyfully and sweetly.

Gabe Spots Spidey

We took the boys to a local Reading Festival today for some fun and games. They both had their face painted for the first time and ate cotton candy too. Gabe got called up on stage to meet Spider Man and read with him. He was a natural and loved every minute of it. He even got a prize for doing such a great job.

Look out!...Here comes a Spider Man!!

Just Gabe

This is the epitome of "Gabe", to me.

He says his name is "Gabriel", he is going to be 4 in February. He is so smart and reading books already. He plays hard and loves soccer, music, and super heroes. He wants to be a scarecrow or a cowboy or Santa Claus for Halloween this year. He likes school and most of his friends are girls (He even had his first kiss)! He is all boy, brave, bold, boisterous and simply charming! I love him so, that's Gabe!

Bubble Blower

A couple of weeks ago, I pulled out the bubbles and the Bubble Grill that the boys like to play with and Gavin just cracked me up. He was so intent on blowing bubbles and using his nose that I couldn't stop giggling. No matter how many times Gabe and I showed him how to blow from his mouth, he just nodded his head in understanding, took a deep breath, and blew as hard as he could-- through both nostrils.
He was covered in bubble "juice" by the end of the whole experience and believe it or not, the air that comes out of his nose, can actually create a few good sized bubbles! He and Gabe both had a blast and with fall weather here, I'm sure we'll have quite a few more bubble blowing days.

Back to Burt's

Today we went to Burt's Pumpkin farm to take pictures and buy pumpkins. The boys went crazy, as is their norm. Within 20 minutes of arrival, Gavin had found the one mud puddle on the property and fallen in it. Gabe didn't waste any time, falling onto a pumpkin and breaking it, causing him to have pumpkin guts all over his shirt, arm and the side of his head. It was awesome.

We had a great time all around, and the boys love the pumpkins they picked out.

Balloon fun

Tuesday night at our neighborhood Chick-fil-a is Kid's Night. Every week, they do something different for kids at dinner. Tonight, they have a clown who is freakishly talented at making balloon animals. Gabe and Gavin originally got balloon swords, but I think that was just because they didn't know what was possible. After they popped their swords, Gabe decided he wanted a Zebra, shown below.

I don't know which was cooler: seeing Gabe with his Zebra or watching Gavin try to imitate the clown by twisting his balloon around to try and make something himself.