Big Truck Day in Baltimore

We got to have some fun today in Baltimore at Big Truck Day! It was held in the parking lot of the Museum of Industry, where kids could climb into fire engines, police cars, work trucks and construction vehicles! It was put on by the museum and the Baltimore City of Public Works. Having a truck-loving 3 year old, I knew this would be a very fun outing for us, so we made plans to head into the city today. It was cold and rainy, but the event was still on, so off we went! It think the poor weather kept it from getting too busy, so that was a plus. We successfully found a parking spot (which was my biggest stress after our fiasco in DC with the cherry blossoms) and walked over to the museum. We also got to meet up with some friends there, so that was really fun too.

When we first got there, Nathan was a little overwhelmed by all the people, sirens and horns, but once he got warmed up to the idea, he loved seeing all the trucks!

I think John was just as excited ;)

Spencer was such a trooper to hang out in the stroller, despite the cold and wind.

The kids could totally go into the trucks and play around with the steering wheel, horn and in the case of the police car, the PA speakers. It was hilarious to hear some kid talking about bad guys on 6th street from one of the police cars. Nathan loved sitting in this tow truck.

They also had some activities underneath the pavilion, where all the kids got a free plastic hard hat (like the ones we had a Nathan's birthday party) and a construction worker vest. There was face painting, balloon animals, blocks for building and a few other activities. It was really well put together.

When we were about done with the trucks, we fed the boys a quick lunch on the dock by the boats and then headed home before it got too close to naptime. Overall, a successful outing!

Rainy Day Activity - Yogurt Painting!

Okay, so we're almost halfway through May and with maybe one or two exceptions, it has been raining EVERY DAY this month! Or that's what it feels like, at least. So we are feeling the strain of being inside at home a lot these days with two little crazies. So I needed something new and exciting that both the boys could enjoy while we are still stuck inside until the sun finally decides to show up.

Enter yogurt painting. I chose to do yogurt so that when Spencer decided to mouth everything like he normally does, I didn't have to worry about it at all. There are lots of recipes for taste-safe paints that involve flour and other stuff, but I wanted it to taste good, so yogurt it was. I actually had the stuff for it last week, but I had been waiting for a warmer day so that the boys could paint outside on the balcony because the yogurt is cold. But after a week that has felt like a month, I decided they would be fine if they were a little cold, so we set up shop in the kitchen this morning.

For the yogurt paint I just used vanilla yogurt and kool-aid packets to color it. Super easy! We have little plastic muffin tins that I put their colored yogurt in. I set out butcher paper taped to the kitchen floor, stripped the boys down to their underpants, and let them have at it.

Getting started...

Not so sure about this interesting cold stuff...

Dumping all his colors out ;)

Nathan loved it! He kept painting straight lines, telling me they were 'racetracks'

I still don't know how Spencer ended up with such a big blob on his forehead!

Good and messy!

Nathan actually stayed pretty clean throughout and when he did get some on himself, he asked for a wipe to wipe it off. Too funny. But once they were all done, they both got a bath! They managed to keep most of it on the paper too, so I just pulled all the paper up and threw it away, so it was an easy clean up. Win win!

10 Months!

10 Months already! This was a big month for Spencer, 2 teeth and crawling!

"Oh yeah, this is gonna be so fun to watch Mommy try to get me to hold still for this silly photoshoot thing..."

"You mean I've still got 2 more of these photoshoots?! And then you'll be taking pictures of me for the rest of my life?!"

 "That was not in the contract!! Get my agent on the phone!"

"Hmmm, you'll send my portfolio to Parenting Magazine, you say? Alright, we can negotiate..."

"I am so excited about this birthday party thing that Mom keeps talking about. That cake stuff sounds reeeaaaalllly good! I think I'm going to need a whole one for myself"

"Sure, I could probably eat a whole cake by myself. You takin' bets? Try me."

"Whoa, whoa whoa, settle down ladies, everyone can get a photo with me, you just have to wait your turn"

"Okay, now shhhhh, I'm trying to use the Force"

And some extras for fun :) Look at that little mischief-maker face!

I just thought this one was so funny looking with Spencer's eyes closed.

Nathan got a little camera for his birthday, so he was helping me take pictures.

And he got a kick out of it when we took pictures of each other, ha ha.

So much standing! What a big boy he's getting to be!

Day Out with Thomas 2016

So I got a little bit ahead of myself. This past weekend we had Nathan's birthday party. But the weekend before that we went to Day Out with Thomas up in Baltimore at the B&O Railroad Museum! This was my parent's big birthday gift to Nathan this year, and he had the time of his life!

Our tickets included admission into the museum and apart from their regular exhibits, they had fun activity stations around as well. We started off at the several train tables they had set up.

It was Nana's job to make sure Spencer didn't put anything in his mouth... ;)


This is Spencer's "they won't let me chew on anything" face.

You could go inside several of the engines and train cars.

Outside they had a fun train display with Thomas characters.

We got to ride with Thomas! Waiting in line for our turn on the train.

It's Thomas!!!

"Thomas's COACHES!!!!"

He was sooooo excited!

After our ride we went out to see more of the activities. Nathan surprised us all by asking to go on the little train ride. He doesn't like RC toys or automatic ride-on toys, so I was sure that he would bail out as soon as it was his turn to get inside, but no! He totally got right in and sat through the whole thing! He's getting so big!!

He didn't look too thrilled most of the time though... ;)

There's some real excitement!

He also asked to go on this little Thomas toy too! It also goes by itself, so we were all so surprised he wanted to ride it!

We had lunch, checked out more of the exhibits and made a stop at the gift shop. My mom insisted that she wasn't going to get anything, but then we found a commemorative Day Out with Thomas 2016 coach to go with the wooden railway and some very fun Thomas cups and well, the rest is history ;)

Bye Thomas! Thanks for a fun day!

And a BIG thank you to Nana and Papa for a Day Out with Thomas!!