The Last Few Days at Home and in the Park

Tuesday morning we met our friends in the park for biking riding, skateboarding and scooting. The boys (yes, all 4 are boys) had a great time riding around and showing off their skills.  Coop loved pushing Tucker on his little bus.

We finally had a day that felt like winter. Wednesday was cloudy and cold.  It was definitely a bummer of a day- weather wise. Despite the unfavorable weather, we made our daily trip to the park.  We took Coop's bike (which he rode for all of 5 minutes), but spent most of our time looking at nature (as Coop says).  Tucker spent the time grabbing handfuls of mulch and moving it from place to place.  Do you like the pink mittens?  Coop spent his time meticulously  "excavating" a rock from the dirt. He took the rock home and is in the process of painting it.  At the end of our morning out, Coop wanted to ride down some hills so we found a path in the park on a slope and he went up and down it a few times. Each time, as he passed by at top speed, he said, "This is awesome!" with a huge grin on his face.  Ah, the joys of childhood.

Since the weather was not-so-great we spent a lot of time at home. We played rock band with tupperware and chopsticks, played with play dough, drew pictures, danced to music and even Skyped with Nana while we were eating lunch.  It was a long day, but a good one. 

Coop has really been into drawing lately. Here are some of his latest "pieces." On the top  left is a Magpie. On the top right is a crocodile with lots of legs, claws and teeth in a pirate boat complete with 2 pirates and a pirate flag with a face and a skull and crossbones.  On the bottom left is a dog he drew and cut out. As he was about to start cutting, he said to me, "I might need some help steering."  The bottom right is a picture of himself with a spinning fish.

Even Tucker drew a few pictures! Here is one since they all look the same...

Manzie has been spending every evening snuggled up in Doug's suitcase.  The kids get a big kick out of seeing her in there and Doug and I have had a chuckle or two ourselves.  This morning when I went to find Tucker he was in the suitcase with her.  

Today the sun was shining again. Yiphee!  We left the house early and went for a swim at the YMCA.  Coop is such a fish now! Tucker went under the water 4 or 5 times- not intentionally- but he did not seem to be bothered by it.  After the pool, we made a quick trip to Starbucks and Woolies, the grocery store. On the way home, we walked by the park and noticed that the pond where the birds swim was cordoned off. We had to explore. We found out they were vacuuming the pond.  It was so beautiful out, we just sat with the birds for about forty-five minutes.  

the pond being vacuumed- big excitement

The light was amazing so I had to shoot a gazillion pictures of the boys.  Many of them actually turned out too!  Here are a few of my favorites.  

While watching the birds, Cooper decided that the bird below was "the captain" of the birds and that it was his job to help the others when danger was about. He had a long talk with the bird.  I couldn't quite hear what he was saying, it was super cute.

the captain

Coop talking to Captain

Since we had our groceries with us, we pulled out a hamburger bun and fed the birds--oh, and Tucker. He loved the buns.  It always amazes me just how many birds appear once a piece of bread comes out of the bag. We fed pigeons, ibises and seagulls.

One last bit before I end.  Coop has started to "read" to Tucker before bed.  It makes me so happy that he enjoys books so much that he wants to share them with his brother.  Warms a mom's heart!  Here he is reading one of Tuck's favorites, Busy, Busy Doggies.