Como Zoo...

Lucius and I asked a few friends to join us at Como Zoo one Wednesday morning. We arrived as the doors opened and we all ventured inside to see all the animals. One of the more relaxed and fun trips to the zoo I've had. We took our time, watching as the penguins played and the polar bears swam.

 

After about an hour and a half of seeing all the animals we headed over to the park for a picnic lunch and some playtime with his little buddy. It was a wonderful excuse to meet up with friends and connect. Plus it's nice that these two play so good together.

Butterflies and story time...

Lucius and I enjoy going to the library once a week or more. Tuesdays and Thursdays are our typical days to go because they have two librarians who each have story times that are a lot of fun. Lucius loves listening to the new stories and singing songs. I love that we have a reason to get out of the house and enjoy a fun time. Last week at one of our story times, they told us they'd be releasing some butterflies. We stayed to watch and Lucius loved it.

While at the library we try to pick out some books we think Oliver might like to read, since he's at school. The nice part about finding him books, is that he has to sit down and read them right away when he gets off the bus. He is a ferocious reader and we love it!

Baby turtle...

One morning while out on a bike ride with the boys I happened to spy something on the road. We turned around to find a little tiny baby snapping turtle crossing the street. It's shell was only about two inches, if that much. He was so cute and in all my years- I've never seen a baby snapping turtle before. We sat and watched it for quite some time before I ventured to pick it up. I can't help trying to hold turtles- they are just so stinking awesome.

 

Eventually we put the baby turtle under the bush in the houses front yard we were near. (The neighbor had come out to see what we were doing and said it would be okay). As we were pulling away, we spotted a second baby turtle. OH MY GOODNESS- THEY'RE SO ADORABLE! look brothers...

only the two of us...

Lucius and I spend all day Monday and Wednesdays by ourselves. Daddy started a new job recently where he works from 3am-9am in the morning and then comes home to sleep during the day. Lucius gets a little bored at home, even though there's some days I'd prefer to stay home and be lazy. We try to think of fun things to do just the two of us. Last week we took a longerish bike ride around the lake near our house to find a playground we've never played at before.

It had a nice, smooth bike trail to ride along and then an even more quiet playground. No kids, bummer. After a snack and a bit of playtime Lucius decided he wanted to leave and find some other playground to play at. I don't blame him, it is nice to have friends around. So we biked past a little free library, stopping to grab a book and left one of our old books. Then headed to another playground. This time a whole daycare group of kids were there, but Lucius was shy and didn't feel like playing with any of them. Double bummer.

At least we enjoyed a yummy picnic lunch before heading home. Once home we got a little restless so we scootered down to our third park of the day. To our surprise the train came past right then and we got to sit and watch. FUN!

Eventually we made it home to wait for Oliver to come home on the school bus. I think that was a fun filled day just Lucius and I.

quotable: Lucius

Lucius talking in the car about wanting to take another big family trip:

"I want to go to Africa! Let's go to Italy, then Iceland and then Africa and Hawaii and all the states of the world! I want to go to whichever you want to go to first!"

One night, just before he brushed his teeth, Lucius said this random quote:

"Every time I wake up I'm going to say 'hi good lookin'"

 

I thought 'ah that's so cute' and then he went on to say "good lookin' (small childish laugh)... cause that's such a funny word!". 

a wedding...

Saturday September 13th we went up to Cambridge to attend Uncle Scott's wedding. Auntie Amy looked beautiful in her wedding dress. We were able to get a few family photos before the ceremony in the park started.

I'm now convinced the boys can get their relatives to do just about anything within reason. They asked everyone to be in a picture and so they did. Impressive.

Daddy and all his siblings.  

After pictures, the wedding ceremony began. The boys were enthralled by the pastor and the vows. It was pretty cute to watch them watching their aunt and uncle getting married.

Then came the toasts and well wishes. The Little misters even got sparkling juice in "fancy glasses" which they were excited about (thanks for thinking of them Amy!).

Then it was off to the bride and grooms backyard for the reception. It was so fun to see Daddy's side of the family, his aunts and uncle we don't get to see very often. Oliver and Lucius enjoyed playing with Daddy's younger cousins and seeing Grandma Great Gloria. 

Congratulations Scott and Amy! It was a beautiful day.

Oliver speaking/ reading spanish...

Oliver's been able to take home flashcards to share his new spanish words with us. Here's him reciting all the colors he's learned.

learning spanish...

Oliver's started first grade at a Spanish immersion school. He's doing pretty good for the most part and he's occasionally he will tell us all his new Spanish words. A couple days into school he told us he wanted to go to an "English first grade because his teacher just talked to them in Spanish, she doesn't teach us anything". Jerimy explained to him that when he was little he had to learn English one word at a time. He told Oliver what his first word was and other words he said before he was speaking in sentences. A light bulb kind of went off in Oliver's head and since then he's had much more patience trying to learn new words and listen to the Spanish his teacher was saying throughout the day.

Anyways... Saturday after his first week of school the boys and I went the downtown library to see a bilingual puppet show. Oliver was a bit down because it wasn't what he was expecting. He kept complaining that they were speaking spanish and asking why they were wearing black. I think he was expecting more english and the puppets to be more hand puppets. towards the end he was starting to enjoy himself.

Lucius on the other hand started off curious about them wearing black and soon lost himself in the show. He was counting to ten in Spanish and shouting out things when they asked the audience questions.

 

Lucius off to Preschool...

This week was the start of Preschool for Lucius. He's been excited and ready for school for quite some time. We biked to his school building early for his screening. Lucius did really good at his screening tests, he answered all the lady's questions. He was able to jump and balance on both his left & right foot, a feat his older brother was unable to do when he took the tests last year.

 

We ate our lunch quick and then walked into his classroom. I left him with a smile on his face.

I peeked through the window during his three hours of school and saw him making an art project: a school bus.

We biked home and waited for Oliver to come home on his school bus.
Lucius must have had a  fun time at preschool because he was pretty excited to go back today. 

new cousins...

On Labor Day, we already had our plans to go hiking, but before we left the house we found out Auntie Mick had her baby. A little girl!! The boys were curious, so on our way home from our adventure day at Taylors Falls, we stopped at the hospital to see their new cousin.

Lucius and Oliver both held the baby. Lucius didn't want to let go. On the drive home they both talked a lot about wanting to have a baby brother or sister. Though that's not going to happen, at least they'll make awesome caring and loving bigger cousins to this precious little one.

 

Lucius was so in love with her that he wanted to hold her a second time. Every time I asked if he was done holding her he'd so no! It was tough for me to get a turn, but I finally did and I can see why he didn't want to let go. It's so nice holding a sweet baby. Congrats Auntie Mick and Uncle hung on the birth of your daughter!