Just the FIVE of US! : May 2011

Monday, May 30, 2011

Play-Doh with Dad

Yesterday, Torin and Paul sat down and built lots and lots of snakes with play-doh.

Torin was so proud of his art. He even made a snowman.

Hangin' Out

Last Thursday, Noah and Ethan came up for the day to hang out. The boys had so much fun together playing in the sand and water table and going to the park.

The twins had lots of fun too, but can't keep up with the big boys just yet.

Fun at the Zoo

Last Monday we headed to the zoo for a family day. It was so much fun since all three kids really enjoy the animals now.

We ended our morning at the zoo and stopped off at McDonald's for some lunch and play-land time.

Needless to say we barely got out of McDonalds' parking lot and all three kids were sleeping. It was a great family day together.

Our neighbor stored his 4-wheelers at our house last weekend while he hosted his son's graduation from high school party. Torin got a couple rides and then offered to give Logan and Ella their first ride since he's a pro now at riding and driving so he thinks. We didn't let him drive but it was a good practice run for the future (and by future I mean YEARS!)

Ella and Logan's First Birthday 5/19/11

I can't believe these two are 1 already. There is something bittersweet about knowing your youngest babies are not going to be babies much longer. I know I'll never get that first birthday cupcake mess ever again. I'm glad I was able to get two doses of it this time around so I could clean up twice the mess and enjoy it twice as much. Happy Birthday, Ella and Logan. We love you!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Making Birthday Cupcakes

We decided white and chocolate cupcakes with pink and blue frosting were the perfect dessert for the twins' first birthday party. It was a lot of work and I needed to find the perfect assistant. But where could I find someone on such short notice? He/She would have to inspect the ingredients, you see, to make sure everything tasted okay for the guests at the party.

And lucky for me, Torin volunteered graciously to help me out with this daunting task.

He checked the batter. "Good, Mom." (I took a minute break to give a dose of Benadryl here as Torin and egg are not the best of friends.)

He stirred the frosting and made sure it wasn't expired. Yep, that tasted okay as well.

I went to work and frosted all of the pink cupcakes first.

I moved on to the blue frosting and was about to begin when all of a sudden my assistant cried out, "Wait, Mom! I better check the blue frosting too just to be sure it is safe." What a life saver that assistant of mine was for cupcake making. I think the guests really enjoyed the cupcakes and the twins loved their present from their big brother. They each ate two cupcakes on their birthday. Thanks my dear assistant. I couldn't have done it without you!

****All cupcake testing was done without touching the ACTUAL batter and frosting used on the guests' cupcakes! :) ****

Ella's First Bike Ride

We put Ella in the bike carrier with Torin for the first time last week. She loved it! Logan was napping at the time, so we'll have to get him in it soon and see if he has a good time as well.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

All The Ways We Love You

Papa Pat and Gramma Kelly gave the kids a recordable story book for Valentine's Day and Torin has it memorized.

He has LOTS of books memorized now and reads to the babies daily.

He also sings many nursery rhymes and asks the babies if they can say certain words.

He has his moments when he is the sweetest big brother ever. I wish those moments were all the time but alas we can't always get what we wish for.

Garage Sale Weekend

The Friday and Saturday of Mother's Day weekend we had a street-wide garage sale in our subdivision. I sold tons of items and made $400. I donated the rest to Goodwill and now can walk through my basement again without tripping over boxes.

He, however, wasn't for sale.

Nope, not her either.

He has his days, but we kept him also.

A Biking We Will Go

Torin can now fully reach the pedals on his bike and goes everywhere on it. He even biked all the way to the park and back the other day. I can't believe how big he is getting.

Ethan's Birthday Party

We headed up to Fort Collins for Ethan's birthday party the first weekend of May. This is one of Torin's favorite spots to go since it is almost like being in South Dakota at Papa Pat's farm.

This time at the farm the goats ate all of Torin's oats...including the brown paper bag that the oats were in. :)

Then he gave me a lesson on how to drive a tractor and turn the wheel. "But Mommy, we don't push buttons or we can't ride in Papa Pat's tractor anymore okay?!"

He even shared the tractor seat with the birthday boy.

Ella and Logan hung out watching the older kids feed the animals and eat birthday cake.

Then the big event...Ethan got a motorized 'motorcycle' as Torin calls it for his birthday. That is all he now wants for his birthday...or a motorized car or jeep like his neighbor girl, Abby, has. Ethan drove Torin around on the bike sharing his new toy so nicely!