Fun with E and O

While Charlie and Angie were in the Chicago area for some sight-seeing and an un-conference which Charlie attended, Ethan and Owen spent a few days in Northfield with Grandma Dar and Grandpa Dean. On Sunday, we made a prisoner exchange (we got the prisoners). We spent the next few days watching the antics of these two stinkers, playing, playing, playing, and laughing over their many interesting tales. 

Nothing like a board game (or two) at 7:00 a.m. to start the day. These boys are Candy Land wizards; they each beat me to the yummy candy finish line with considerable glee.

E and O invented some new games this weekend, including lacrosse-tennis. Keep your eye on the ball, Ethan!

Dang, I thought I had pictures of the motorcycle races in the First Lutheran parking lot, but I must have imagined taking them. Bikes became motorcycles, mail delivery trucks, garbage trucks, police cars, fire engines, and lots of other helpful vehicles when these boys went for a ride.

Speaking of being helpful, Ethan collected twigs in a big bucket, poured them in the wheelbarrow, and carted them around for three days. On Tuesday, he unloaded the wheelbarrow on the First Lutheran lawn. I guess they didn't have enough of their own.

Despite cloudy weather, the rain stayed away on Sunday and Monday, so there was time to go to the blue park to walk on the balance beam wall...

...and to turn the play equipment into a fire station and firetruck. Ethan sounded the alarm while Owen rushed to get in the firetruck.

Hard-working community helpers work up an appetite. E and O ate lunch in the sun room at the little table. They wished their cousins had been in town to fill the other chairs.

They worked some science into their busy day, too, hypothesizing that eating blueberries would make their eyes bluer. After experimenting, they concluded that it works 50% of the time.

We were lucky to have some visitors while E and O were with us.  When Gpappy's friend Mark dropped him off after playing golf, Gpappy and Mark were put to work to do some repairs on Owen's bike. The little guys watched closely so they'll be able do their own bicycle fix-ups in the future.

A special Guest Reader paid a visit, too. Mary giggled as much as E and O did while reading A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea. Well...it IS a terrible idea! Read the book and you'll know why, if you can't already guess. Snuffling, a dislike for majorette uniforms, and a preference for country music are some hints.

When Charlie and Angie returned home on Tuesday, the boys had lots to tell about, including the fun they'd had with Mary. Ethan was especially excited to share that Mary had suggested the boys come to her house sometime for beer and ice cream. That got a huge laugh from everyone, even Ethan, who realized that it must have been something besides beer that she'd offered to give them. He was close. It was root beer + ice cream = root beer floats!

Like all little kids, Ethan loves playing with old cell phones, especially the flip kind that can hang on his waistband to look even more official when he's a policeman.  He's developed a bad habit, however.... texting while riding his bike. Uh-oh!

The pig parade book inspired Owen to join a marching band. He put on his batting helmet and used his grabber toy as a trumpet. Louis Armstrong, playing the blues.

We had a Skype session with Hannah and Vivian on Sunday evening. It was great to hear Hannah's pride and excitement about riding her bike without training wheels! Evan showed us a video of Hannah speeding along with a big grin on her face. When Vivi got a turn to talk, she shared that she puts her face in the water at the pool. So many new accomplishments!