Museum Field Trip

The only museums we have visited have been children's museums.  So, today, we had a fun outing with friends.  First, we rode the bus (a fun trip in and of itself).  Oliver really wanted to sit by his friends and show them how not to fall when the bus was moving.

Then, we visited the Blanton Museum's free summer storytime.  Our tour guide was thoroughly engaging, asking multiple questions of the kids and what they saw in the piece of art.  She was teaching them how to engage with art, in a way.  We walked to a piece of art, talked about it, then read a book that corresponded with that piece of art.  Even though Oliver was on the younger end of the suggested age spectrum (3-7), he was thoroughly entertained and focused (He loves books in general.), so it was a perfect adventure!

After the storytime, we were free to explore the museum.  The kids' favorite exhibit was probably this one:

It is literally a sea of pennies (600,000 to be exact).  And above, hangs 2,000 bones.  Oliver simply enjoyed playing in the pennies.

Increased Verbal Communication for Aiden

Aiden is talking more and more!  We traveled to Virginia, another week passed, and I started to notice a marked difference in his efforts at communicating verbally.

Expressed words include, up, more, please (mainly sign language only), truck, dump truck, dog, hot, plane, bye-bye, hi, help, no, hush (thanks to "Goodnight Moon"), Oliver, Mommy, Daddy, kitty kitty, and several more.  And of course, vrooooommmm is heard regularly all over the house.  He also makes the "eeeeeerrrrrrrrrr" sound as he pretends to blend things (yes, we still drink smoothies often!).

Opposite from Oliver, Aiden is not fearful of the loud noises various machines make, including my hair dryer.  He likes to carry it around and make his own vvvvvvuuuuhhhh sound.  One morning, I had finished using it and put it up.  He fussed and I asked him what he needed.  He rubbed the top of his head, pointed up, then did the sign for please.  He was telling me he wanted to play with the hair dryer.  He certainly communicates boldly in whatever way he knows how!

Traveling with the boys

Travel with the boys has changed over the past year.  Aiden is certainly more aware and active.  Oliver remains entertained by looking out the window, telling stories, or watching a show.  Our most recent trip was on a plane and I traveled without Mark.  The way there was uneventful.  The way back, however, we had a long layover that I just wasn't excited about.  However, I had not taken into account the fun and free entertainment in an airport!  During our 3+ hr layover, we had lunch, rode the train/tram all over the airport, ran and walked on the moving walkways, rode the elevator, rode the escalators, met new friends and raced them on the moving walkways, and explore airport maze art.

Tinkering in the Garage

This past weekend, Mark built a "work bench" (pictured behind Aiden) for the guys so they could work while I cook dinner.

We hope one day they will tinker and hammer, etc. while I cook or Mark works in the garage.  I would say it's a success, as they have "worked" on this evening while I've been cooking.  They do prefer Daddy's big bench for now, though!

 Aiden literally "looking up" to his brother.

Dinner Outside

Tonight, we enjoyed dinner outside!  It is perfect weather right now, and the mosquitos are just starting to come out (at dawn and dusk), so we are trying to soak up the last few days of spring.