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Friday, November 9, 2018

Chuck E. Cheese's

A mailer came for free tokens at Chuck E Cheese if you bought a pizza, so we went for lunch one hot day at the end of summer break. 
Since I wasn't paying a fortune per game, I let them do everything they wanted and it was nice to step back and watch them play. Since it was a weekday afternoon, it wasn't crowded and I could keep track of them easily. Although it was still super loud.
Jonah won a minion card and Scott was trying over and over to get one, too. Then Perry waltzed up to Jonah's side and won a card on his first try. Then Scott was really bummed. 
Perry was happy about it.
We moved on to a new area and I was cracking up at their determination to race despite some height challenges.
Before we left, the boys cashed in some tickets for a cotton candy and some little toys. 
When we got home we counted and hadn't even used half of the tokens, so we can go back another time for free.

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Family Mini Golf

We took the boys to family night at Golfland.
They're a bunch of cheaters. Perry employed the classic vacuum technique. 
We had some fetching from the water.
We were glad they took some shortcuts, though, to move us along.
Cutest little golf club for the cutest little golfer.
On the walk out to the car you pass through the arcade, where even without tokens we could've dropped the kids off for an hour and they wouldn't have missed us.
We tuckered them out!
They're already talking about next time we go golfing.

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Jonah Turns 5

Jonah was excited to have an Octonauts birthday. He designed and helped make this cake.
He wanted to invite Scott and Perry to his birthday party at the park.
Also his Grandma, Great-Grandma Marva, and some park day friends came to celebrate with us.
We had a water balloon fight, chalk, lunch, pinata, and cake. The decorations and activities were from people on Buy Nothing, which was a great way to make a simple park party extra fun.
Several weeks before, Jonah asked us if gorillas were real, so on Saturday morning we went to the San Francisco Zoo as his birthday present. We found the penguins just in time for their feeding. The boys were glued to them even after the feeding and we had to peel them away to see other exhibits after over half an hour.
Perry loved running around and briefly looking at animals. Jonah and Scott stopped to watch and read all the signs. The zoo posts what level of endangerment the animal is in and why, which led to some good discussions.
My mom and Amanda came and we had a picnic lunch while the boys ran out lots of energy on the playgrounds. After about an hour, we moved them along again.
Jonah found out gorillas are, in fact, real.
Perry makes a cute peacock.
Riding a bear, which reminded us of our trip to Sacramento, where there's a bear in the Capitol.
My mom brought them chocolate dip with pretzel rods, which were popular.
Our little monkeys lasted at the zoo a lot longer than I anticipated, which was great for getting our money's worth and having plenty of time to see everything.
We drove home and had some pizza and Amanda play time before bed.
A package came for Jonah from Aunt Wendy. He loves stuffed animals and this yellow m&m was no exception.
Sunday morning we had John's sourdough waffles and Jonah opened presents.
Jonah's brothers gave him a new Kylo Ren mask that actually fits and isn't cracked and a book, and we got him some Star Wars sheets and some toys from neighbors like Octonauts characters.
He was a very happy five year old.
Perry trying to figure out two fingers.
Everyone let Jonah pick their church outfit to wear on his birthday. He loves to match.
Even Daddy joined in.
Our final birthday celebration was Jonah's well check. He's a little on the short side, but growing and healthy; 41.5" tall (24%) and 40 lbs (49%) .
At 5 years old, Jonah's favorite:
food is chicken and rice
color is pink
church song is Nephi gets the plates
scripture story is Jonah and the Whale (which he has memorized from our book)
animal is macaroni penguin
hobbies are playing Star Wars Wii, trampoline, riding bikes, and playing tball
and when he grows up he wants to be a construction [worker].
Jonah is sweet and loving, and especially caring toward babies and little kids. He is genuinely happy for other peoples' good fortunes. He's still extremely stubborn, but has really matured a lot lately when not getting his way. Jonah is social and loves people and makes friends easily. He is thoughtful--thanking me for helping him with something and in his prayers he'll mention specific things like he's grateful for the yummy dinner we had, sometimes listing the foods individually. Jonah loves when John comes home, gets upset when John leaves for work before he wakes up, always wants him to jump on the trampoline with them and likes to dress like him for church every week. He's very artistic and will spend a long time finishing one creative masterpiece. He's also very sentimental and has hoarding tendencies toward everything he's ever made, touched, or looked at. He's excited to start kindergarten and do all the fun things Scott has told him about. We know he's going to have a great year!

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

July

There are a few ways to keep Perry awake when he's tired and happy when he's crabby: screen time, playing outside with him, tubbies. As soon as he got out of the bath, though, he crashed on the floor. I tried.
'
I made some Brazilian bread and sent John this picture before they flattened.
Silly boy. We had to put a bed guard up because he fell out of the crib one night and got a bloody nose.
If you pull your phone out, kids will come. 
That's a happy boy. He loves Trader Joe's because they have samples, and give kids stickers and a "yaw-yi-pop."
We went to visit baby Wes and the boys were loving it. Perry and Jonah especially love babies.
We love the Recycle bookstore. The boys like to read in the little chairs and find the cat. We usually follow up with a trip to the library where they can get as many books as they want.
It was half price happy hour, so we stopped at Starbucks nextdoor after and they shared a drink.
Another sweet little baby to snuggle.
Perry cannot get enough of her.
Even Scott took a turn.
We met up with my friends in Santa Cruz one day and went around downtown. They had a kids Waldo search in the stores that they loved.
Jonah's spa day at the dentist.
Little stinker will scale the bookshelves to find "blue one ipad."
Lunch time. Some days it feels like all I do is feed these kids.
We watched an episode of Nailed It on Netflix and decided to do a version ourselves.
I knew the boys would love it, but I mostly just wanted to eat cake.
Perry and I made each big brother a hot milk 9" cake.
They drew a picture of their design, then executed. They were both so pleased with the turnout and we all enjoyed eating them.
Our friends visited from Nebraska. Jonah made himself a bed next to the baby.
We tried chalk painting the driveway. It did not go well, but they had fun.
Sneaky boy found the ipad again. He loves watching this video of the Relief Society presidency dancing with giant heads of the bishopric from the ward talent show.
Kids.
Perry pretending to be a chicken was killing me.
While we were at Emma Prusch farm park there was a fire nearby and the smoke drove us out.
Jonah doesn't nap much any more, but occasionally an afternoon car ride does him in.
Peach season means a surprise pie for John.
It took me a minute to realize these weren't just random numbers. It's a birthday wish list of Lego kits.
Jonah wearing John's shirt. He thought he was hilarious.
Reading Scott's book in his Elsa dress.
They like playing dress-up, and princess dresses are the best for twirling.
Scott was conflicted at the baseball game. 
I usually give John tickets to a Cardinal's game for his birthday or Father's day for a date night, but I bought four this year. Hopefully we can do 5 next time and not need a babysitter. The view from the ramp at the game was beautiful.
We took the boys on the Coke slide, but Jonah was too short for the big one.
But he was just short enough to play at the kids hitting area. It was a short line, so he hit several home runs before Scott came down after the big slide.
A little afternoon tv time. Perry only watches for a few minutes unless it's Mickey Mouse.
Our Buy Nothing neighbor had extra tickets to see Counting Crows at Shoreline and gave us two of them. It was our first concert together.
We went to look for a new bed frame at a local furniture store that had childcare for 3+ and free beverages. It's my new favorite store. Perry liked trying out everything with us... and having both parents to himself.
Making himself at home in my recliner.
We had friends over one morning and the two year old couldn't stop tackling Jonah. He's so great about playing with little kids. He just patiently took the tackling and gently wrestled with him all morning. 
Backyard time. The girls wanted to sit on their laps so they could all fit. I think we exceeded the wagon weight max.
Double handed eating. All three boys like salad now, so I have to double the amount I used to make. Jonah usually finishes us off.
Showering after swim lessons is the best. They come home tired and clean, ready for bed.
Took my cute little cows to Chick fil a for our free dinner on cow appreciation day.
They loved cutting and taping their spots.
Sleeping on the way to the beach. At least it was early and they get their energy out there so they would still go to bed okay.
Beach day with friends.
Sweet boy
Trash truck!
Free slurpee day at 7-11. They're fans.
Perry is the fastest scooter in all the land.
"Coco" brownies during family movie night.
Sleeping twins
John's Sunday sourdough waffles are one of the highlights in Perry's week.
He steals my food even when he has the same exact thing in his bowl.
Scott is spending his summer reading. He would rather stay home than go out most days and he is burning through books.
Perry frequently earns himself a tubby.
We went to the park with a splash pad, which only Jonah went in, but they would've stayed and played in the sand forever. Or at least until lunch.
I took the boys to ihop for the first time for some 60 cent pancake stacks. We don't take them to restaurants very often, so the tip was worth the practice eating out.
I never understand how the kids can fall asleep just on the floor in the middle of doing something. They get it from their dad.
Swim lessons with Jen and Michael. They made more progress in a half hour one-on-one than in 4 weeks of community center group lessons last year. Scott is able to swim without floaties and Jonah is confident and learning the techniques that with some more practice he'll be swimming in no time.
Rick flew down to pack my dad up and drive him to Bellingham. He stayed the night before and the boys had an epic light saber fight. The boys kept asking where Cedric was, though.
When Perry is getting into mischief, Scott stops him or comes and gets me. Jonah not so much. 
We pet sat a bunny and guinea pig one week. They boys especially loved feeding them. I mimicked their eating to get Jonah to have raw carrots and he loves them now.
 The family was generous to thank the boys for caring for their pets, so they're a big step closer to their next Disney trip.