Playtime and the Zoo

Last time I wrote a bit about my kids imaginative play. Well, the other day Doc pulled out his tool bench and wanted to set it up. I couldn't remember how it went back together so I said he could play with it on the floor. So that's what he did. Little did I know, he wasn't going to fix things with tools....he was going to be like his dad and tinker. So all 3 of my little guys lined up to be computer repairmen.

Pausing to grin at the camera...

Concentrating hard on his work.

I got a kick out of watching them. It seems their dad is rubbing off on them. :) 

Today was one of my rare Saturdays off. It was nice to enjoy a good family day together. I slept in a bit and just relaxed this morning. Doc wanted to read about Jesus so we read all the stories about Jesus in their Bible Story Book. We then decided to stop at the park so the kids could play since the temp was just right.

Doc loves climbing this but he looks so tiny up there...

The play structure has this thing that they can jump on to get their jumps out. GQ loves to jump!

 

While we were at the park, some friends invited us to go to the zoo with them so off we went. This was our first time to visit this zoo. The kids had a blast!

Leopard

Lion

You could feed the giraffes!

This was the first time the kids have seen a giraffe. Mr. X was intently watching them.

I love this picture of GQ watching the giraffes.

Doc had a great time!

These giraffes were funny. The big one was trying to eat and the little one kept sticking its tongue out to try to get the big one's food.

Doc checking out his zoo map to see where we should go next.

Jaguar. Big and beautiful.

We stopped to grab a quick bite to eat and the kids stuck their feet in the fountain.

Doc sat on the other side of the fountain from his brothers and friends.

The petting zoo. They had brushes for the kids to brush the goats.

They had a play area for the kids. Doc is always trying new things! He didn't quite make it to the top but he sure did try hard.

Pretending they are monkeys over by the squirrel monkey exhibit.

On our way out, our leopard friend decided to make a better appearance.

This was the sea turtle out front. Doc was looking at all the animals painted on it.

The kids had fun and Doc has been begging to play with Z & M so this was a great opportunity to do both. Sometimes you just have to splurge a little and have some fun doing something you don't do every day. It was worth it. :)

Imagination and Mischief

My boys are full of both these days. It is so nice to see Mr. X use his imagination because he didn't for so long. You see, he is a literal thinker and everything is black and white. To use your imagination is to be less literal and more creative. Mr. X and Doc play all sorts of imagination games together. It is good to see. I just wish they weren't so rough when they played but boys will be boys. GQ is starting to use his imagination more too. The other day I heard him playing alone in his room and I went to check on him.

This is what I found... (please excuse the mess).

GQ was playing with his puppy and making it bark, play, etc.

It was so adorable! It reminded me of my sister when she was little. She mostly played with stuffed animals and could play with them for HOURS. You'll notice in the picture his mattress is on the floor. He decided one day that he was not going to sleep in the bed and insisted on sleeping on the floor every night. I wasn't comfortable with him sleeping directly on the floor so I pulled the mattress down for him. He does better with the mattress. That said, I think he would prefer one of his brothers' beds.

GQ is also Mr. Mischief. The other boys get into things but they are getting better about it. GQ....not so much. He sneaks so we need to watch him all the time. The other day, we caught him in the pink lemonade powder.

GQ had powder all over the floor and all over himself. I should have gotten a picture before we pulled him from his mess but didn't think of it. So here it is partially cleaned up as our boy was getting in the bath.

This is the type of thing that GQ does regularly. He needs to be watched like a hawk. It's crazy.

I think we are finally going to delve into the world of potty training GQ soon. I am excited to be a no diapers family but I am dreading the work of potty training. It hasn't been super easy with any of my kids. Mr. X wet the bed regularly until he was 6 or 7 and it has only been in the last 6 months or so that it has become very infrequent. Doc still wears pull-ups to bed because he hates going potty and therefore doesn't like to go right when he wakes up (he's slow to wake up anyways). Lately, Doc has been wetting at school. Again, I think he is just not wanting to take the time to go potty so he's holding it until the last minute. So I'm a mix of apprehension and excitement. Alas, it needs to be done. My kids are growing up and right now I'm totally loving it!