Havin' Fun at Home

Now that Brett doesn't nap anymore there are MANY hours to fill each day. We often hang out at home in the morning in our P.J's, slowly getting ready for the day. While Brett plays I get things done like the laundry, dishes, vacuuming, ya know, the never ending chores that come with being a mother. That is a time I encourage Brett to use his imagination and just PLAY. I truly believe play is a child's work and is the most important 'job' they can do. This is a part in his day I know he loves - no one is around to bother him or guide him in any directions as to how or what he should be doing - and his imagination just takes off! And oh how I love watching his mind go to work!!! After I finish whatever tasks I feel need to be done that day, we usually go on an outing - to a play date, a park, a store, a museum,  the pet store, etc - something to get us out of the house so he can  explore and  I can teach. And no matter where we go, there is always something he can learn. After our outing for the day we usually come home, eat some lunch, have a little rest time (I let him watch some T.V and I often read or rest myself!), and then in the late afternoon it is our time to do an art project, play outside, and just have fun as mother and son while we wait for Kyle to get home. Here are some pictures of us just having fun at home :-)

Brett loves to laugh and just be silly - so here is that beautiful smiling face that I love so much!

Now that Brett has his very own swing set, many afternoons are spent in our backyard, swinging, going down the slide, laughing, and just having a good time!  

"CHEESE!!!!"

One afternoon last week I wanted to do something fun but had run out of ideas  For inspiration, I went on Pinterest and found this awesome, easy activity that I knew Brett would LOVE. You just tape some markers to small cars and trucks and then as you drive them on the paper they make "tracks" and designs all over. Brett has asked to do this activity every day since Thursday when he did it for the first time! Definitely a hit!

Another afternoon we decided to do some painting. I cut up some paper towel rolls for Brett to dip in the paint and then press on the paper to make circles. He did this for a short time and then had other ideas....

"I want to do some mixing, Mommy!" 

The three colors that he had were orange, yellow, and red. He told me that he was going to mix them all together to make black, because he didn't have that color :-) Although there was no black at the end, he sure had a blast stirring, pouring, and experimenting, just like kids should :-)

All in all the days can be LONG being a stay at home mom. The minutes sometimes seem like hours. But ya know what? I wouldn't trade these moments for anything. I know it won't be long before my little boy won't need me for fun anymore, and I will miss these times more than anything.  I don't need a classroom to be a teacher, just an eager 3 year old little boy :-)

MUD!!!!

Now that it's been a little warmer out Brett has rediscovered one of his very favorite activities....playing with the hose and making MUD!!!! And, it's one of my very favorite activities too because while he is mixing, spraying, splashing, and dumping I get to just sit back and read my magazines and enjoy the sunshine :-) Our water bill may be a little higher but it is worth it to have those rare precious moments to just RELAX and watch Brett's imagination come to life :-)

Day 1 of Brett's rediscovery: he spent a long time spraying the hose in one spot to make this mud puddle and then told me it was a lake and he needed his boats :-)

Notice how Brett is standing IN the puddle...I knew I should've taken his shoes off! 

Day 2: it was a little warmer this day so he could go barefoot...much easier cleanup :-)

"Look mommy, I'm fishing!!" (And yes, the puddle really was THAT big!)

It was a fun couple days and I can't wait for more just like these :-)

Brett's new swing set!

We had one fun weekend over here at the Bingham household. What made it so fun? Kyle put together Brett's new swing set!!! There were A LOT of pieces and it definitely was not a one man job, so thankfully our good friend and neighbor Bill came over to help. I don't think Kyle could have done it without him, so thank you, Bill!!! The guys worked hard and did a GREAT job!! And of course Brett and Abby wanted to "help" too. Their "helping" consisted of fighting over who got to hold the screw driver, Brett telling Abby  which wood pieces were his, and the two of them balancing on the materials. Just what you would expect from 3 year old's, right? :-) After a little while, Brett accidentally hammered Abby's finger so Laura and I decided it was time to take the kids inside. Brett chose to stay out and help the guys and even insisted on going with them to pick up pizza for lunch :-) I guess us girls (and baby Jackson) just aren't as much fun :-)

Brett and Abby working on their balancing act.

Kyle and Bill looking over the directions and trying to find just the right size screw that they need!

And here are the other helpers. They're not excited or anything :-)

It's starting to come together!!

Look at that happy face!!

Still a little more work to do...tomorrow!

 

"I can see the top, mommy!"

Finishing the job on Sunday...almost done!

Brett went straight for the rings...weeeee!

And now it's time to SWINGGGGGG!!!!

And here it is....Brett's very own SWING SET!!!!! The guys sure did a great job, didn't they?

"I can climb up all by myself, daddy!"

Yesterday evening the Lokers came over so Brett and Abby could swing together again. As Laura and I pushed them we talked...and talked...and talked. Then we looked at each other and realized what had just happened. We had had an actual conversation with no arguments to break up, toys to fix, questions to answer, etc for a whole 20 minutes!!! WOW! This could be one FUN summer for both the kids AND adults! :-)

Easter fun!!

I am so happy to be back updating the blog!!! It has been way too long and I have missed my new hobby!! Our computer had a virus and my brother had been fixing it in Chicago (where he lives) - and I just got it back this weekend when he was home for Easter. I am SO happy to have it back!! Thank you for fixing it, Matt!! Anyways, enough about that. I have way too many pictures to backtrack with blogging, so I'm just going to start up with our most recent excitement - EASTER! We have kept very busy the past few weeks leading up to Easter. We visited the Easter bunny at the mall with some friends, made Easter cupcakes, mixed some sprinkles together to make "Bunny Dust", did some Easter crafts, dyed eggs, and of course went on Easter egg hunts! Brett has been so happy and just LOVED all the activities, and I loved them too!! I love birds, nests, bunnies, eggs - anything to do with spring and nature - so I have to admit that Easter is definitely one of my favorite holidays!!! So don't be surprised if you happen to stop by in the next few weeks and I STILL have my Easter decorations up :-) They might just be up all summer. HA!

The Lokers came over Saturday afternoon for an Easter egg hunt, and let me just tell you, we could not have asked for a more beautiful day!! It was perfect and the kids had A BLAST. It was fun to watch the different styles Brett and Abby had when looking for the eggs. Abby was off like a flash picking up as many eggs as she could find, as fast as she could. Brett, on the other hand, insisted on picking up each egg he found and opening it up right then and there to see what was inside. And if there was chocolate, he would quickly stuff it in his mouth while in the meantime Abby had collected 5 more eggs during this process! HA! Fortunately Abby was a good sharer and Brett was able to get a few more eggs when they sat down to go through their stash :-)

We took advantage of having the Lokers over and actually got a family picture! Thanks, Laura!

"I see an egg, mommy!"

Can you spy the egg?

Stopping to examine the goods.

Another stop along the way :-)

Time to sit down and look at all of our loot!

Like I said, Abby was a good sharer!

Lately Brett has really shown interest in Jackson and loves to make him smile. Here he is sitting next to his little buddy making silly faces and talking to him. Watching these interactions just melts my heart!!

Can you believe how cute these two are?! I just LOVE watching them grow up together!!

I think I will have to frame one of these!

Saturday evening we went outside so Brett could sprinkle the bunny dust on our sidewalk. This helps the Easter bunny find your house and Brett took it very seriously, making sure to cover the whole walkway :-)

Looks like the Easter bunny found our house! Here are some pictures from Easter morning :-)

Look what the Easter bunny left on the back porch! Legos!!

After breakfast we went over to my parents house where another Easter eggs hunt awaited along with ANOTHER Easter basket. He wasn't spoiled or anything :-)

Another family picture....YEAH!

Easter weekend was so busy we never got a chance to dye Easter eggs - so we did a little more celebrating Monday morning :-) Brett was extra careful with the eggs and didn't even break one!

This is Brett's "silly face" that he loves to make these days -- cracks me up!!

After dying eggs we spent the rest of the day playing with all the little things the Easter bunny brought. It was another fun day!!! Happy (belated) Easter everyone!!!