Miss Kylie

Kylie hasn't stopped amazing us since she was born. Lately, she's a real fireball in the movement department. We put her on the floor under her baby gym, leave the room for 2 minutes, and come back, and she's on her tummy in the dining room. Smiling like she played a big joke on us.

She loves being in her exercsaucer and her jump and go door hang toy. She grins like the Joker himself when you help her stand up and 'walk' around the room. She's been working on her sitting alone skills, but, right now she's more like a weeble. They wobble but don't fall down- which is pretty much how she sits these days. She is really eating up the attention she gets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings while Will is at school, but she definitely notices it's much quieter, and when we go pick him up, she's all giggles and grins when he comes out the door.

Flying Circus

Another item on our list of things to do/see in Virginia was the Flying Circus. We really wanted to go on the weekend of the annual hot air balloon festival, but that was last weekend, and, well, we were busy celebrating our 3 year old. So, we settled for this weekend. It was HOT out there.

The kids didn't seem to mind too much, though, they liked the airplanes and the engine sounds. For a few hours before the actual show starts, they offer rides in the bi-planes for only $40 a person. The plane does tricks in the air and circles the airfield. It's pretty cool. Will was begging to go on a ride.

He had to settle for being a spectator though.

Once the show started, the airplanes flew in formations and did tricks and the American Flag was brought in by parachuter during the National Anthem.

It was really getting hot out by then, though, so we retreated to the wooded area just behind the field. We could still see the planes and hear the commentator, but it was significantly less hot there.

We watched for a while longer before declaring it was almost our melting point. Then we packed up and made the short drive home to our nice air conditioned house and pizza dinner.

Dancing Queen and Bouncing Boy

Sometimes we throw all caution into the wind and have a dance party. We know, we're party animals, right? Will has always loved music time, and now Kylie is showing the same excitement when it comes to dancing. She is especially enthralled with her brother's every move...and boy, does he have some moves. Kylie simply can't take her eyes off of her brother, and he's able to get the best giggles out of her simply from bouncing and dancing around the room.

Outdoor Boy

Remember how the doctor asked if Will likes to play outside?

Both Mom and Dad stifled a chuckle at that one.

If there's anything this boy loves, it's being outside.

This morning, we packed up the tractor and the baseball equipment and headed over to the YMCA athletic fields. Since school has already started around here, the playgrounds and fields are much more preschooler friendly. (read: no big kids taking over) So, Will drove around the big parking lot at the soccer fields in his tractor, relocating piles of wood chips from one parking lot island to another. When he grew weary of that, it was on to practicing his baseball skills with Dad. Will runs out, stands in the field with his glove up and tells Dad to hit it. When it lands in front of Will, he shouted, "Good try, Daddy!" As in, "maybe next time you'll hit it directly into my glove so I can catch it." Ha. Funny kid.

We hit up the playground before going home for lunch. Does he like the outdoors? umm. YES.

Check-Ups

The princess and the firefighter had well child check ups today. First up, the princess.

Her 4 month check up, a little late so we could do a two-for-one deal at the pediatrician. She'll be 5 months old next week . Miss Kylie weighed in at 14lbs 15 oz, exactly 7 lbs more than her birth weight (25th percentile), but, more impressive is her height. She's 26" tall, which is the 75th percentile. The nurse was positively impressed that she was so long/tall, especially for a girl. Kylie is meeting all her milestones and she had to have 4 shots, which she survived with minimal screaming.

Next up, the firefighter. His 3 year check up. 3 years? HOW did that happen? He had the "big kid" check up this time. Big kid scale (31lbs), big kid height check (37"), and blood pressure cuff. He's in the 50th percentile for everything, including BMI, which they start checking at 3 years old. The doctor asked his milestone questions:

potty trained? yep- last year

likes to play outside? umm...yes, ALL DAY LONG

can count to three? try fifteen

stand on one foot? yes, and both...and often while climbing something

write the letters "o" and "x"? yes, and "w", "m", "s", and a few others too

knows his name and that he's a boy? yes, that's been discussed...many times...in embarassingly public places

likes to play with others? he asks for friends everyday

can pedal a bike? he plays "valet" in the garage with all 3 bikes

There were other questions too, but in the end, she declared him "perfect". Mommy and Daddy asked a few questions of their own, and, it turns out, three is the age where one moment you just love your sensitive, caring child, and the next you wonder when the heck the devil dropped him off. Oh. So. It's totally normal. :)

We love him no matter what. Firefighter and all.

Many thanks to Aunt Leah, Uncle Bob, Zack and Nicholas for the fire fighter hose, which completes the costume!

First Day of School

He was ready.

More than ready.

For the first day of school.

And when Mommy and Kylie returned to pick him up, he was peeking out of the window, and he grinned ear-to-ear when he spotted his family. Mommy took Will to a special lunch at Friendly's in hopes of hearing about school, but he was a man of few words. He did declare, though, "That a really fun place! I go there Wednesday, Fursday....ALL EVERYDAY!" (he's been learning the days of the week at home). So. Apparently the first day of preschool was a success.

Eagle Hill Equine Rescue

When the library had their kids fest, there were two ponies there visiting from Eagle Hill Equine Rescue. Mommy asked the volunteer if the farm allowed visitors, and, they totally do. Every day from 10am-5pm, the farm is open, WIDE OPEN, to the public. More than 90 horses roam in the pastures and the foals were allowed to wander anywhere they want.

We brought a bag of carrots and apples to feed the horses who were very eager to be fed. The giant farm house on the hill is where the owner and her husband live, but it's OPEN to any visitors, and we were told to help ourselves to soda in the fridge and use the bathrooms, but to shut the doors behind us so the 4 dogs don't get out. The owner herself was actually on vacation, but the house is always open to visitors on the farm.

We couldn't stay too long because Daddy started new hours today and had to be at work just after lunch time instead of dinner, but we'll definitely make another trip out there because it's a fun, free, and beautiful way to spend a morning...and it'll sure be even nicer in the fall.