ready - set -hike!

We like to take this hike that is probably the closest foothills hike from our front door and it's perfect for a 3 and 5 year old. The uphill isn't long and the downhill is full of rolling whoops and turns. For my friends new to town, you'll find the parking lot for the Wild Phlox Trail on your right hand side on your way up Seaman's Gulch Road.

There's a great view of Boise, Garden City, and Eagle at the top, too. 

 

They are old enough to race down together.  I love it.

The Evolution of Dance Workout

This is what they are watching:

big air bean bag

We have a bean bag we bought from a store called "Love Sac."  Pre-parenting days,  Scott would accompany me to the mall and wait for me while I shopped.  This waiting often took place in the Love Sac store where big foam filled bags begged him to lounge.   It didn't really take many visits (or salespersons) to convince him we should have one.

That was before the boys were even on the scene.  Now it is most used by people under 45 inches.  And it is definitely not used for waiting anymore.  And we definitely made a switch from calling it the "love sac" to the bean bag.  Our young neighbor came over one day and when we heard ourselves call it the "love sac."  Yikes!

One of the ways I have found to play with them in this way is to just pretend I'm the X-games announcer and make up crazy names for their jumps.  (And also, to re-inforce the rules when needed.  Like-- "Please don't clobber each other.")  They are really motivated to invent new tricks when I make up names like "Dragon Splasher" or "Truck Doggie"  or "Fuzzy Popsicle."  Actually, they don't like fuzzy popsicle.  I guess that one is just for my amusement : )  When our little friend Mary came over to play, too, I made sure to add some prettiness to the names like glitter, clouds, shiny, and mermaid (her suggestion.)

 

boo-boos (not boobies)

The boys woke up Wednesday morning.  Trevor was out on the couch first which is unusual. Joel, still in bed, noticing this, called, "CHEVER! Pwease com'ere!"
Trevor went to him, "What is it, Joel?"
"Pwease turn on da light."  Yep.  He has no problem switching the light by himself, but I guess he needed a personal assistant that morning.
The two friends proceeded to grab a book from the pile we borrowed from the library and read it together.
Then Scott heard Trevor explain to Joel, "See the monkey is going to get boobies."
This set off the parental listening radar and Scott corrected him quickly, "Boo-BOOS.  The monkey is going to get an owie-- boo-boos."   
It's funny because we don't use the words boo-boos or boobies around here! ; )