Spring Break to Six Winter

This week Aunt Jenny, Tyler, and Andrew came to visit for their Spring Break. St. Louis weather brought 75 degree weather and outdoor park fun, followed by a visit to Purina Farm. Then Winter returned with 30 degree weather and a dusting of snow. When Boyd saw the snow he said, " One, two, three, four, five, six winters." Yes it seems winter has come and gone about six times now. We had a wonderful visit as these boy cousins plus Boyd became the three amigos, and at times the three stooges. We love them so much and miss them already. We are blessed with such wonderful family. Enjoy some of the photos from their visit.
Pillow Caves.

Wii.

Annual picture of Boyd and Tyler snuggling together.
Boyd loved reading with his cousins.

Good thing it was 70 degrees. What a splash.

Farm Fun!

Tractors and Corn once we found the boys (wonder what was going on inside the tunnels? First time Boyd went in without me.)

My beautiful sister with my amazing nephews (and some pretty cool fish)

Catch me if you can!
Under the big tent.

The process. All hands on deck.

Boyd's eggs. To achieve this look dye eggs for "two minutes" then drop in the next cup. Next, squeeze the egg and poke your thumb through the shell while saying, "Crack". Side note *you can also dye eggs when their shells are off- Boyd where did your peeled egg go?

Water Play Mania while listening to and singing along with the Cars Soundtrack.

Zoo 2011

Climbing up for a better look.

Train with Daddy- a tight fit. Playing the Three Little Pigs

Ribbet

Cute little Otter?

Working on the farm with a little help from Dad.

Mr. Friendly.

Brushing the goats.

Boyd's zoo funny: While petting the fur of a tiger (one of the zoo workers was a piece from a deceased Tiger) Boyd was very distraught and kept asking, "Where's the face?"

More Boyd funnies:

A week after discovering his nipples on his chest: "I think my nipples are interesting."

While reading a book independently he announced, "My toenails don't come off!" (Keep running and they will, just ask Mommy)

On a gray day: "The clouds are crying. Papa teached me that."

Today when we woke to snow I took Boyd to the window and told him I had something to show him. Upon seeing the snow he said, "Winter."

Mom: "If sad clouds rain what kind of clouds snow?"
Boyd: "Happy clouds."

While emptying our room to move in new furniture we placed many items in Boyd's room for the time being; after one to many trips Boyd bossed us, "Get out my room."

While out with some friends this weekend Adam retold a childhood memory of playing chicken with another kid in the neighborhood on their bikes. Boyd likes to retell stories on occasion and later that night told us, "Dad hit a chicken."

While jumping/falling off climbing equipment at Little Gym and the park: "To infinity and beyond"

Just before this picture was taken, "I go to Schnucks" (One of our grocery stores)

To warm your hearts these last days of winter

Well, we are back. After three weeks escaping Missouri Winter (Austin Texas is perfect in winter) and a week at home with no Internet, we are back blogging. Boyd loved Austin. He is an outdoors man and was so happy to spend the days playing outside again. In addition, Boyd played the role of "Master" to Lesley and Gary's new puppy Sire, and their cats Kiren and Gray (even though the cats name is really Clover). It was great. Because it is late I will try to report more details at a later date, but for all those who are still dealing with Winter weather, I wanted to share some Boyd sayings to warm your hearts. Here it goes...
Me: What's the weather today?
Boyd: Chance of meatballs (it was cloudy and he had seen the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs a week earlier)

After begging to go outside the day the temperature dropped in Austin...Boyd: Mommy, turn the heat on out there.

Boyd: Go outside Mommy
(we go outside and Boyd goes into the grass and I see the pooping face)
Boyd: I poop in grass like Sire

Boyd sits down near Sire's cage and picks up a magazine
Boyd: I read story to Sire
Mommy: What are you reading?
Boyd: Chocolate Grandma book

Me: I'm going to eat that blue M&M on your shirt
Boyd: No Mommy, decoration

Boyd: Mommy has chocolate hair
Me: What kind of hair do you have?
Boyd: Vanilla

We walk outside to say goodbye to Adam
Boyd: Chickens and roosters in the yard. (they were robins)

Boyd's "Huh, I don't know" look.

Showing off his fat lip. Boyd meets dresser corner. Dresser wins.

Boyd is over his fear of this garbage truck and now loves it. "I not scared Garbage truck."

Sorting M&M's by color.

Go Pack Go! Riding the carousel and displaying a proud packer fan Flat Stanley.

January Days

Boyd in the house.

Boyd built his own chair and instructed me to take a picture.
Color changing cars in the morning

Wild hair.

Nose against the wall.

Spraying Flat Stanley at the car wash.


Chores.

New Toy Story Boots. He was proud.




Cheese up close.

Rodeo with Flat Stanley and Woody.

Butterfly House

Dance of Joy to be at the Butterfly House

Trying to take his shirt off to go swimming.
Right after the butterfly had landed on his shoulder. It had flown away by this point.

Sprinkler.

Wrinkly fingers?
Fly away!

The butterfly plate.

Cheese.

Today we took a trip to the Butterfly House. I had mentioned the possibility to Boyd yesterday and from the moment we woke up up until the entrance he talked about going there. He had a great time, feeling warm, running around, watching butterflies fly overhead and once landing on his shoulder. It even had neat trees and flowers, not to mention water. When we first arrived Boyd was excited by the ticket, but once we got through the butterfly escape doors he was overcome with joy and began to dance. When butterflies were on the trail he would crouch down near them and shout, "Fly away". When we approached the waterfall/pond area Boyd asked and attempted to take his shirt off. He wanted to go swimming. When we reviewed his trip he told me he liked the plate with the butterflies. There were ten to begin with and Boyd waved his hand over it creating a lesson in subtraction. When he found the sprinkler he put his hands in the water and then exclaimed, "Wrinkly." Boyd is currently fascinated by the way fingers and toes wrinkle like raisins in the tub. He also climbed the rocks and posed with his camera cheese face. We received stamps upon our departure and Boyd flew like a butterfly to the car displaying his stamps. On the way home we stopped at the mall since the carousel at Faust park was closed for renovations. He rode the zebra of course, but sat on the tiger before the ride began.