First Sprinkler of the Season!

I know it's not June 21st yet, but summer is officially here for us.  We used the sprinkler!  Tonight I knew I had to be around the house for some dinner prep, but I also knew that the boys were like dynamite at each other's throat.  We needed something new, something to distract from the usual back and forth yelling, teasing and escalating disagreements!  I figured being outside and getting wet was a good option.  It worked!  The boys were so happy to be playing in the sprinkler.  It took them both quite a bit of the time to be brave and jump through it (especially Tav) as this early in the season the water still comes out pretty cold.  Here are the action shots I got to mark the event (of course).

I fed Penn on the back porch so that he could watch the activity.  He was entranced of course.

Koen wanted me to take a video (and he narrates).  Then Tavin jumped in and wanted to perform as well, which is just so precious.  Enjoy!

While we were out enjoying the sprinkler, we heard from Doug that he was on his way home with our van.  I haven't really laid into it on the blog, but we have been carless for over a week due to a weird computer issue on the van.  Ugh.  Anyways, after much drama and frustration, the dealership was able to fix it today.  Then Doug was the hero for arriving there this evening 1 minute before close to bring the van home and let us resume some normalcy to our schedule with our own car.  I had the boys stage a "yay for awesome Daddy" picture to text to him.  Turns out it's awesome (and by the way, I do feed these boys).

Well, the sprinkler was a big hit.  Hopefully it'll stay that way all summer.  What a great post-nap/pre-dinner activity!  Here's to Summer 2013!

Way Overdue Playdate with Will

So Tavin and Penn don't know Will so well (but his name worked to alliterate with "way"), but Bethany is my dear, close friend from my working days and we finally got together this morning after months of missing each other.  The few hours didn't quite do justice for all that we had to catch up on, but we were happy to take what we could get.  It was also so much fun to get the boys together.  Bethany's son, Will, is about halfway between Tav and Penn.  Will especially loved taking in what Tavin was up to and I think Tavin liked being the oldest around for a change.  Here they are on the swings.

Penn was still in the stroller at that point, but oh my goodness, I couldn't resist a pic of my pudgy Penn (I think he's had a growth spurt lately, man, this kid can eat!).

We staged a few photos of all three.  Tavin just held a "cheese" pose so cooperatively.  Will and Penn weren't exactly keyed into the photo opp.

Before we left I put Penn in the baby swing.  He was ecstatic with joy as he swung back and forth.  It was adorable.  I can't wait to take him back again soon.  I had no idea he was such a big fan!  It was a delightful experience watching him swing and smile.

Doesn't he just steal your heart?  Oh my goodness!  It makes me miss him just to look at the pictures of his smile and he's only just sleeping upstairs. =)  Anyways, back to the day...Bethany and Will, thanks so much for coming and hanging out with us.  We loved your company!  Can't wait for another playdate (hopefully soon!).

Penn Really Does Clap!

So, a few days ago I posted that Penn was on the brink of clapping.  It's official.  He claps!!  You have to wait for it, but be patient.  It's pretty cute.  

Memorial Day Weekend, Part 2

Happy Memorial Day!  Today we have had a full, fun, family day.  This morning our friends Zach and Allison met us at the house around 9:30am to walk down to Lawrenceville's Memorial Day Parade.  Our walk to get to our preferred spot near the end of the parade route took us through the Allegheny Cemetery.  If the cemetery didn't have all the tombstones, etc. you would think you were walking through a huge city park.  It's green, vibrant and serene.  Look, we even spotted a resting deer!

It was about a half hour walk and then we found a place to squeeze the boys into a good view with plenty of room for us adults behind them.  The boys were all set with their patriotic garb and flags!

Here are a few shots from the parade favorites.  A Pittsburgh classic...bagpipers. 

Another classic Pittsburgh parade site...shriners driving mini cars.  Hilarious!

From a distance Koen spotted something yellow coming down the street...

I was impressed that he recognized the body style from far off.  Then he really wanted me to take a closeup for Grampa, so here it is.  A Corvette, similar to Grampa's.  The boys were super excited!

Ironically, the next phase of the parade brought some military vehicles including Jeeps.  Koen told me to take a picture of this one that looks similar to Grampa's.  These boys are pretty big fans!

The horses were a big hit.  They did special trots and side-steps.  Tavin loved it.

During the parade, Penn took a catnap.  Poor thing was so overtired he managed to fall asleep amidst blanks being fired from muskets and rifles and vehicles honking their horns and revving their engines.  It wasn't a great nap, but at least he got a little sleep.  While he was resting, Tav and I took some pictures (he was hanging back with me for a break from the noise of the Civil War era guns!).  

After the parade, we decided to attempt a family photo in our patriotic get-up.  Here are the best shots.

Koen was being quite the poser after our family photo shoot.  Look at this shot!  His green eyes just pop with the grass in the background (and man, he looks grown up to me!).

I forgot to put Penn's adorable hat on for the family photo, so I had to get just a few more of the cute little guy wearing his Red Sox hat.

Well, after the restful parade watching and photos, we literally hiked back up the hill through lower Lawrenceville and the cemetery.  Phew!  Great exercise day. =)  And that wasn't it, either.  We returned home, I fed Penn and then re-packed our bags and warmed a bean casserole in the oven and headed to a cookout at Megan and Sky's.  The boys did so well.  They didn't even show that they were tired from the big morning (I'm guessing they had to have been?).  Koen and Doug enjoyed a game of bocce ball while Tavin scooted around on the big driveway.

Megan sat down and chatted with Penn and I while he was playing post-lunch.  She even got to interact with him and get a smile out of him (she's babysat him before, so she is more familiar with his petrified cry when I leave).  

I got a shot of Megan and myself because I'm not sure that I have a picture of the two of us even though she's one of my closest friends and I see her at least every week!

Thanks for a great cookout, Megan and Sky.  And thanks for joining us all morning, Allison and Zach.  You definitely got a picture of what it's like to be a Melder!  Loud, fun and active. =)  Happy Memorial Day everyone!

Memorial Day Weekend , Part 1

As I posted before the weekend, Koen's holiday weekend had a jump start with the camp overnight with his school (and lucky Doug got to go along).  Here's Koen on Friday morning after a pretty restful night of sleep (except for one kid that caused some problems until about 9pm).  I think he looks a little run down, but content. =)

All in all, Doug did say it was a very nice time, especially how much Koen got to be outside enjoying the fresh air and the natural beauty in the woods up at the camp.  I was surprised that Koen didn't seem too tired and spent when he got home.  He's done quite well.  Saturday we had a pretty low key day to give Koen and Doug a chance to relax and catch up around here.  Since we are carless until Tuesday at least (the van's computer issue seems to be quite the conundrum for every mechanic in the metro area) Tavin and I had some walking errands to run.  I loved just being out with my middle guy.  I think he loved it too.  We managed to squeeze in about 45 minutes at the playground on our way home.  I brought his diggers since we weren't able to mess them up in the mulch the other night (remember, the thunderstorm?).

The afternoon flew by with more outdoor play, yardwork, lunch and naptimes.  Amidst it I did try to capture a new thing Penn is doing.  He falls apart in front of the camera, so he didn't really do it, but it's too cute not to include.  Oh, the thing he's starting to do is clapping!

In the evening we went to one of our favorite friends...Alex, Hilary, Delia and Huck's house!  We had a cookout (except mostly indoors since it's not that warm here this weekend!).  Koen and Delia played dress up ("old times" Delia called it).  They put on a show.  They included Tavin and Huck in the show. They had to play instruments.  It was hilarious.  I'm not posting the video as I'm afraid it could go viral. =)  But here's a few pics.  Koen and Delia made us sit in the back to watch.  

Here's an action shot and please note Penn in the background just eating his dinner staring at the odd performance going on before him.

The performance literally brought me to tears.  It was precious (and outlandish all in the same breath).  The whole night with these dear friends was so wonderful and overdue.  We had a great evening (thanks for the amazing meal, Alex & Hilary!).  On Sunday, since we were carless, we again walked to North Way East End. I believe the tally is now up to 8 weeks where we have not been able to go to Oakland. =(  We did have a wonderful walk and a great time there, so it worked out fine, we just miss our friends at NWO!  We got home in time for lunch as usual and then we just hung out until naptime a short time after.  This time did NOT go well.  Tavin and Koen have had major issues getting along the last few days.  A "calling each other a baby" has accelerated into a super annoying cyclical activity of name calling, mean faces, wrestling that turns too rough, etc.  It gets old fast, let me tell you!  So, after tucking Tav into his bed at naptime I made an executive decision that after nap/rest time that we would go outside until bathtime.  I was not going to spend another minute refereeing the ridiculous behavior that was this afternoon.  I figured if we were outside at a playground they would have enough fresh air, space, activity and distraction to keep them off each other's backs.  It totally worked.  I packed a picnic for them (and Penn) and we had a fantastic evening.  Here they are on the slides after their dinners.  Another attempt at some brother shots.  The first one captures some of the attitude I've been getting yesterday.  Koen is mad that Tavin gets to sit with Penn (meanwhile I was so thrilled that Tavin wanted to be the one to go down with Penn, he rarely shows big brotherly interest towards Penn).

Here's the closeup of Tav loving being big brother to Penn.

Next time down Koen got to hold Penn.  K is much happier as you can see.

Koen went back to riding his bike and watching some kids play baseball.  Tavin wanted to go down the slide next to Penn.  I think this was Penn's favorite.  Having me just help him down the slide on his own next to big bro, Tav.  Super special and sweet.

I had to catch a snuggle with Penn.  

So the playground/picnic was a total win.  We headed home just in time for bath and I decided that since I didn't get a chance to give Penn a bath yet today we would just put all 3 Melder boys in the bath together for the first time.  Koen has been waiting for this day for awhile and was thrilled with the idea.  I knew Doug would be home soon after I started the attempt, so I figured I was safe.  Koen and Tavin did awesome with their precious little bro in the bath with them and were calm and chill.  We even got some priceless pics!

On one of the pictures that wasn't great of all 3 I caught this adorable, precious 100% Koen face and had to share it.  Now, there, that's my Koen (as opposed to the mean-faced kid I had too many encounters with today).

Well, anyways, I was going to do just one big Memorial Day Weekend post, but this is getting long, so I'll post this part 1.  Stay tuned for part 2 after tomorrow's holiday festivities.  Happy Memorial Day everyone!

So Close to Crawling!!

Penn has progressed from enjoying tummy time finally (last month) to a fantastic spinning/moving backwards technique on his tummy (past few weeks) to now getting up on his knees and rocking a little before going back to his tummy.  He is oh-so-close to crawling!  Here's the pics I snapped to prove it.

And then, oops, I got a super cute closeup of his adorable face.  I love you, Penn!!