Acting Skills

Recently MLD was an extra in a locally filmed TV show.  We can't say any more about it until it's released, sorry...

But when MLD saw a crew sign for the show, he stopped and snapped a photo with Tate:

Crazy Faces

Look at these two:  goofing off on a Sunday morning...

Family Photo

When we took Noah's 5 month photos in April, I also tried to take a family photo w/ MLD and the kids.  This wasn't easy to do.  Here are some of the outtakes:

Tate:  I'm not going to look at the camera.

Adam:  My turn... I'm not going to look at the camera.

Noah:  I give up.  Can't we just look at the camera???

And the winner is:

Bedtime Snuggles

The hour before bedtime can be magically calm or nightmarishly loud.  If you're a parent, you know what I mean.

On this night, it was magical.  Look at these sleepy smiles...

Lazy Sunday

Every now and then we have a lazy Sunday...

Because MLM and MLD are exhausted.

Bedtime Stories

It's never too early to start reading to your children. Even the not fully dressed ones.

Spring Kayaking

The weather was beautiful, so Ilya decided to take the boys for a kayak ride, or ki-YAK-ing, as Tate likes to call it.

Daddy's Little Guy

There was a very sweet moment just after Noah finished his bottle.  So sweet that neither Daddy nor Noah was in a hurry to move:

Obstacle Course

When the going gets tough, the tough set up an obstacle course to make it even tougher.  Watch:

Moooooo!

Tate's favorite word is "moo".  This is not like a cow's moo.  This is a special moo.  And this moo appears to mean "soft".  Or "place I want to put my head so I can suck my fingers".  Or anything in between.  It's a very catch-all word.

So one night I was washing dishes and wondering why everyone was mooing and laughing.  I turned around to find the tail end of a new "moo" game with Daddy:

Mountain Biking

When dodging on-coming vehicles as part of your commute isn't exciting enough, give mountain biking a try.

Tales of the Subaru

Adam loves Daddy's "Soo-bah-woo" even more than "Lightnin' Mah-Dween" (Lightning McQueen).  Imagine Adam's delight when Daddy gave him a Subaru magazine!  Instant success!

Orange Leaf Lexington

The kids love it when I take them for a long walk on the weekends.  Why?  It ends at the Orange Leaf frozen yogurt shop in Lexington.

I took a number of photos, but the kids were too riled up (from sugar?) to pose for a nice photo.  And please, whatever you do, don't tell the kids that they are eating frozen yogurt and not ice cream.

Backyard Camping

Ahhh... another milestone in suburban childhood has been reached.  We went camping in the backyard!  This wasn't exactly a planned event, and I didn't have any marshmallows, so we improvised and told the kids it was a big treat to sit in front of a campfire and eat ice cream.  Which it is, really.  How often do you have ice cream when you go camping?

Bike Ride

For his first big ride of the season, MLD hitched the buggy to the bike and threw the kids in.  Here's their general response:

Pretty well received, eh?  MLD packed up and headed west.  (Well, technically northwest, but you know what I mean.)  

Washed Out

As those on the East Coast recall quite clearly, July 4, 2014 was a big wash out, not a big celebration.  Before the Storm Arthur gave us the first great soaking of July, the A-team dragged their daddy outside to see what the big deal was all about:

Niagara Vacation, Part #4

After we all traveled on the Maid of the Mist, we had lunch and the kiddos took a stroller nap.  Karla disappeared to tour the Cave of the Winds.  We later met up at the aptly named "Twist o' the Mist" for some ice cream.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Two of my three monkeys were monkeying around the other night.  Last little monkey was eating his dinner.  Smart little monkey!

Storybook Hike

The Friends of the Fells set up a Storybook Hike last week.  To follow the trail, we looked for pages of the storybook.  It was lots of fun, and a perfect trip for the citizens.  Even better?  Our neighbor joined us!

These two are quite confident in the woods without Mommy and Daddy:

You Spin Me Round

"You Spin Me Round" was a huge pop hit in 1984.  Thirty years later, the concept continues to be a great hit with all ages: