Swing Time

The whole gang was here last Saturday night and the swing set was tested by the big and the little!

Little Monstahs

These cute shirts are from Uncle Dave and Auntie Audra and they quite literally "say it all!" In Boston-speak, of course!

Garage Sale(ing)

Hot Wheels Race Track - $3

Piano - $2

Hours of (mostly) quiet and happy play time - PRICELESS!

I didn't realize the cars were all lined up until I was cropping these pictures. This action reminds me a lot of Matt!

We had to move the race track to higher ground. Much, much to tempting for Jonathan to destroy and then there would be screaming and the happy silence would be broken.

It's hard to see in this pic, but Jonathan is groovin' to the music.

Jonathan's turn to play some tunes. Thank God for a volume control switch!

On Friday, Ashley and Marilyn came to town and together with Sondra and my boys, we went garage sale(ing). (OK grammar police, get off my back. I know that "sale(ing)" is not technically a verb, but it works for me.) We made out pretty good - a piano, a Hot Wheels race track, and some I Spy books.

The boys were good shoppers even though it was Africa hot and it was lunch time. We rewarded our bargain shopping with a yummy lunch at Jason's Deli.

And now I'm sure that every time we pass a garage sale, I will be met with outraged cries from the backseat if we don't stop and shop...

Unpacking

Thursday night - a few short hours after the Eigstis arrived in town, the Nislys all met at Matt and Sarah's house to unload the moving truck.

Tanisha, Tiana, Gina, Jonathan and Courtney

Gina took the little kids on a walk around the farm to keep them occupied while all the stuff was being moved. Thank you, Gina!

Ashley caught these cute pictures of Gina, the Disney Princess, with all her little animals following her around.

Marilyn, Roxton, Keith, Lynn, and Ken waiting for their assignments.

And of course there was food - yummy fruit pizza!

Andrew made more trips up and down the ramp than all of us combined. Here he is giving Marilyn a little push up the ramp because she wasn't moving fast enough. He was very into the whole moving/unloading process! He helped until the truck was empty and kept begging Grandpa to give him something else to carry.

The happy helper

"Umm, dis box is too heavy."

I took a little break to hold Luke and then Jonathan got a little jealous. And then he decided Luke needed a little eye-eye.

Natasha put on a little puppet show for Tiana, Courtney and Jonathan.

Welcome to Kansas!

On Thursday, Sondra, Chad and Luke arrived in Kansas. For good! We are so excited to have them living so close again! (Sondra and I haven't lived in the same state for almost 8 years!) And we were all super excited to meet sweet baby Luke. Andrew asked to hold him right away and Jonathan wanted to love on him too.

Look out world. Three active little boys are going to grow up together and get into all sorts of trouble. Luke has been intently watching his older cousins and taking lots of mental notes.

Day at the Zoo

The elephants were out with their trainers performing tricks for us.

Jonathan, Andrew and Jackson

Andrew doing his elephant impersonation for Jonathan.

Andrew's favorite animals - the hippos.

He would've spent the whole day at this exhibit if we would've let him.

Cameron, Christopher and Andrew checking out the zebras.

Jonathan really liked the zoo and sort of had this drunk little smile all day.

Watching a lion cub

How beautiful are these flamingos?!

This is Jonathan at the end of our day.

The only half-decent picture I captured of the boys together at the koi pond.

We met some friends from church Tuesday morning at the zoo and had a great time. Andrew ran the length of the zoo at least 4 times. I don't know where he gets all that energy!

A new swing set!

The boys were constantly trying to help. Jonathan misplaced only a couple of bolts and screws.

Finally it was time for the slide to be added!

Jonathan got bored with helping when he discovered rain water had collected in the boxes the playground came in and decided to take a little bath.

wheeeee!

Gratuitous butt shot.

Jonathan wasn't too sure of the swing at first. I think he doesn't like the confinement and restriction, but isn't that the whole point?!

Andrew wanted to give his brother a little push.

Last weekend, we broke down and bought the kids a swing set. We've been eyeing them for the past two years and trying to decide if the boys are old enough. And let me just say, this was a labor of love! It came in about 1, 000 pieces. "Some assembly required."

Keith and my dad worked very hard for about two solid days and got the first half up, all the while enduring constant questions of, "Are you ready for the slide? Can I go on the slide now?"

And this past weekend, while I was working at the church garage sale, Keith put the swing bar up by himself. So, now the swing set is complete and the boys are so happy!