Let's Take a Day...

...just for us.  

We took Zane and Barry to Hasting one day in late August.  We should do more of this, but we didn't.  Part of that was me having surgery at the first end of summer and then spending a lot of time driving to doctor's the rest of it.

Howsomever... 

we did take them.  I thought they would like to see the Panda movie on the super screen there, which they did. 

We also stayed to see the movie about Galapagos Island, which was a little more entertaining since there were more animals than just pandas.  

In between  movies we had time to play at the park.  I love park photos. The sun is bright, the colors are popping and we're all having fun.  

While we were at the park, Zane found a cicada coming out it it's shell.  We watched awhile, played awhile and watched some more.  It takes a long time for the critter to get himself out.  They are really ugly during this process, too, the wings aren't in evidence at all.  And then, it was so pale looking!  I'm used to to seeing darker ones.  We eventually found on the same tree one all dried out.  It was pale, too, a light tan color.  But, then it was time to go in and find out about Galapagos tortoises and we left it to finish by itself.  

Now that school's in session, there are only two boys at home during the day.

He's My Brother

It's been pretty easy babysitting these boys at this stage of their lives.  Zane is an independent player for the most part, and doesn't make messes and get into things he shouldn't just for the fun of it.  

Barry is immobile.  

That's the important part. 

I'm not looking forward to the time when Barry starts to crawl.  The biggest reason is that the easy part of taking care of these boys will be over.  Barry will want to crawl on the tracks where Zane will want to be driving and grabbing the engines Zane will want to use.  

But, until then, I will enjoy this time.  Perhaps it won't be as hard as I think.  After all, it's so sweet to see Zane showing Barry his trains. They will be able to share and play together.

NOT.

At least for a long time yet. 

Big Brother/Little Brother

Anytime a baby is born, there is a change of status.  New parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles are made.  This time Zane is a big brother and all the rest of us are now parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles of two darling little boys.  As usual.  I can't decided which I like better, the black and white or the color of the above photo.  I like the classic look of the black and white, but also the true to life color of my boys.

Here's the little brother at two weeks.

Now we have two boys to give attention and hugs to, it is a juggling act for sure. One of the things Zane loves to do at Gramma Maury and Papa's is build train tracks.  This one is a fairly simple one done by me. These battery powered Thomas the Tank Engine trains really make playing trains fun.  Of course, my creativity gene loves to see what I can make out of anything, even train tracks.